Hello all
I would love some advice from some experienced SUP'ers please. I am looking to buy my first all-rounder SUP, except I have no idea what size of board to look for.
I am 58kg and 170cm tall. My husband will occasionally use it, which may throw a spanner in the works - he is 100kg and 182cm. I'm not keen on an inflatable board either.
Is there a solution/compromise to this?
Advice gratefully received! 
I would propose three key questions:
1. Do your really expect your husband to use this board?
2. Do you want him to easily succeed on it?
3. Is your husband less than a world class athlete?
If the answer to all of these questions was yes, then his size and weight will need to be the major component in choosing a board size. You will be able to easily paddle a board his size, it will just be harder to carry around and load on the car. Unfortunately, if you get a board ideal for your size, he is going to struggle and have a challenging and potentially very frustrating time. Unless you are in need of some revenge for his past sins, this may not be a good idea. If he is the type that loves a challenge, and does not mind a lot of falling at first, you could bring the board down a little closer to your size, and let him enjoy the challenge.
I have heard the following size recommendation for a beginning all round board. Take the person's weight in kilos, and double that in liters. In other words, I weigh 75 kilos with an extensive surfing background and I started off happily on a 150 liter board. My wife who is your size wanted a very easy start, and she also started off on a 150 liter board and was delighted with it, other than having to carry it. 200 liters would be easy for your husband, and I would be reluctant to start him on anything less than 175 unless he really loves a challenge. Either of those sizes would be easy for you to paddle, just tougher to carry around.
Talk to some guys at your local shops about where and how you plan to use the board, and they can narrow some ideas down for you.
Hi NuSUPCHICK
In my opinion yes your 100kg husband does throw a spanner in the works.
Boards are obviously sized to the weight and ability of the rider. As newbie's having a board with more volume can be ok.
Board sizes suited to you are 9'8 through to 10'6 in length volume starting at 130 litres, unfortunately I have to recommend your husband gets his own board unless you are capable of putting a large mans board on and off your car by yourself.
A scenario that usually ruins two different sized people riding the same board as the load and unload effort outweighs the joy of going for a quick paddle.
Once you have become a competent paddler dragging extra board weight and surface area on the water can also negatively effect your enjoyment of SUP, unless you want to paddle around with your labrador, a bizarre and too often phone call I receive in Summer.
Board size recommendations for hubby is 10'6 plus however at 100 kg 10'8 or 11' plus would be better, around 180 litres plus in volume.
A compromise or solution to this if you buy a big board that you both will share then only go SUP ing with your husband so he can put the board on and off the roof for you and never ride someone else's board that is more suited to you so you never know the difference of the extra weight you are dragging around.
Good Luck in your SUP pursuits.
Regards
Jack
www.jacksboards.com.au
CLASSIC: by the time i wrote this and pressed enter another contributor has put a very similar answer and solution.
Nu sup chick. Well actually there is some good news and some bad news. Firstly one of the best beginner boards, the naish odysseus will work for you and your husband as it should carry him if he is close to the 100kg mark. This will also be a biggish board for you and the post above recommend the odysseus are heavy boards to carry around. I am 137 kg and 183cm and find the odysseus hefty to walk 100m to the beach with.
As beginners however you are in good weight categories for buying 2nd hand or pre used and I would recommend this for you as the hard boards, epoxy fiberglass do need to be kept rather well.
I would actually think that for you at your weight a performance isup would be ideal. Its light, your weight wouldnt effect the stiffness and you could throw it around even inflated. Plus you could use it for yoga. If you live more than say 5 minutes walk from the water I cant recommend a wood or fiber glass board. I live 2 minutes drive from a major lake and beach and find putting the boards on roof racks a hassle.
As for your hubby I think he would enjoy getting something a little bigger than your board. Also if he has surfed before his progression is going to be way quicker than yours and then your needs would differ greatly.
All the advice above is also provided by more experienced members than me but I would be looking at the inflatible fly air and an inflatible imagine board for your husband.
Oh one last thing its sooo much better to paddle together. More fun, better for your fitness and enjoyable. Just do a little more research and then test a high quality inflatible from a paddleboarding company and a few demo boards and then decide. A new epoxy or wooden board is going to get dinged, worn, run into rocks, beached, stuck in the shorebreak, stepped on the nose. etc. Learn on a 2nd hand one then go new on your second board after 3 months or so.
My recommendations are a 10'6 Naish Nalu . I've had a lot of boards from Fanatic, Starboard, Sunova but the best has been the Nalu(GTW) for ease of getting onto the wave,flat water paddling and just a really comfortable board. It's magic on a wave and is a great looking board.People believe it or not stop to take pictures of it . Everyone should have a Nalu even as a second board.
I'm with you rock magnet ,I'm 96 kgs and have no problem flat water paddling the 10.6 nalu ..GTW and surfing it,
and it would be a great first board for you nusupchic.i know a few ladies your weight with them
and they have a ball on them .the other ladies who paddle with them have 9.5 Alanas ..and 10' mana's
The 10' mana would be the best suited to your husband ,
Thanks heaps everyone for your advice! Some solid info to take away and think about.
Think we might have to consider getting a board just for me as I didn't appreciate the difference a person's weight can affect the board size. I'll need to get the thing on a roof rack too, as we live a distance way from any water... better get the gym to work on the arms haha!!
some people are just incompatible
surfing is all about the me me me factor
get a board for you.....get a board for him
they don't have to be shiny glossy ones ?
