Summer is upon us and you’re super stoked to break out your paddle board and hit the water!
Paddle board: Check 
Paddle: Check
Body of water: Check
You’re all good to go then, right? Well, technically, yes, but not exactly.
There are certain other pieces of paddle boarding gear you will need to maximize the enjoyment level of your chosen sport. You’ll need a way to transport your SUP, storage on your board is always a must, and you’ll need to protect yourself as well while you’re paddling.
Keep reading to find out 9 of the most essential pieces of gear every paddler needs before hitting the water.
Navigate to the Essential Gear category you require the most. Click one of the links below!
Onboard Storage
Unlike kayaks and canoes, paddleboards don’t come with all sorts of nifty compartments to store your gear. While some board manufacturers provide bungee nets and D rings so you can attach your gear, others (like the Tower Adventurer Paddle Board I reviewed here), do not offer any storage options whatsoever.
Thank goodness there are some smart, enterprising people out there who have stepped in to fill the gap the manufacturers left behind. Here are a few options for gear storage for those with boards that don’t offer any or enough storage options themselves.
Solstice D-Ring and Bungee Kit
This affordable kit provides 4 D-rings, bungee cord, and vinyl cement to attach the D-rings to the board.
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For less than it costs to take a date to the movies, you can add the storage options you need. Save yourself hundreds of dollars by adding the D-rings and bungee netting yourself versus buying a board that is already equipped with it.
Store dry bags, life jackets, fishing gear, or apparel securely on your board. Clip other small items like pouches and bags to the bungee for extra storage options.
Every paddleboard needs some sort of bungee cord storage option on it!
SUPthings Super Suction Cargo Net
Why should someone buy a cargo net if they already have a bungee cord on their board? Easy. A bungee cord is great at lashing down large items like dry bags and towels but not so good at lashing down smaller items like snacks, fishing tackle, or personal items.
Enter the SUPthings Super Suction Cargo Net. This will provide you the storage options you need for either large or small items. It comes with four specially designed suction cups engineered to hold up to 100lbs.
No special tools or equipment, no messy glues or adhesives, just the 4 awesome super suction cups and a patent-pending premium quality bungee net that expands to twice its size and you’ve got total peace of mind knowing your gear is safe and your board is undamaged.
Gearlab Kayak/SUP Deck Bag
A simple, yet effective storage solution. This can fit under your bungee netting or replace your bungee netting if you’ll be carrying lots of smaller items like keys, wallet, jewelry, or snacks.
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Its multiple functions earned it one of Paddle Magazine’s industry awards for innovation in its category.
The Gearlab Deck Pod features a 3L hydration bladder if you don’t want to lug an SUP cooler along with you on your ride. It also offers quick release buckles so it’s easy to latch and remove the bag.
There are multiple storage pouches for personal items, along with snag-free access to all your important equipment. Importantly, its deliberately low-profile to prevent wind resistance and prevents hindering paddle strokes.
This thoughtfully designed bag will be one of the best purchases you make for your SUP.
Apparel Essentials
A quick word from Captain Obvious: paddle boarding is a sport that exposes you to the elements. Now that we have gotten that obvious fact out of the way, it’s time to focus on how you can protect yourself from those elements.
Proper apparel is essential to your health and safety while paddling. You need outerwear that is going to keep the sun off your body so you don’t get sunburnt, keep you dry and warm if you’re paddling in cold water or weather conditions, and keep you afloat should you lose your balance and go overboard unexpectedly.
Here are a few of the outerwear items you’ll need to protect yourself from the elements while paddling.
Body Glove 3mm Women’s Full Suit
This lightweight skin suit is perfect for people who paddle in cool waters like deep water lakes or northern climates. It also provides a lightweight option for those who just need full body protection from the sun’s harmful UV rays.
The full suit uses modern technology to maximize flexibility and movement while maintaining supreme comfort for your paddling pleasure.
Given its affordability and wide number of uses, the Full suit represents an excellent value for money and should be an essential garment for any paddler.
SwimZip Longsleeve SPF 50 Front Zip Rash Guard
No matter what sport you do out on the water, you’re going to need some sort of rash or sun guard to protect you while you’re out.
Long-sleeve or short-sleeve is a matter of preference, but a sun-guard such as the SwimZip line of rash guards for men, women, kids and babies is a must-have. They block 97.5% of the sun’s harmful UV rays but are lightweight and quick-drying as well.
Best of all is their signature front zipper that makes it easy to take off your rash guard once it gets wet. No more wrestling it off over your head or trying to wrangle it off your child’s body, SwimZip offers stylish convenience for the whole family.
For high-quality, functional fashion for the whole family, check out SwimZip.
Body Glove Method USCG Approved Nylon Life Vest
It should go without saying that every paddler needs a PFD of some sort whenever they’re out paddling. As the saying goes, “Hope for the best but prepare for the worst”.
You never know when an unexpected squall will blow through or an inconsiderate boater will speed past kicking up a wave storm you’re not prepared for and next thing you know <BAM!> —you’re in the water.
I get the reasons why so many paddlers forego wearing a PFD. It’s sort of the same excuses for why men don’t wear condoms: they’re uncomfortable, they don’t feel good, you just know you’ll be safe, nobody looks cool with one on — you get the point.
That being said, we all know a life jacket (like a condom) can, you know, save lives. And they have come a long way in designing jackets specifically for paddlers so that they’re as unobtrusive as possible and allow for full range of motion without causing any underarm chaffing.
Whether it’s the Method Life Jacket or some other PFD, please be sure to paddle responsibly. The life you save may be your own!
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Transport and Use
It’s rare indeed to be able to pull up to your favorite paddle spot, unload your board, and walk 20 steps before you’re in the water. Normally, where we park and where we launch our boards from is a considerable distance apart, especially when you have to lug a big, clunky board back and forth.
Not only that, you have the added responsibility of holding on to your board once you get it in the water. Unlike most other water sports, there’s next to nothing that keeps you attached to your mode of transportation so if you’re out in choppy conditions or you’re just a beginner finding your legs, you need a way to secure your board.
Once again, the market provides and has devised solutions for your SUP transport and usage needs. Read on to find out how you can transport your board with ease and keep it from getting away from you while you’re enjoying a paddle.
Suspenz SUP Stow & Go Paddleboard Strap
The most basic way to carry your board to and fro, Suspenz offers a simple strap system you can use to sling your board over one shoulder and carry your board to your launch point.
Just put the board through the two adjustable nylon loops, attach the padded carrying strap, and off you go! Not only that, but the carrying strap can also double as a wall hanging mount. Just attach some screws or a hook to the wall and hang it like you’d hang a picture frame.
The Suspenz Stow & Go Strap is an easy solution if your SUP isn’t too clunky and you don’t have too far to carry it.
For more extensive transport needs, you can always look into an SUP cart if you have a longer distance or rougher terrain to cover to get to your launch point.
NRS Coiled SUP Board Leash
An SUP leash is another piece of essential safety equipment you’ll need if you plan on doing any sort of touring paddling or small wave surfing. (Related: 5 Crucial Questions To Ask Before Choosing a Stand Up Paddle Board).
This is perhaps the most underrated piece of equipment any paddler can have thanks to its utter simplicity but is absolutely one of the most required.
Imagine yourself paddling in the bay on the Pacific Ocean and all of a sudden a whale or some seals breach right nearby causing you to lose your balance and fall in.
I mean, that’d be cool and all to see that up close and personal but not so cool if you didn’t have your board attached to you and the current or a wave sweeps it away from you faster than you can swim after it. Not cool and potentially life threatening as well if you’re not wearing a PFD like I urged you to above.
A simple leash like the NRS SUP Leash can save you all sorts of trouble if you ever find yourself unexpectedly knocked off balance. Offering an 11 foot shock cord and a comfortable, padded neoprene ankle strap, this affordable ankle strap is a small price to pay to save you from a runaway board or worse.
If you are paddling down rapids or a river where it is possible to have the board snatched on to something it is never a good idea to have an ankle leash. This is because you might not be able to undo it if the board is caught and the current is taking you away from the board. It is preferable to use a NRS Quick-Release Stand-Up Paddleboard Leash in situations where this is a possibility.
Airhead AHSUP-A015 SUP Anchor Kit
Sometimes after you’ve been paddling for awhile, you’d just like to sit back and relax for a bit. Maybe have some refreshments, take a nap or a swim, or do a little fishing while you’re out. How do you do that without worrying about the current pushing you 3 miles off from where you started? With an anchor of course!
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The Airhead SUP Anchor kit comes with a 15 foot anchor line and stainless steel hook to attach to your board. The anchor itself only weighs 1.5 pounds, which is just enough to keep you in one place but without adding too much extra weight to your board.
Whether it’s beer o’clock, time to try your hand at catching a couple bonefish, or time to practice your downward dog and other SUP yoga poses, the Airhead Anchor will keep you safe in one place until you’re ready to move on.
It’s a sure thing that at some point, you’ll want your SUP to stay put in one place for awhile. Go ahead and add an SUP anchor to your list of essential paddling gear.
BAKLife Bottom Line
There you have it! Your list of essential SUP gear for your paddling safety and enjoyment. Aside from the initial purchase of your SUP, a lot of the paddle board accessories you buy after the fact are relatively inexpensive.
The same can’t be said for many other sports and hobbies out there (if you have a golfer, fisherman, or gun enthusiast in your life you know what I’m talking about!). So there’s no excuse not to get the essential equipment you need to paddle safely and maximize the enjoyment you get from your board.
If you have any other suggestions for essential SUP gear, let’s hear them in the comments below!
Paddle On!
We just came across this site and have to say nice work! Totally agree with this SUP packing list. The only thing we’ve added is some additional waterproofing to the mesh deck bag. Outdoor Research’s 3 pack of ditty sacks are a solid addition to keep a few essentials dry if you have them on board. They are small and pack well into any deck bag. Nice work!
Great, thanks for tip!