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What size paddle board do you need for your weight?
Updated
Add your weight to everything else on the board: a cooler, a dog, a child. Then look for a board whose listed max load puts that total at 80 percent or less, and 70 percent or less for a roomy fit. That is the practical range iROCKER, a board maker, gives. The checker also shows the width and length iROCKER's size chart gives for your weight.
Paddle board weight checker
An estimate. Roomy means rider plus extra weight is at or under 70 percent of the lowest max load on the listing. Tight means 70 to 80 percent. The volume range is a rule of thumb from iROCKER's size guide: your weight in kg times 2.2 to 2.5. None of these six listings gives a volume, so we use it only as a guide when you compare other boards.
Three worked examples
- A 150 pound paddler alone. Look for a max load of at least 188 pounds, or 214 for roomy. Every board here is roomy. The volume rule of thumb gives 150 to 170 liters.
- A 200 pound paddler with a 60 pound dog. That is 260 pounds, so look for at least 325 pounds of max load, or 371 for roomy. Roomy: Skatinger 11 ft 6. Tight: Roc 10 ft 6, Tower 10 ft 4 and Aqua Plus 11 ft. Too small: SereneLife 10 ft 6 and Retrospec Weekender. Volume: 259 to 295 liters, and iROCKER says to aim for the top end with a dog.
- A 170 pound parent with a 55 pound child. 225 pounds in total. Roomy: Skatinger 11 ft 6, Roc 10 ft 6, Tower 10 ft 4 and Aqua Plus 11 ft. Tight: none. Too small: SereneLife 10 ft 6 and Retrospec Weekender.
Where these numbers come from
| Board | Lowest max load on the listing | 70 to 80 percent | With 260 lb on board |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skatinger 11 ft 6 | 450 | 315 to 360 | roomy |
| Roc 10 ft 6 | 350 | 245 to 280 | tight |
| Tower 10 ft 4 | 330 | 231 to 264 | tight |
| Aqua Plus 11 ft | 328 | 230 to 262 | tight |
| SereneLife 10 ft 6 | 275 | 193 to 220 | too small |
| Retrospec Weekender | 275 | 193 to 220 | too small |
iROCKER's guide says a board at max capacity sits lower, tracks poorly and tips more easily, especially in chop. Its size guide also gives a volume rule of thumb: your weight in kilograms times 2.2 to 2.5 equals the target volume in liters. It is a rule of thumb, not a law. We show it because it helps when you compare boards that do list liters. None of the six listings here did.
Width and length come from iROCKER's beginner size chart. Wider is more stable. Longer glides and tracks better. See width and length for the tradeoffs, and the roundup for all six boards.