The 5 Best Things About Paddle Boarding

Truth be told, I didn’t learn how to paddle board until I went to Hawaii (more on that here) the summer after graduation with my college roommate. Ever since then, it’s the activity I look forward to the most in the PNW come June. I thought it would be fun to share The 5 Best Things About Paddle Boarding since I’m so obsessed with it.

I’m not going to sugarcoat this with a life update today. I’m just going to jump right in but feel free to leave a comment below on the reasons you love paddle boarding too.

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Table of Contents

The 5 Best Things About Paddle Boarding

I will say, the moment you invest in your own paddle board, or inflatable one (which I have), you want to get out on the water 90x more. Mine was a Christmas gift from my parents two years ago during the middle of the pandemic. In their minds, there was no safer place for me but in the middle of a lake far away from other people. Which I think should be the first on this list…

One // Solitude

One of the best things about paddle boarding is it’s a solo activity. You don’t need to be with anyone else. It’s easy to keep yourself occupied, especially with a portable speaker.

Personally, I love getting out on the water first thing in the morning or afternoon because it’s peaceful. There aren’t a lot of boats or other people on the water. It’s so nice having half a lake to yourself with a thermos full of coffee.

Two // Group Activity

That said, paddle boarding is also a great group activity too. My brother and sister-in-law both have kayaks and getting out on the water together is a lot of fun. I love tossing my brother snacks while he’s in charge of the music.

It’s a lot of fun to race but it’s much more enjoyable to go exploring together. We have like to see how far out we can or if we can make it to the other end of the lake in a certain amount of time. It’s some of my most favored memories!

Three // Exercise

You can burn a lot of calories in the span of an hour on a paddleboard. It’s great for your core, maintaining good balance, and can be a killer arm workout!

Four // Easy Activity to Learn

When I first started paddleboarding it was in rough waters. Almost unbearable. After, I didn’t get back on for a long time. When I did, in flat water, I picked it up fast and was able to teach my other family members to do it quickly. Once you get the gist of the sport, you’ve got and can only improve from that point.

It’s easy, fun, and smooth sailing in the right climate.

Five // The Gear

That sounds silly but it’s true. My paddle board came with a detachable seat & extra fin for my ore. This turns my paddle board into an on-water kayak if I want it to be. I haven’t used it but I absolutely would in the Fall on a river with my brother.

There’s also a cooler I was gifted that holds all my lunch items and cold beverages and it has a pocket for my sunscreen. You can get an anchor to keep you from floating away when you find the perfect spot on the water. I love these waterproof dry pouches for my phone and snacks but the best investment for my paddle board has been an electric pump that plugs right into my car. My next purchase will be a paddleboard strap carrier. 😊

What are the best things you love about paddle boarding?