Your Guide to Touring Paddle Boards
If you’ve ever found yourself on an all-around paddle board, digging in hard but feeling like you’re not really going anywhere, you’re not alone. While they’re brilliant for a bit of fun and finding your feet, all-around boards are like a trusty city car—perfect for short jaunts, but not what you’d choose for a long motorway cruise.
This is where a touring paddle board comes in. Think of it as the 'grand tourer' of the waterways.
The Grand Tourer of the Waterways
A touring board is specifically engineered for those longer adventures. It’s all about delivering speed and straight-line tracking that completely transforms your paddling experience, letting you travel further and faster with way less effort. It's the ideal choice for any paddler who wants to cover some serious ground.
This focus on performance is exactly why touring SUPs have exploded in popularity across the UK's rivers, lochs, and coastlines. The UK paddle sports market is now valued at around £120 million, and touring boards impressively make up nearly 30% of all stand-up paddleboard sales. It's a fast-growing slice of the pie, showing a clear shift towards more adventure-focused paddling. You can explore more about these market trends and what they mean for the sport.
The whole point of a touring board is to get the absolute most out of every single paddle stroke. The design helps you slice cleanly through the water, hold your momentum, and stay on course, even when you're up against a bit of chop or a headwind. That efficiency is what makes it possible to explore miles of coastline or finish a river trek without feeling totally spent.
All-Around Fun vs. Touring Adventure
So, what are the real, tangible differences? An all-around board is built for stability above all else, which is why it usually has that wide, rounded shape. It’s super forgiving for beginners or for things like SUP yoga where you need a steady platform. A touring board, on the other hand, makes a clever trade-off: it sacrifices a little of that rock-solid initial stability for a whole lot more speed and glide.
For a practical example, imagine a family day out at a Cornish beach. The all-around board is perfect for the kids to play on near the shore. But if you wanted to paddle from that beach over to a secluded cove two miles down the coast, the touring board would get you there faster, with less effort, and make the journey a whole lot more enjoyable. At Loco Surfing, we've got excellent options in both categories, making sure you find the perfect board for what you want to do.
"Choosing a touring board is about shifting your mindset from simply 'being on the water' to 'travelling on the water'. It's the difference between a casual stroll in the park and a rewarding countryside hike."
To really spell it out, let’s quickly compare the key characteristics that set these two popular board types apart. Understanding these differences is the first step in figuring out if a touring SUP is the right fit for your paddling ambitions.
Touring SUP vs All-Around SUP At a Glance
Here’s a quick breakdown to help you see the fundamental differences between these two board types at a glance.
| Feature | Touring Paddle Board | All-Around Paddle Board |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Goal | Speed, efficiency, and straight-line tracking | Stability, versatility, and ease of use |
| Shape | Longer, narrower with a pointed (displacement) nose | Shorter, wider with a rounded (planing) nose |
| Best For | Long-distance paddling, fitness, exploring | Beginners, family fun, SUP yoga, small surf |
| Performance in Chop | Cuts through chop effectively, maintaining speed | More stable but can be pushed around by wind and chop |
| Speed | Significantly faster | Slower, designed for leisurely paddling |
| Manoeuvrability | Less nimble due to its length | Highly manoeuvrable and easy to turn |
As you can see, the choice isn't about which board is "better," but which board is better for you and the kind of paddling you plan on doing.
Understanding Touring Board Design
To really get why a touring paddle board glides so beautifully, you have to look at how it’s built. Every single curve, line, and feature is there for a reason: to maximise efficiency and speed over distance. Unlike their all-around cousins, which are built for a bit of everything and general fun, touring boards are precision tools for exploration.
It all starts with that signature profile. A touring board is noticeably longer and narrower, a deliberate design choice that slashes drag in the water. This sleek, hydrodynamic shape is the secret sauce to its performance, letting you maintain momentum with far less effort.
This infographic breaks it down, comparing the design philosophy of a touring board with an all-arounder.
As you can see, every element pushes the board towards a specific purpose, whether that’s eating up the miles or offering maximum stability for playing around.
The Pointed Nose and Displacement Hull
The most iconic feature of any touring SUP is its pointed nose, which creates what’s known as a displacement hull.
Think of it like the bow of a canoe or a ship. Instead of slapping on top of the water, this V-shaped nose slices cleanly through it. This action parts the water and channels it smoothly along the sides of the board, giving you a faster, less bumpy ride. This is especially noticeable in choppy conditions where an all-around board might bounce and lose all its speed.
For a practical example: picture you're paddling into a light headwind on a coastal estuary. An all-around board with its rounded nose will feel like it’s pushing against every little bit of chop, making progress a real slog. A touring board, like the Loco Motion Touring SUP, will cut right through that same chop, holding its glide and making the journey a whole lot more enjoyable.
Length and Width: The Perfect Ratio
The exact dimensions of a touring board are finely tuned for performance. They’re engineered to hit that sweet spot between speed and stability, perfect for covering serious ground.
- Length: Typically ranging from 11 to 14 feet, a longer waterline boosts the board’s top speed and helps it track straight. This means fewer corrective paddle strokes to stay on course. Our Loco Motion Touring SUP, at 12'6", is a brilliant example of a length that offers fantastic glide for UK waters.
- Width: Touring boards are slimmer, usually between 28 and 32 inches. This narrower profile reduces the wetted surface area, which minimises friction and lets the board move faster. While it might feel a touch less stable at first compared to a 34-inch wide all-around board, the gain in efficiency is massive for any long-distance paddler.
Think of it this way: a longer, narrower board helps you convert more of your paddling energy into forward motion. It’s the difference between driving a streamlined sports car and a boxy van on the motorway; one is simply built to travel more efficiently.
Deck Features Built for the Long Haul
It’s not just about the hull. The top deck of a touring board is kitted out for adventure. A comfortable, high-traction deck pad is a must for standing for hours on end, and integrated bungee systems at the nose and tail are non-negotiable for stashing your gear.
These cargo areas are perfect for a dry bag with extra layers, a water bottle, and snacks for a full day out on the water. Even the fin setup is optimised for tracking. A large, single centre fin is standard, acting like a rudder to keep the board pointing straight—exactly what you need when you're paddling from A to B. Find out more about how board dimensions impact your ride in our comprehensive paddle board size guide.
How To Choose The Right Touring Board
Picking out your first or next touring paddle board is a genuinely exciting moment. It’s the key that unlocks miles and miles of UK coastline and hidden waterways. But with so many options, how do you find the one? This guide will break it all down, step-by-step, so you can find the perfect board for your adventures.
We're going to zero in on the three things that really matter: your weight and skill level, the kind of water you'll be exploring, and that classic debate—inflatable versus hardboard. Get these right from the get-go, and you’ll spend less time wrestling with your gear and more time loving every minute on the water.
Your Weight and Skill Level
First things first, let's talk about you. The most critical factor when choosing a board is making sure it can comfortably support you. If a board is too small for your weight, it'll sit low in the water, feel tippy as anything, and plough through the water instead of gliding. It completely kills the effortless feel a good touring board should have.
This is where a board's volume, measured in litres (L), becomes your best friend. Think of volume as a direct measure of buoyancy—more volume means more float. And for touring, you’ve got to think beyond just your own weight; you’ll be carrying gear like dry bags, food, water, and maybe even camping kit.
As a rough guide, look for a board with a volume that's at least double your body weight in kilograms. So, if you're a 75kg paddler, you'd start looking at boards around 150L. But for touring, you need to add a decent buffer for all your kit.
Practical Example: Let's say you weigh 90kg and you're planning an overnighter with 20kg of camping gear. That's a total weight of 110kg. To keep things stable and efficient, you'll want a board with over 320L of volume. A high-volume board like our Loco Explorer Air is designed for exactly this purpose, ensuring the board stays high on the water and glides beautifully.
Your experience level plays a part, too. Touring boards are naturally narrower than all-rounders, but if you're just starting, you can find a stable ride by choosing something a touch wider, usually in the 30-32 inch range. Paddlers with a bit more experience under their belts might lean towards a narrower board (28-29 inches) to really max out their speed. For a proper deep dive on this, check out our detailed article on what size paddle board you need.
Where You Plan to Paddle
Think about where your adventures will take you. The UK has an incredible mix of waterways, from glassy lakes to choppy coastal routes, and your board needs to be up to the job.
- Calm Lakes and Rivers: If you're dreaming of paddling sheltered spots like the Lake District or the Norfolk Broads, you can really prioritise speed. A longer, narrower board (12'6" or even 14'0") will be your best mate here, letting you eat up the miles with ease.
- Coastal Paddling and Choppy Waters: Planning to explore the stunning coastlines of Cornwall or Pembrokeshire? You'll be dealing with wind, chop, and swell. A board with a bit more width (30 inches or more) will give you that crucial extra stability. A sharp, pronounced displacement hull, like that on the Loco Motion Touring SUP, is a game-changer for slicing through chop rather than bouncing over it.
Inflatable vs Hardboard: The Great Debate
This is one of the biggest decisions you'll make. Thanks to modern tech, the choice between an inflatable and a solid (hard) board is now less about performance and more about your lifestyle.
Inflatable Touring Boards
Don't be fooled by the "inflatable" tag—a high-quality iSUP is incredibly rigid and performs brilliantly. Their biggest win is pure convenience. You can roll one up into a backpack, chuck it in the boot of your car, and store it in a cupboard. It’s that simple.
The Loco Amigo Air, for example, is a fantastic inflatable that mixes touring glide with user-friendly stability. It’s the perfect pick for paddlers who need that grab-and-go convenience but don't want to compromise on how the board feels on the water.
Hard Touring Boards
For the ultimate performance, nothing quite beats a premium hardboard, especially a carbon one. They give you an unmatched, direct connection to the water, superior glide, and much better handling when conditions get rough. If you're all about speed, racing, or just getting the most efficient paddle stroke possible, a hardboard is the way to go. The only trade-off is needing the space to store it and a way to get it to the water.
Which Touring Board Is Right for You?
To help pull it all together, this table breaks down some common scenarios to point you in the right direction.
| Paddler Profile | Recommended Board Type | Key Feature to Look For | Loco Surfing Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner exploring calm rivers & lakes | Stable Inflatable Touring | Width of 31-32", Volume over 280L | Loco Amigo Air 12'6" |
| Intermediate paddler on coastal routes | Versatile Hardboard/Premium iSUP | 12'6" length, moderate rocker | Loco Motion Touring Hardboard |
| Advanced paddler focused on speed & fitness | Performance Carbon Hardboard | 14'0" length, width of 28" or less | Loco Pro Race Carbon Board |
| Explorer planning multi-day trips with gear | High-Volume Inflatable | Volume over 340L, extensive bungee storage | Loco Explorer Air 12'6" x 32" |
Ultimately, the best board is the one that fits your life and gets you out on the water more often. Whether it's a convenient inflatable for spontaneous trips or a sleek hardboard for performance training, the right choice is waiting for you.
Building Your Adventure Toolkit
A great touring paddle board is the heart of your setup, but it’s the gear you bring with you that turns a simple paddle into a proper adventure. Think of it like packing for a hike; you wouldn't leave without the right boots, a map, and a waterproof jacket. The same logic applies here. Each piece of your kit plays a crucial role in keeping you safe, comfortable, and ready for a great day out.
This toolkit is more than just your board. It’s the paddle that drives you forward and the safety gear that gives you peace of mind. Let's walk through the essentials you’ll want to have sorted before tackling the UK’s incredible waterways.
The Engine of Your Tour: The Paddle
Your paddle is your engine. Simple as that. Choosing the right one makes a massive difference, especially when you’re out for more than a quick splash around. The basic aluminium paddle that comes with many board packages is fine to get you started, but its weight will quickly tire out your shoulders and arms on a longer trip.
Upgrading to a lightweight paddle is one of the smartest investments you can make for touring. A carbon fibre paddle, for example, is noticeably lighter and stiffer. This means every ounce of your energy is transferred into forward motion, not wasted flexing the paddle or lifting unnecessary weight. It’s the difference between walking a few miles in heavy work boots versus a pair of light running shoes – the efficiency gain is huge.
Practical Example: On a five-mile paddle, you could easily take over 2,500 paddle strokes. If your paddle is just 200g lighter, you're lifting 500kg less over that journey. That’s a serious amount of energy saved!
Here at Loco Surfing, we offer a range of high-performance paddles built to cut down on fatigue and boost your power. To really get into the nitty-gritty, we’ve put together a full guide on selecting the perfect SUP paddle that’ll match your style.
Essential Safety Gear You Should Never Leave Behind
Safety has to be number one. Always. The water can look as calm as a millpond, but conditions can change in a heartbeat, so being prepared isn’t optional. This kit should be as much a part of your setup as the board itself.
- Personal Flotation Device (PFD): A good, comfortable PFD is a must-have. Modern buoyancy aids are designed specifically for paddling, so they give you total freedom of movement. You’ll barely notice you’re wearing one. For touring, many paddlers love waist-belt PFDs because they’re so compact and only inflate if you need to pull the cord.
- Leash: Your leash is your lifeline. If you take a tumble, it keeps you connected to your board – which is your biggest flotation device. For flat-water touring, always use a coiled leash. It stays out of the water, so it won’t drag or get snagged on weeds or branches.
- Communication: Take your mobile phone, fully charged and sealed in a waterproof case. It’s also just good sense to tell someone on shore where you’re going and when you expect to be back.
The logic behind having the right gear extends beyond just paddle boarding. Across all water sports, there's a growing appreciation for investing in personal water adventure gear, as it enhances both safety and enjoyment.
Your Day Trip Adventure Checklist
So, your core safety gear is sorted. What else should you bring for a day of exploring? A quality dry bag is your best friend here – just pack it up, and secure it under your board's bungee cords to keep everything safe and dry.
Here’s a quick checklist for a typical day tour:
- Hydration and Nutrition: You’ll need more water than you think. Pack plenty, along with some high-energy snacks like flapjacks, bananas, or trail mix to keep your engine running.
- Appropriate Clothing: The golden rule is to dress for the water temperature, not the air temperature. Even on a sunny day, pack a spare warm layer and a waterproof jacket in your dry bag. You’ll be glad you did if the weather turns.
- Sun Protection: The sun reflecting off the water is intense. A hat, polarised sunglasses, and high-factor, waterproof sun cream are non-negotiable.
- Small First-Aid Kit: A little kit with plasters, antiseptic wipes, and some painkillers is always a smart thing to have tucked away.
- Navigation: If you're exploring somewhere new, a map of the area or a GPS app on your phone can be a lifesaver. Don't rely solely on phone signal
Caring for Your Touring Paddle Board
Your touring paddle board is your ticket to countless adventures, so looking after it properly is the best way to protect your investment. Think of it like washing your hiking boots after a muddy trek; a simple post-paddle routine will keep your board performing at its best for years to come. A bit of good maintenance goes a long way in preventing long-term damage and making sure your gear is always ready for the next expedition.
The biggest enemies of any paddle board are salt, sand, and sun. A quick but thorough care routine tackles all three, dramatically extending the life of your board, whether it’s a high-performance hardboard or a super-convenient inflatable like our popular Loco Amigo Air.
Essential Care for Inflatable Boards
Inflatable touring paddle boards are built tough, but their longevity really comes down to a few simple habits. Because they’re designed to be packed away, getting them properly clean and dry is absolutely essential to prevent problems down the line.
The most important step is to give your board a good rinse with fresh water after every single use, especially after a paddle in the sea. Saltwater is corrosive and can weaken the materials and seams over time if left to dry on the surface. Pay close attention to the valve area to clear out any sneaky sand or grit that’s worked its way in.
Practical Example: Imagine you've just had a great paddle along the Jurassic Coast. Before packing up, use the public shower on the beach to give your board, fin, and paddle a quick but thorough rinse. This simple 5-minute task prevents salt from crystallising and damaging the PVC seams.
After rinsing, the next critical step is to let it dry completely before packing it away. Rolling up a damp board is a recipe for mould and mildew, which can permanently stain and damage the PVC fabric. It’s a simple step that makes a huge difference.
Once it's bone dry, store it loosely rolled in its bag. Try to avoid folding it too tightly or in the exact same way every time, as this can put unnecessary stress on the seams. A cool, dry place away from direct sunlight is the perfect home for it between adventures. For more in-depth advice, you can explore our complete guide on maintaining your inflatable paddle board, which covers everything from deep cleaning to minor repairs.
Keeping Your Hardboard in Prime Condition
Hardboards need a slightly different approach, with the main focus on protecting that rigid structure from dings and UV damage. While you don't have to worry about mould, the sun is your biggest adversary here.
Prolonged exposure to direct sunlight can cause the colours to fade and, more importantly, can degrade the epoxy resin over time. A high-quality, reflective board bag is your best defence. It not only shields the board from UV rays but also protects it from accidental knocks and scratches during transport and storage. Think of it as essential armour for your board.
Before and after each paddle, give your board a quick once-over to check for any dings or cracks.
- Check for Dings: Run your hand along the rails, nose, and tail. Small cracks can let water seep into the foam core, which adds weight and can lead to serious, long-term damage.
- Repair Promptly: If you find a ding, it's crucial to get it sorted before taking it back on the water. A simple ding repair kit can seal small cracks effectively and save you a headache later.
- Rinse and Store: Just like an inflatable, always rinse your hardboard with fresh water to get rid of salt and grime. Store it in its bag, preferably in a shaded area or garage, and never leave it strapped to a hot car roof for extended periods.
Ready for Your Next Paddling Adventure?
So there you have it. You’re now armed with all the knowledge you need to get out there and confidently choose and use a touring paddle board. Think of this board as more than just a piece of kit; it's your passport to exploring the UK's incredible lakes, rivers, and coastlines. We've walked through everything from understanding board design to picking the perfect model and packing the right gear for a safe and awesome trip.
The adventure is officially yours for the taking. Just picture it: gliding across a glassy Scottish loch as the sun comes up, or navigating the winding, beautiful estuaries of Devon. A touring paddle board brings these experiences within reach, turning a simple day on the water into an expedition you’ll never forget.
Your First Step Onto the Water
Let's be honest, getting started is the most exciting part. As you begin dreaming up routes, consider the stunning beaches and coastlines perfect for exploration, which can offer amazing launch points for your adventures, whether you're paddling at home or heading abroad.
Your board is a platform for pure discovery. Every single paddle stroke pulls you deeper into nature and further from the daily grind, giving you a perspective you just can't get from the shore. It's a real investment in your well-being and your sense of adventure.
To help you take that final step, we'd love for you to browse our curated collection here at Loco Surfing. Whether you're after the grab-and-go freedom of the Loco Amigo Air or the sleek, cutting performance of a carbon hardboard, we’ve got a model that’ll match your ambition.
Our team is made up of paddlers who are genuinely passionate about this sport, and we're here to help. If you've got any questions or need a bit of one-on-one advice on picking the right board and gear, please don't be shy – get in touch. We're all about helping you get on the water with the perfect setup and kick-starting your next great adventure.
Got Questions About Touring Boards? We've Got Answers
It’s completely normal to have a few last-minute questions before you pull the trigger on a dedicated piece of kit like a touring paddle board. Getting a straight answer to those nagging queries can be the difference between choosing a board you love and one that just isn’t right. We’ve pulled together the top questions we hear from paddlers to give you that final bit of confidence.
Are Inflatable Touring Boards As Good As Hardboards?
This is the big one, isn't it? The short answer is that modern, high-quality inflatable touring boards deliver a level of performance that is astonishingly close to their solid cousins. Thanks to clever tech like fused, dual-layer drop-stitch construction—the same stuff we build our Loco Air range with—they become incredibly rigid when pumped up to the right pressure.
Their biggest win, hands down, is convenience. The ability to roll your board up and pop it in a backpack is a total game-changer for most people. Sure, a hardboard might have a slight edge in pure glide and how it handles really choppy water, but for the vast majority of us heading out on recreational tours, a premium inflatable is a brilliant and far more practical choice.
Practical Example: Think of a top-tier inflatable touring board like a high-performance folding bike. It gives you nearly all the performance of a traditional model but with the massive benefit of being able to take it almost anywhere, from a flight to the Balearics to the boot of a car for a weekend in the Lake District.
How Much Gear Can I Actually Carry On A Touring SUP?
This all boils down to the board's volume and its maximum weight capacity. Touring paddle boards are built for exploration, which is why you'll see those generous bungee cargo areas on the nose and sometimes the tail. A typical 12'6" board can comfortably handle a 15-20kg dry bag stuffed with your adventure essentials.
For a practical example, let's paint a picture of packing for a full-day coastal tour:
- A 20-litre dry bag with a spare fleece, a waterproof jacket, and a small first-aid kit (~5kg).
- A small cooler bag with your lunch and a few snacks (~4kg).
- Two litres of water (2kg).
That’s 11kg of gear, which is well within the limits of most touring boards like the Loco Explorer Air. Just remember to always factor your own body weight into the manufacturer’s stated maximum capacity and spread the load evenly across the deck to keep things stable.
Can A Beginner Really Use A Touring Paddle Board?
Absolutely! While it's true that touring boards are sleeker and narrower than all-around models, many are designed with stability firmly in mind. If you're new to the sport, look for a touring board that’s a touch wider—somewhere in the 30-32 inch range is a great starting point. This gives you a much more stable and forgiving platform to learn on.
A versatile and steady board like our Loco Amigo Air is a fantastic choice for this very reason. It cleverly blends the efficient glide you want from a touring shape with the user-friendly stability that helps you build confidence fast. We always tell new paddlers to spend a bit of time on calm, flat water first. Getting a feel for your board in easy conditions makes the jump to more adventurous paddling both safe and a whole lot more fun. For more brilliant water safety tips, check out the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) website.
Ready to start your journey? Explore the full range of high-performance touring paddle boards at Loco Surfing and find the perfect board to unlock your next adventure. Shop our collection now.
