You already have the necessities: a SUP board, paddle, PFD, and appropriate clothing. Many paddlers will supplement this equipment with accessories to make a day on the water more comfortable and enjoyable.
This article will assist you in determining whether the following common SUP accessories are appropriate for you:
A leash secures you to your SUP, preventing it from escaping if you fall off.
Deck bag: A deck bag is a handy place to keep extra supplies.
Mounts include phone mounts, camera mounts, drink holders, and fishing gear mounts.
Bungee cords and tie-down straps: These allow you to secure items such as a dry bag and extra clothing to your board.
SUP bag: These bags protect your SUP while it is being stored or transported.
A cart can help you move your unwieldy SUP around.
SUP Leashes
If you fall off your SUP, the wind and waves can quickly move it away from you, so using a leash that tethers your SUP to you is highly recommended. When using a leash, one end attaches to a specific point on the board and the other wraps around your ankle or calf. Follow this kayak guide for more detai
Coiled leashes and straight leashes are the two types of leashes.
Coiled leashes: As the name implies, these leashes are coiled into a neat bundle. Coiled leashes are most commonly used for touring and racing on flatwater.
Pros: The coil keeps the leash contained and prevents it from dangling in the water, where it could drag you down.
Cons: Coiled leashes can become tangled, especially if you move around and change positions on your board frequently, as you might when surfing or riding rapids on a river.
When you fall off the board, coiled leashes can cause it to recoil back at you, so be prepared.
Straight leashes are made up of a single long cord with no coils. Surfers and river paddlers typically prefer straight leashes.
Pros:
Straight leashes are less likely to tangle than coiled leashes.
When you fall off your board, they will not cause your board to recoil back at you as dramatically as a coiled leash would.
Cons:
A coiled leash is more likely to drag behind you in the water, slowing you down.
Tips for buying and using a leash:
Choose the proper length: As a general rule, you should use a leash that is one foot longer than your paddle board.
Purchase a SUP-specific leash: If you have a surfboard at home, do not simply transfer the leash from that to your SUP. It’s probably not strong enough to support the additional weight of a SUP.
Some leashes are designed to be attached to your ankle, while others are designed to be attached to your calf. The choice is typically based on which is more comfortable, but some paddlers find that attaching the leash to the calf helps keep it from tangling in their feet if they move around a lot on the board.
Right or left leg: It’s usually best to attach the leash to your dominant leg, which is the one you’ll use to stand in a surf stance. When you step back into surf stance on your board, the leash will remain behind you.
Wear a leash with a breakaway feature when river paddling so that if you or your board becomes entangled in river debris, you can free yourself.
