Top 10 paddle board accessories list

Buying a stand up paddle board is a fantastic time, however when you receive your board you may be disappointed to know there are paddle board accessories you need but do not have. Fear not - we've come up with a list of top 10 paddle board accessories to get you going!

Paddle board accessories - Paddle
Above all, you cannot do much paddle boarding with no paddle! Many boards do have a paddle included in the package, but there are several that don't.

Even the stand up paddle board packages that do include a paddle tend to supply an aluminum paddle only. These paddles are perfectly fine to get you started, but as you progress you will discover you'll need something with more flex and strength. A carbon fiber stand up paddle board paddle has both those qualities, not to mention being much lighter to hold and also buoyant within the water (you do not want your paddle to sink if you drop it!).

Paddle board accessories - Leash/leg rope
While not being as essential on a stand up paddle board as a surfboard, you can nevertheless make great use out of a leash/leg rope. These attach to the tail of your board, and then to your leg so that if you fall off your board, if will not float away from you, out of reach.

Whenever you purchase a leash/leg rope, make sure to buy one that is the approximate length of your board.

Paddle board accessories - Deck grip
To keep your feet properly planted on the board while paddle boarding, you need some deck grip. Deck grip is typically made out of EVA foam, and covers the region of the board you stand on and provides grip so you don't slip off.

Paddle board accessories - Fins
The fins of a stand up paddle board allow you to go in the direction you're paddling. If you were not to have any fins, you would slide all over the place and have no control of the board. All boards have a large center fin, and depending on the style of the paddle board, some have side fins on both sides.

When selecting a fin for your stand up paddle board, you need to make certain what type of fin box you have. Some less well-known brands use their own personal proprietary system, while others use either FCS or Futures. These aren't compatible with one another, so if unsure, get a hold of the paddle board manufacturer.

It also pays to purchase fins dependent on what type of paddle boarding you will be mostly doing. If you will mainly be flat water paddling, your center fin should have more surface area, whereas a surfing fin will have less surface area and be more rounded (somewhat similar to a dolphin's dorsal fin) to allow easy manoeuvrability in surf.

Paddle board accessories - Rail guard/tape
Using your new paddle board, it's not going to take long to realize it is easy to bang the side of your board with your paddle. With time, this causes dings to your board, and can damage your paddle. The perfect solution is to add some rail guard or tape to the sides of the paddle board (referred to as the ‘rails’). These are really easy to apply, and keep the board looking new for longer, along with shielding it from inadvertent taps from your paddle.

Paddle board accessories - Cover
When you are not using your stand up paddle board, it needs to be protected - both from the elements and from inadvertent user interaction.

A high quality board cover will protect your board when travelling on the roof of your car, and assist in preventing inadvertent dings when moving in/out of the vehicle to/from your storage area.Most are well padded and have shoulder straps, which can make it simpler to carry your board to/from your paddling destination.

Look for ones which have a silver looking exterior, since these can reflect heat from the board, and are waterproof.

Paddle board accessories - Surf racks/storage solutions
Stand up paddle boards are quite big, and can also be challenging to transport and store. If you have a small car, try to find some soft racks, as they can be stored in the boot of the car when not being used. When venturing out for a paddle, they can be temporarily attached to the roof of your car to transport your paddle board.

When storing your SUP within your garage, its best to try and keep it off the ground. There are several different solutions to this, including:

• Storage straps
• Wall sling/strap
• Wall cradles

Paddle board accessories - Ding repair kit
The time will come eventually when you ding your board. This may be from inadvertently scraping a rock to a heavy knock with your paddle. If the ding is big, you will be best off taking it to a professional surfboard repairer, but if it is only a small ding, you can do the repair yourself. Whilst not looking as good as a professional job, it will keep your board watertight and on the water!

Some kits cover both fibreglass and EPS boards, but if not, just be sure to discover what your board is constructed of, to obtain the correct repair kit.

Paddle board accessories - Deck bungee
For people who are seeking to go flat water paddle boarding, a deck bungee (also known as a deck rigging kit) is a good option if you don't currently have one built onto your paddle board.

A deck bungee commonly hooks up to the front of your paddle board, and means that you can store extra things you may want to take with you for a day out paddle boarding - water bottle, lunch, clothing, etc.

An very good option to achieve the most out of your flat water paddling!

Paddle board accessories - Additional clothing

Paddle boarding in a bikini is typically how the sport is advertised (to women, at least!), but the truth is that during the summer - when you don't need a wetsuit - you need some form of protection when on the water for long periods of time. Things like the O'Neill Superlite Jacket are great, as they allow you to avoid the suns harsh rays, and also provide extra storage choices for small items like your phone, iPod, energy bars etc.