It can be really easy to get carried away with purchasing new gear when you have a cool paddle board. But exactly which paddle board accessories are a must to have and which accessories are just going to sit in your garage and never get used? Here’s a little breakdown that I came up with to help you decide which paddle board accessories are worth having and which ones you can live without.
Paddle, fin, and a manual pump
These are some of the accessories that will already come with your paddle board when you purchase it. Without those accessories, you will not have a successful paddle boarding day. If you happen to buy a paddle board and those three accessories are not included, go ahead and ask the retailer for a discount because you’re going to end up buying all that separately.
Paddle Board Leash
A paddle board leash is another common accessory that might already come with your paddle board. This leash is usually a Velcro collar that wraps around your foot as well as ties onto your board. The paddle board leash will help ensure that you stay attached to your paddle board and that the board won’t get away from you if you happen to fall in the water. These leashes are incredibly useful and you’ll want one with you every time you go out on the water.
Life Jacket
You should always go out in the water with some kind of flotation device even if you’re a pro at swimming. Life jackets and other flotation devices can end up saving your life, and sometimes they are required by law too. If you don’t like how a life jacket feels then maybe consider buying one that goes on your waist and can also be inflated easily by pulling a string.
Paddle Board Seat
Paddle board seats can be very useful especially if you’re a beginner or if you’re planning on paddling long distances. Paddle board seats allow you to sit down so you can be comfortable while paddling in the water. Paddle boarding standing up is really fun but if you’re going really far, you’re going to get exhausted, and you’re going to want to sit down and take a break. Paddle board seats work by attaching to the D rings on your board. The seat isn’t very expensive and they are completely worth it.
Electric Pump and Battery
Having an electric pump with you can be pretty useful if you have an inflatable paddle board. If you don’t have an issue with pumping your board manually every single time then you don’t need to spend the extra cash on an eclectic pump. However, if you easily get exhausted pumping your paddle board then you absolutely need an electric one as well as an extra battery. An electric pump is one of the most useful paddle board accessories because it only takes about 10 minutes to fully inflate your board.