Kayak or Paddle Surf: differences, advantages and recommendations

Paddle surfing is one of the most popular water sports in recent years. This activity, in which you only need a paddle board and a paddle, is gaining more and more followers every day due to its great adaptability, possibilities of use, and benefits as physical training. Its growing popularity has also raised doubts among those who are not clear about whether to practice kayaking or paddle surfing.

Both activities are easily practicable even for beginner users, but each has its own advantages and disadvantages. In this post, we explain everything you need to know about the great battle of kayak vs paddle surfing, the equipment you need to practice them, recommendations, and how to make the best choice.

Kayak vs. Paddle Surf: Differences in Required Equipment

The main difference between kayaking and paddle surfing is the way it is practiced. In kayaking, you will do it sitting down, while paddle surfing is practiced standing up, although you can also sit or kneel. In both, the goal is to paddle from one point to another, but kayaking is not the same as SUP. If you want to know more about how to paddle surf, here you will find a complete guide with tips and tricks.

Another difference between these two modalities is found in the equipment needed for their practice. In paddle surfing or kayaking, you will use a vessel that ensures correct buoyancy and a paddle with which you will generate movement. However, the shape, weight, and measurements of a paddle surf board are different from those of a kayak.

This does not mean that a paddle board is larger than a kayak, or vice versa. There are different types and their size varies depending on the use you are going to give it: if you want a higher navigation speed, a long board or kayak is better; and if you are looking for stability, you should prioritize width over length.

The kayak vs paddle surf paddle is also different. Both in its length and in the number of blades, the concavity, the angle of inclination and its orientation with respect to the shaft or mast of the paddle. 

In kayaking, the paddle can be shorter, includes two blades (spoons), and has a smaller concavity and an asymmetrical orientation, thus facilitating seated paddling. In paddle surfing, however, the paddle is usually longer for standing paddling, there is a blade at one end and a handle at the other, and the blade has a greater concavity and inclination.

Experience and usage technique

Whether kayaking or paddle surfing, you won't need any previous experience in either of these water activities. They are accessible sports for both children and adults precisely because they are easy and quick to learn. It's a matter of a little practice and some patience to master the basic concepts. Let's look at the usage technique of each of them:

Techniques for paddle surfing

• Place the board in the water in an area with sufficient depth to avoid damaging the fins.
• Get on your knees, leaving the central handle between your legs.
• Alternate strokes every 3 or 4 repetitions on each side of the paddle board.
• Paddle near the side of the board to maintain course, or move the paddle away during the stroke to turn.
• To stand up: place the paddle horizontally and rest your hands on the board. Raise your hips and knees, and place your feet where your knees were before. Carefully stand up to an upright position. Bend your knees and start paddling to gain stability.
• To get back on the paddle surf board: stand to one side of the board, bring the paddle up and grab the central handle. Use your legs and arms to push your torso onto the board. Turn towards the "nose" to bring one leg up first and then the other. Return to the starting position.

Techniques for kayaking

• Get on the kayak and sit with your back straight, your feet on the footrests, and your knees slightly bent, resting against the sides of the boat.
• When rowing, you must alternate strokes on each side of the kayak, turning with your torso to better distribute the force in each movement.
• To turn, draw a sweeping motion in the opposite direction you want to go; thus, to go to the left, you should only row on the right side of the kayak.
• To brake, put the paddle in the water and generate resistance; this will cause the boat to stop.
• To get back on the kayak: place your hands on the side or inside of the boat and use your legs to push yourself up to raise your torso. Once here, turn on yourself to sit down, also raising your legs and placing them on the footrests.
• To turn the kayak over: stand to one side and push yourself with your legs to grab the opposite side by climbing onto the hull of the kayak. Now, let yourself fall back to lift the boat and flip it back to its natural position.

Kayak vs Paddle Surf: advantages and disadvantages

Choosing between kayaking and paddle surfing also depends on the advantages and disadvantages of each of these sports. Each modality offers benefits over its alternative, making it easier to opt for one option or another depending on what it offers you. 

Paddle Surf vs Kayak Advantages

In the case of paddle surfing, these are its advantages over kayaking:

• Complete exercise: paddle surfing is a low-impact sport that has great benefits by working almost all the muscle groups in the body. In kayaking, the exercise focuses mainly on the upper body.
• Balance and coordination work: you will improve your balance and coordination in movements when paddling, something that does not happen in kayaking as it is a sport that is practiced sitting down.
• Position: Standing up while paddling on a board offers an unmatched sensation compared to kayaking. It provides a new perspective and a wider field of vision than kayaking.
• Adaptability: Stand-Up Paddleboarding is highly adaptable to all levels and users, from children to adults. It requires no prior experience, and the basic concepts are easily internalized.
• Lightness: Paddle surf boards, especially inflatable ones, are lighter than inflatable kayaks. In comparison, a SUP weighs around 9 kg, while a kayak can range between 12 kg and 20 kg, depending on the size.
• Easy to get on: In SUP, it is easier to get on the board than to get into the kayak, whether at the beginning of the session or when getting on from the water. In addition, turning the board over is substantially easier than doing it with a kayak.

Advantages of Kayak vs Paddle Surf

Meanwhile, kayaking has its own advantages over paddle surfing:

• Stability: In a kayak, the center of gravity is lower than in paddle surfing, as the paddling position is always seated. This makes kayaks more stable than SUPs.
• Protection from the elements: Kayaks also offer greater protection from the sun, rain, or cold than boards do. There are covered kayaks designed for paddling when the weather is unfavorable.
• Greater navigation speed: Due to their position, length, and paddling frequency, kayaks usually achieve a higher navigation speed than paddle boards.
• Maneuverability: They also have greater maneuverability than SUP boards, in addition to being more suitable for use in whitewater.
• Cost: Some kayaks are more economical than paddle surf boards. However, the boats you find at a better price and their accessories may not be of the same quality as a paddle board.
• Less affected by the wind: On windy days, it is easier to navigate with a kayak than with a paddle surf board. In addition, you can ride some waves more effectively by offering greater stability. You can also do it in SUP, but you will need a little more experience.

What to choose according to your objective or environment?

Your choice between kayak or paddle surf will also depend on the objectives, the environment, and the use you are going to make of the equipment. In case you are looking for a different option to enjoy an aquatic activity with great benefits for physical fitness, paddle surfing is the most recommended.

On the other hand, if you prefer to focus solely on navigation, take long trips, and enjoy paddling, the kayak is the choice you should make. Also, if you prefer the feeling of teamwork, kayaks for two people can help you meet your needs. Paddle surfing is a sport that is practiced with your own equipment, but that does not mean you have to give up company.

As for the environment, you can go paddle surfing anywhere. It is ideal for lakes, slow rivers, beaches, reservoirs, and swamps. The same is true for kayaking, although the big difference is that it performs a little better in whitewater. With SUP you can also enjoy this type of water, and even ride waves, but it requires a little more experience.

Therefore, before choosing between kayak vs paddle surf, you must take this approach into account:

• Paddle surf: It is a more physical sport that can be practiced sitting, kneeling, or standing. It is more designed for use in areas with calm waters, although with experience you can practice it in almost any aquatic scenario.
• Kayak: It is somewhat less physical than SUP, but it provides more stability and maneuverability. You don't work the whole body, nor will you have a privileged view of the environment. Instead, you can practice it more easily in environments with more waves or wind.

Recommendations for beginners

If you're new to kayaking or paddleboarding and still a beginner, it's advisable to consider these tips to get the most out of both the equipment and the activity:

• Paddleboarding is somewhat easier to learn than kayaking and requires less practice, although you'll need to work on your balance.
• If you prefer speed, kayaks are faster, but you'll need to remain seated at all times.
• Consider buying an inflatable kayak or paddleboard, as it's more practical to transport and store at home.
• Always monitor weather conditions and wind. It's not advisable to paddleboard or kayak with pronounced waves and strong gusts of wind.
• Protect yourself at all times by using sunscreen and staying hydrated. Don't forget to report your route and destination if you're going kayaking or paddleboarding alone.
• Take care of the equipment by rinsing it with fresh water after each use. If you want to learn how to clean a paddleboard, here's a complete step-by-step guide.
• Buy a quality paddleboard or kayak. Cheap can be expensive if it doesn't meet your expectations. 

Can I combine kayaking and paddleboarding?

Both sports are complementary. Both are practiced in aquatic environments and require specific equipment, but with inflatable kayaks and paddleboards, you can solve the storage space problem. There is no limitation when practicing both sports activities, which makes them a good complement to your training or an ideal resource to spend a great day in the best company.

At HUIIKE, our paddleboards in the Full Pack version offer the possibility of converting them into a kayak. The pack includes all the accessories (seat, footrest, and kayak paddle) to transform your SUP into a boat for sailing, touring, or fishing. In addition, converting from board to kayak will only take a few minutes, making it easy to switch from one mode to another, even in the same session.

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