Lets start with the classic touring board shapes, these are often 12’6 long and either 30" or 32" wide and 6" thick, allowing for a faster or more stable ride in this longer touring shape, paddleboards can often go up to 14’ x 30" wide and offer even more speed, glide with this extra length.

Up until recently all riders, light, medium and heavy would have had to choose this thickness but now lighter riders and riders under 76 kg have 4.7" (5" thick) touring boards to choose from and heavier riders have wider board options too .

There has been a new wave of design from the premium brands that are now fully understanding and offering some fantastic touring paddle board options for the lighter and shorter rider. This design change has partly been triggered by the advancements of premium technology and partly due to input from female riders who have had a hand in the design thought process, propelling the manufacturers and brands to think small as well as big. 

Here are some guidelines for the shorter lighter rider picking a touring paddle board.

Width of a shorter lighter rider touring board - If the rider is under 5’5 and definitely under 5’4 ideally the rider should choose a touring board that’s 28-30” wide as this allows the shorter rider to gain a ‘straight down’ paddle stroke.

Length of a shorter lighter rider touring board - If the rider is planning on paddling more than an hour and still wants manoeuvrability, then choosing a board that is over 11’ long is great, width 12’ and 12’6 boards being preferable, There is a miss conception that shorter riders should have shorter boards but this actually leads to the shorter rider having to work much harder to be at the same speed as their taller rider friends.

Thickness of a lighter rider touring board - If the shorter rider is under 10 stone (or 63kg) is pretty crucial that the board is 4.7 (5inch) thick. This allows the board volume to sit within the waterline which allows the rider to paddle successfully without being caught by side wind or waves.

Heavier paddle boarders will enjoy choosing a heavier rider touring paddle board or a board within the medium rider section, as long as the material is high density and 6" thick. Sometimes a heavier rider can struggle to find a touring paddle board that is a perfect fit as either fitness levels and stability or being super tall are all factors to be considered. As paddleboarding has become more popular, we are seeing a much high number of 130 kg riders that are up to 7ft and of course this rider height and weight also needs some special attention from paddle board manufacturers and designers. Suitable boards are now starting to be offered in more board ranges.

Width of a heavier rider touring board - If the rider is over 6ft and over 90 kg the rider will choose a touring board that’s 30”- 32” wide depending on stability needs. The taller and heavier the rider, the wider the rider will want the touring paddle board, with boards going up to 34/35” wide for the super tall and heavy rider.

Length of heavier rider touring board - Taller riders will prefer a touring board that is 12’6 to 14” long, offering glide and stability in this wider board shape.