LEARN WITH STARBOARD
SUP · Choosing gear
Find gear that suits your body, how you'll use it and where you'll store it.
With TIKI · Choosing a board that fits you
Same weight,
different board for different SUP.
For flat water and surfing, start with a reference volume; for racing, start with the model and width.
Hard SUP (composite) · one adult · input range 40–120 kg
Enter a weight between 40 and 120 kg. Outside that range, check each model’s recommended rider weight.
Floating in the waves, and the feel of turning
Buoyancy gives you room to wait for waves and paddle; turning ability gives you the response to change direction on a wave. The shape of the board’s edges, the rails, also affects how it catches waves and turns. Look at these together with the volume.
Reference board volume 70 kg · just starting
154–210L
The volume range to look at when you’re starting out.
Weight × 2.2–3.0 · Blue Planet reference formula
Volume is where the choice starts.
Also check the board’s width and shape and each model’s recommended rider weight.
Products are not filtered out automatically by volume.
SUP RACE · A different way to read volume
Race boards aren’t chosen by “weight × a multiplier”.
Compare in this order: the water you’ll race on → each model’s recommended weight → a width you can handle → volume and shape. How buoyancy is spread between nose and tail also affects getting through waves and buoy turns.
| Length × width | Volume | Rider / use |
|---|---|---|
| 14′ × 26″ | 330L | Racing in mixed conditions · check the recommended weight for this size |
| 14′ × 24.5″ | 325L | Up to 95 kg · mixed conditions |
| 14′ × 23″ | 292L | Up to 90 kg · elite line |
| 14′ × 20.5″ | 276L | Light riders around 75 kg · high-performance model |
Based on how the official page describes each size. “Within the weight range” does not mean “stable for beginners”. Recheck the specifications for the year and size you plan to buy.
For a 75 kg rider, 276 L is about 3.7 times body weight. This single example is not a general formula for race boards.
2027 All Star official specifications ↗Board selection notes
Volume and width:
how to read them.
Once you know what the numbers mean, the right board becomes clear.
What do litres (L) mean?
Litres are the board’s volume.
The number is not the weight the board can carry.
200 L ≠ 200 kgA 200 L board does not mean it carries up to 200 kg.
Even at the same volume, how stable a board feels on the water depends on its length, width, thickness and where the volume sits. Use volume to set a first range, then compare width and shape for how it actually rides.
Key pointThe final check is the model’s recommended rider weight.
Why is volume chosen differently for SUP surfing?
In waves you look at enough float and
control when turning together.
While waiting: buoyancy
You need to float well while waiting for waves and paddling. A board that’s too small makes balancing and moving hard.
On the wave: turning
Too much volume can limit how the board responds on a wave. Compare width, rails and board shape as well.
Riding well on flat water doesn’t mean you should jump to the advanced surfing multiplier. If waves are new to you, start from the wave beginner / basic range and find the right board with a coach.
RememberA smaller volume is not a goal in itself.
Starting to race: which width to look at first?
Before a fast board,
find a width where you can hold your paddling stance.
If you’re comfortable on flat water and new to racing24.5–26″ to start comparingTest the wider end first and check the stability for yourself.
Even at the same width, stability depends on the bottom shape, rails and standing area. Starting from a width you know, compare whether you can hold your stance on the water you’ll mostly paddle.
If you’re new to SUPdon’t treat this width as the right place to start. Learn the basics on a roomy all-round board first.
Starboard race board buying guide ↗See the weight reference table and how it’s calculated
| Weight | SUP beginner × 2.2–3.0 | Basic × 1.8–2.2 | Advanced surf × 1.3–1.8 | Expert surf × 1.1–1.3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50kg | 110–150L | 90–110L | 65–90L | 55–65L |
| 60kg | 132–180L | 108–132L | 78–108L | 66–78L |
| 70kg | 154–210L | 126–154L | 91–126L | 77–91L |
| 80kg | 176–240L | 144–176L | 104–144L | 88–104L |
| 90kg | 198–270L | 162–198L | 117–162L | 99–117L |
| 100kg | 220–300L | 180–220L | 130–180L | 110–130L |
This is Blue Planet’s reference table by skill, use and water conditions, not an official Starboard standard or a maximum load. Values are rounded to whole litres. 40–120 kg is the range this tool accepts, not a valid weight range set by the source.
In the source table, the basic level is the Novice / intermediate-in-rough-water category. We link the wave-beginner choice to this basic range as a reference; it doesn’t guarantee a board suits your surfing. The source’s beginner category also includes Touring / Race, but this guide doesn’t apply a blanket multiplier to modern race boards.
For carrying gear or a child, check the product’s load and passenger limits separately. Don’t apply this calculation to wing or foil boards or to inflatable SUPs.
Sources checked: 2026-09-24
Blue Planet volume reference table ↗ · Choosing width, shape and surf boards ↗ · Starboard race guide ↗ · 2027 All Star ↗ · 2025 Sprint ↗
BOARD TEST · SUPboarder
Same 14′ × 28″ — touring or racing?
▶ Comparison video · 18:56Two boards, both 14 feet long and 28 inches wide — do they ride the same? The All Star Airline and the Touring Inflatable Deluxe are swapped back and forth on flat water and in wind and chop, comparing speed and stability through to carrying gear and packing down.
- Little difference in flat-water speedAt a normal paddling pace the two boards felt similar. When pushing hard, the testers found the Airline slightly faster.
- Airline for chop and quick turnsThe testers felt stable on the Airline's wider tail and the support beside their feet. Step-back pivot turns were also easier and quicker.
- Touring for traveling with gearThe front and rear bungees and carry handles are practical. It tracks straight, so you switch paddle sides less often, and it packs down smaller.
- Decide how you'll ride before you pick a sizeIf you carry a lot and care about transport and storage, look at the Touring; for light touring mixed with racing and turn practice, look at the Airline.
Summarized from SUPboarder's test ride of these models and its English subtitles. Speed and stability depend on the rider and the water conditions.
Watch the video with the summary →See it, then read along
13 guides
SUP · 4-minute read
Your first SUP: shall we find the board that suits you?
From your height and weight to where you'll store it: 10 questions to think about before choosing your first board.
Read with illustrations ↗
SUP · 4-minute read
Hard board or inflatable: which SUP is right for you?
Performance, storage, transport and durability. Find the board that fits your life from four angles.
Read with illustrations ↗
SUP · 4-minute read
Paddle length: how much to add to your height?
Even at the same height, the length differs for surfing and flat water. Let's read Starboard's reference chart together.
Read with illustrations ↗
SUP · 4-minute read
Center fin: installing it and setting its position
From the small screw plate to how far forward or back the fin sits. Set it up step by step before you go in.
Read with illustrations ↗
SUP · 4-minute read
Paddle blades: what changes when the shape changes?
Use the original Enduro and Lima comparison to see how the catch feels and what each is for.
Read with illustrations ↗
SUP · 4-minute read
Two air chambers? Getting to know the double chamber
Two pictures showing how the Deluxe double chamber is built and the backup buoyancy it gives.
Read with illustrations ↗
SUP · 4-minute read
Many riders, one board: how to enjoy team SUP
Picnic, racing and teamwork ideas for large team boards, in pictures.
Read with illustrations ↗
SUP · 4-minute read
How plastic bottles become a board bag
Follow the six steps of RE-COVER and Waste2Wear through photos and illustrations.
Read with illustrations ↗
SUP · 4-minute read
The wood inside your board: what is end-grain balsa?
A look at the balsa used in sandwich construction and the original environmental notes.
Read with illustrations ↗
SUP · 4-minute read
Bio resin: what does the "bio" mean?
Learn what resin made with plant-based, renewable ingredients means, using the original artwork.
Read with illustrations ↗
SUP · 4-minute read
Discarded fishing nets become fins: the NetPositive story
Read the parts made from recycled fishing nets separately from the comparison figures in the original.
Read with illustrations ↗
SUP · 4-minute read
Leisure and racing start from different paddle lengths
Read the difference in length by use, based on Connor Baxter's hand measure.
Read with illustrations ↗
SUP · 4-minute read
The ZEN 6-year warranty tag: does it still apply?
Use a past campaign's tag to read the eligible products, purchase date, registration deadline and what's covered.
Read with illustrations ↗