What is the difference between a touring SUP and an all-around SUP?

The main difference lies in the purpose and character of the board. The all-around SUP is wider, shorter, and more stable, making it suitable for relaxed paddling, families, and first steps on the water. The touring SUP, on the other hand, is longer and narrower, which allows for better glide, higher speed, and more efficient paddling over longer distances. To simplify: • the all-around SUP is made for comfort and playfulness, • the touring SUP is for exploration, trips, and covering distances with less effort.

Is a touring SUP suitable for beginners?

Touring SUP is not the ideal first choice for complete beginners who do not yet have basic balance. Because it is narrower and longer, it requires a bit more sense of stability. However, a touring SUP can be suitable for: • athletically active beginners with good balance, • those who already know they are interested in longer tours and trips, • users who have already tried stand-up paddling (e.g., in a course or rental). For a complete start, an all-around SUP is generally a more sensible choice, while a touring SUP comes as a logical upgrade.

Is a touring SUP suitable for paddling on the sea?

Yes – a touring SUP is very suitable for the sea, especially for longer coastal tours. When paddling on the sea, it is important that the board: • holds direction well, • does not "adjust" in the waves, • allows efficient paddling against the wind. A touring SUP with a V-hull (e.g., Voyager) is particularly suitable. The V-hull works by: • splitting waves to the left and right side, • reducing impact on the wave, • improving directional stability, • enabling smoother and more predictable navigation in rough conditions. Because of this, such a touring SUP is one of the best choices for the sea, especially for longer distances.

Is a touring SUP suitable for rivers and lakes?

Yes, a touring SUP is excellent for lakes and calm rivers, where its glide and efficiency come into play. On calm water, it allows: • smooth paddling, • fewer course corrections, • less energy consumption over longer distances. For rivers, it is important to consider: • water level, • depth (due to the fin), • current. For shallower rivers, touring SUPs with lower or two shorter fins are often more suitable, as they are less likely to catch on the bottom.

How many kilometers is it reasonable to paddle with a touring SUP?

A touring SUP is designed for distances where an all-around SUP becomes inefficient. For most users, a touring SUP makes sense for: • tours from approximately 5 km onwards, • ideally for distances of 10–20 km, • experienced paddlers with good conditions can easily paddle even further. The main advantage of a touring SUP is not only speed, but also that: • you use less energy, • you maintain a better pace, • you are less tired at the end of the tour. Therefore, a touring SUP is the right choice for everyone who understands SUP paddling as a journey on the water, not just as a short activity along the coast.

Touring SUP boards

SUP boards for long tours, exploration and travel

Touring SUPs are more advanced SUP boards designed for paddlers who want to cover longer distances on the water, explore the coast, lakes or rivers , and move more efficiently. Compared to all-round SUPs, they allow for greater speed and better glide, so they are willing to sacrifice some stability in exchange for more range .

A touring SUP is a logical upgrade to a versatile SUP, and is often the first choice of athletes and active recreationalists who are interested in SUP for longer distances, SUP for travel, or even SUP for multi-day trips.

What are touring SUP boards?

Travel SUP boards – often called touring SUPs – are faster and longer SUP boards that hold their course better and allow for efficient paddling over distances of 10 km and more . They are intended for SUP riders who want to:

to go further with less effort,
row more consistently,
have better control over the direction,
carry additional equipment.

Touring SUPs do not have a uniform character. Some models are better suited for calm waters and lakes , others for the sea and longer coastal tours , and still others represent a compromise between speed and a more agile feel. That is why it is important to understand the differences in shape, dimensions and construction when choosing the right touring SUP board.

Main features of a touring SUP board

Touring SUP boards are recognizable by their pointed nose , which cuts through the water more easily, and a wider, more square tail , which maintains stability despite the narrower silhouette. Compared to all-round models, touring SUPs:

longer,
narrower,
faster,
more focused on keeping direction.

The length of touring kites usually ranges between 11' and 13' (approximately 335–400 cm) .

Shorter touring kites around 11' are more agile and playful, while longer models (12'6, 13' and above) hold their direction extremely well and allow for very efficient gliding over long distances.

Width greatly affects the stability and character of the kite.

At a width of around 28'' , the SUP is faster but requires more balance, while at 32'' the touring SUP is more stable but slightly slower (still significantly faster than an all-round SUP).

Touring turn signal (fin) – why is it important?

Touring kites use a longer touring fin , which is usually screwed into a standardized US fin box . Such a system allows:

better directional stability,
less rowing correction,
easy replacement of the turn signal.

The so-called touring fin with a larger surface area is very effective, which additionally stabilizes the direction.

A touring SUP with one rudder is generally more agile and turns easier, while a SUP with two lower rudders holds its direction even better and is often more suitable for shallower rivers , where longer rudders get stuck more quickly.

How to choose the right touring SUP board?

The most important criteria when choosing a touring board is the distance you want to paddle and your attitude towards speed. Longer tours mean a longer and more directional board.

Another key factor is the weight of the paddle .

For touring SUPs we recommend:

12 cm thick for users up to approximately 100 kg – a thinner board has a lower center of gravity and is less sensitive to crosswinds, which are common on longer tours,
15 cm thickness for heavier users where greater load capacity is required.

The width of the touring paddle then determines how much stability you want – a narrower paddle is faster, while a wider one is more relaxed and predictable.

Stiffness and technology – the key to touring SUPs

For touring boards, board stiffness becomes extremely important , as a longer construction will reveal material weaknesses more quickly. A board that flexes too much:

worse glides,
requires more energy,
it is less stable in wind and waves.

Advanced design solutions allow for higher pressures and less flex. A rigid SUP is less tiring over longer distances, more precise and significantly more enjoyable to paddle – especially at sea or in rough water.

Touring sup - for whom is it the right choice?

Touring SUP is the right choice for you if:

you are interested in long distance SUP,
you want to explore and travel by water,
Are you looking for a more efficient and faster SUP?
you already have basic balance,
You want a SUP board for long tours and excursions.

However, if you are primarily looking for relaxed surfing, playing by the shore, or family use, a versatile SUP will often be a more sensible choice.