Pros & consHardboard or iSUP - which is better?

Stephan Gölnitz

 · 23.08.2023

Pros & cons: Hardboard or iSUP - which is better?Photo: Stephan Gölnitz
The question of whether a SUP should be inflatable or whether a hardboard is better has probably been the subject of countless discussions. Two SUP editors explain which version is their favourite.

PRO Inflatable SUP

"For me, inflatable SUPs are the perfect companion for all my adventures. I can simply throw my inflatable SUP in my compact rucksack in the car or take it with me on a plane when travelling. Another advantage for me is that it can be stored in a small cellar compartment. This means it hardly takes up any space - especially in winter when it is used less. And transporting it through the narrow stairwell is also easy. The landlord is pleased that I don't make any holes in the walls. I've often got stuck somewhere with the SUP or it has fallen out of my hand. Damage or scratches afterwards: No such thing. And I don't have to worry about anything on or near the water either. Gravel, bushes or stones can't harm my SUP. And for use in white water, there is no alternative to the inflatable SUP anyway."

Thomas Pfannkuch, SUP reporter

Thomas Pfannkuch, SUP reporterPhoto: Andy KlotzThomas Pfannkuch, SUP reporter

PRO Hardboard

"Fortunately, I have the option of storing a long hardboard at home. For river tours and travel reports, I naturally use inflatable SUPs from the SUP test, but on the lake, nothing comes close to my hardboard in terms of glide. It's a race SUP that's now ten years old and even the cockpit has been extensively remodelled - something like this is also possible with a hardboard. To transport it to my home spot, I lashed the board to the roof rack faster than it takes to unpack an iSUP from the bag and flange it to the pump. On the way back, I blow-dry it on the roof of the car. When I go travelling privately - with the option of catching good waves - I grudgingly accept the extra effort involved in transporting it. Because you can only surf real waves with a suitable wave or all-round hardboard."

Stephan Gölnitz, SUP Editor-in-Chief

Stephan Gölnitz, SUP Editor-in-ChiefPhoto: Andy KlotzStephan Gölnitz, SUP Editor-in-Chief
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Stephan Gölnitz

Stephan Gölnitz

Deputy Editor in Chief surf

Stephan Gölnitz comes from Bochum and had Holland as his home windsurfing territory for many years before moving to Munich in 1996 for the job of test editor at surf magazine. The materials engineering graduate worked as a surf instructor on the Ijsselmeer during his studies and competed for several seasons for the Essen sailing team in the Surfbundesliga and the Funboard Cup. He completed a traineeship at surf-Magazin in the test department and since then has actively accompanied almost all tests on the boom and for more than 10 years also as a photographer. Stephan has covered many thousands of test kilometers, mainly on Lake Garda and in Langebaan, but also in Egypt and Tobago. He gets his hands on over 100 new sails and boards every year as his company car. Privately, he prefers to surf with a foil on Lake Walchensee or “unfortunately far too rarely” in the waves. SUP is Stephan's second passion, which he pursued for several years at numerous SUP races. Today, he prefers to paddle on river tours with family or friends - even for several days.

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