Should you buy or rent a stand-up paddle board?

Stand Up Paddle Board kaufen oder mieten?

It’s finally 5:00 PM; you leave the office and head towards the lake. You pump up your board and fully enjoy your after-work sundowner session. You focus solely on your paddle strokes and observe nature. The work stress that was weighing heavily on your shoulders is forgotten, and after a long paddle tour, you feel free and carefree!

After a stressful day at work, being active in the fresh air is the best way to clear your head and do something good for your body. Anyone who regularly goes out with a stand-up paddle board notices the positive influence of paddling on body and mind!

Very often, we receive the question of when it is worth buying a stand-up paddle board and whether it wouldn’t be cheaper to rent one. That’s why we want to look at the pros and cons in this article.

Buying a Stand Up Paddle Board

ADVANTAGES

 

  • No expenses for rental fees.
  • It’s your board, which you can take anywhere.
  • If you use your board frequently, the purchase costs pay for themselves after a short time.
  • You can choose the shape, size, quality, and brand.
  • You are independent when it comes to choosing your spot.

 

DISADVANTAGES

 

  • One-time higher acquisition costs.
  • Once you have made the purchase decision, you are limited to one board. (Unless you invest in two different models.)
  • You need a place where you can store your SUP equipment in a dry location.

 

As you can see from this list, buying a SUP board is definitely worth it if you go paddling regularly.

Renting a Stand Up Paddle Board

ADVANTAGES

 

  • No acquisition costs.
  • If you only get to paddle rarely, renting is cheaper than buying a new board.
  • Ask the rental station if there are seasonal passes, subscriptions, or flat rates. If you want to paddle often, a seasonal pass might be worthwhile for you!
  • Depending on the body of water, the rental station will have the right board for you. (For example, a wave SUP at a surf spot or a touring board at a lake.)

 

DISADVANTAGES

 

  • You are dependent on a rental station and thus on a specific spot.
  • You cannot take the board with you everywhere and are dependent on the rental station’s opening hours.
  • The selection of board models is limited, and on some days you might not be able to get the board you want.
  • If you rent a board very often from different rental stations, buying your own board is cheaper in the long run.
  • Some rental stations only have beginner SUP boards. If you are already good at paddling, these boards might not be demanding enough for you.

 

Renting a SUP board is a great thing if you don’t yet know which SUP board you want to buy. You can try out different models and brands to ensure that you buy the right SUP board for your requirements.
 
When renting a stand-up paddle board, the following rule definitely applies: be careful when choosing your rental station! Find out in advance what SUP equipment is offered, which board brand the rental station has in its range, and what the procedure is in case of damage.
Tip: Follow us on Facebook or Instagram and don’t miss any Glory Boards Testivals! There, you can thoroughly test all our SUP boards and paddles and try them out in a cross-comparison. In addition, several rental stations carry our SUP equipment.

Our conclusion: Should you buy or rent a SUP board?

As a SUP beginner, it is a good decision to rent SUP equipment from a rental station for your first few attempts. However, if you would like to paddle more often in different bodies of water or prefer a specific board shape, buying your own stand-up paddle board is the right decision.

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