Partner: stand up paddle boards

Right out of the gates (or rather, tailgate of my truck) I was excited about the Body Glove Performer 11 inflatable stand up paddleboard. It was light and it came with an electric pump, both of which saved my arms for the actual gear test.

The big question for new paddlers is: Do I go with a canoe, a kayak, or a stand up paddleboard? Well, you'll certainly find passionate defenders of all three options. The key is to narrow down what kinds of adventures you envision yourself going on. It's also important to compare things like performance and stability with the budget and ability of yourself and anyone else in your family or group. I'm going to break down many of the common questions and concerns for each of these vessels and, hopefully, shine some light on the best choice for you.