When it came to planning the 4-day tour on the Ruhr, it was clear without being asked: we would be travelling on 12'6" boards. Not only because one of the participants already had one on site and we wanted to travel on equally fast boards, but also because these boards offer the ideal compromise between travelling speed, storage options and manoeuvrability. We opted for 30 to 32 inch wide boards - they would allow us to make fast progress, but also prevent us from becoming flotsam ourselves in the somewhat flowy passages. These boards can be easily categorised according to their width:
Up to 28 inches: Very sporty, good for light paddlers up to 70 kilos. And also more suitable for day trips without a lot of ballast.
29 to 30 inches:For experienced 80-kilo paddlers, the range includes typical all-rounders. Boards that can carry you through all conditions with a sense of balance and still look very sleek.
31 to 32 inches:Advanced paddlers hardly need any more width, even with a lot of luggage. These boards are no longer light-footed sprinters, but still impress with their good shape.
Even wider boards are worth considering as touring companions, especially for very tall paddlers over 1.90 metres. With increasing body height, wider boards can also be manoeuvred with a straight paddle. Paddlers over 90 kilos are also better off with boards of33 or 34 inchesoften well advised. A thickness of six inches is also highly recommended.
You can find the complete test of these touring boards with all technical data and ratings as a PDF in the download area below:
- CrosLake Grand Tour 12'6" x 32.0"
- Fanatic Ray LTD 12'6" x 29,5"
- Fit Ocean Speedster 12'6" x 28.0"
- GTS RS 12'6"
- GTS Sportstourer 13'0"
- Indiana Touring Classic 12'6'' x 31.0''
- JP-Australia SportsAir 12'6'' x 28.0''
- Mistral Spirit Touring Race 12'6'' x 30.0''
- Red Paddle Voyager+ 13'2'' x 30,0''
- Siren Pike HCT 12'6'' x 29.0''
- Starboard Touring Deluxe DC 12'6'' x 30,0''
Downloads:
Stephan Gölnitz
Deputy Editor in Chief surf
