SUP Route Planner - How To Plan Your Next Trip Effectively

Route planning is key to making sure your stand-up paddleboard adventure is safe, enjoyable and as stress-free as possible. But even though route planning seems like a straightforward process, many people don’t take the necessary steps to fully prepare for their trip. To help avoid mistakes and ensure you get the most from your time on the water, here’s a SUP route planner to help you prep for your next paddleboarding adventure.

What Makes A SUP Route Planner Important

No matter whether you’re a beginner taking your first casual paddle around a quiet lake or an experienced paddler undertaking a multi-day coastal adventure, proper route planning is important. Making use of a SUP route planner helps you:

• Determine approximate distances and travel time.
• Identify hazards and avoid strong currents.
• Keep track of changing weather and water conditions.
• Find the right places to enter and exit the water.
• Plan rest breaks and look at other interesting features along the way.
• Enhance your overall safety and confidence.

Determine What Kind Of Experience You Want to Have

The very first step in our SUP route planner is to determine what kind of experience you want to have. Ask yourself:

• Will my trip be a quick recreational paddle or a long-distance paddle?
• Do I prefer calm waters or more aggressive conditions?
• Am I trying to discover new areas or revisit old favourites?
• Will I paddle alone or with friends?

Having answers to those questions will help you to determine what kind of trip you need to plan, what sorts of locations you might visit and what preparation is needed.

Gather Information About The Conditions

Getting information about where you’ll be paddling is probably the most important part of preparing for your SUP adventure. Investigate what kind of water conditions you might need to expect and whether they’re safe enough, or whether you might need to look into alternative SUP routes.  Tide schedules, water elevation, traffic and any restrictions or prohibitions need to be checked out before confirming your destination. Be sure to research these things prior to getting on the water.

Plot Out Your Route

Next up on our SUP Route Planner is to plot out the whole route you’ll be taking on the day. This lets you see your entire trip from start to finish before you even leave shore. When creating your route:

Choose Where You Will Start and Finish - Pick locations that provide easy access to the water, have nearby parking options and offer safe entry and exit points.

Estimate Total Distance - Know your total distance so you can estimate how long it will take you to complete your trip and what supplies you will require. Most recreational paddleboarders average about 2-3mph, depending on the conditions and the person's skill level.

Add Recognisable Markers Along Your Route - Having waypoints on your SUP routes makes navigating easier and provides flexibility in case you need to get out of the water. Markers can include rest spots, viewpoints, beaches and meeting points.

Identify Potential Safety Concerns

Regardless of what kind of experience you're expecting to have while SUP'ing. Safety has to come first, even on SUP routes that are familiar to you. Before you head out:

• Wear a properly fitting Personal Flotation Device (PFD).
• Attach a leash to your board when appropriate.
• Bring a waterproof phone or communication device with you.
• Tell someone where you plan on going and for how long.

We hope that this SUP Route Planner has been helpful to you. You can check out the exceptional range of paddleboards that we carry on the Red Equipment store, or get in touch with our expert team if you require any other assistance.