Written by Luke Green /
Paddle board fins are a small but critical part of your inflatable paddle board set-up. While you might not even notice them when you first look at your SUP, they play an essential role in tracking and stability. This means that the type of fin you use (and the way you set it up) can completely change the type of paddleboarding experience you have.
At Red, we understand just how important the different paddle board fin types can be to your overall success and enjoyment on the water. With this in mind, we’ve put together this handy SUP fin types guide, helping you obtain a better understanding of just why your fin matters and the types you can expect to see across our inflatable paddle board range.
The role of paddle board fins is a very simple but important one. SUP fins keep your board tracking in the right direction and ensure that you can stay in control of it. Without the right paddle board fin types available, your board would head off course and feel unstable. This would not only be very frustrating, but also pretty dangerous.
A well-designed and well-made fin should improve the tracking of your board, keep you stable, and can even help you go faster if you’re using the right type of board (like a racing paddle board designed for speed). This means that there are a variety of different paddle board fin types you can choose from, specifically designed to improve some or all of these capabilities. Choosing the right one can be a game changer.
The Red Paddle Co range of inflatable paddle boards offers a variety of all-round and specialist SUPs, designed to deliver an optimal paddling experience in different conditions. This level of customisation extends to the paddle board fin types used on our boards and we’ve made sure that each SUP includes the right fin for your needs.
The SUP fin types and setups offered by our range include:
Most boards in the Red Paddle Co range (including our best-selling all-round Ride range) come with built-in, twin moulded fins. These fins are part of our signature iFin system, which is designed to be as tough and reliable as possible. No tools or replacements are required as the fins are moulded directly onto the board, delivering both convenience and optimal performance. You simply have to unroll your board, inflate, and paddle!
The twin-fin setup also brings a balance of agility and stability. The two fins essentially act as pivots, allowing the board to turn quickly, particularly in the surf.
US fin box fins are probably the most common paddle board fin type you’ll come across, particularly in inflatable SUPs. These fins slot into what is known as a US fin box, which is a universal system used in both paddle boards and surfboards. A huge variety of interchangeable fins can then be fitted via the fin box, allowing you to experiment with different types depending on where you are and how you want your board to operate. They can also be changed should they get damaged over time.
If you’re using a board from the Compact range, you’ll experience our click fins. These innovative fins are designed for travel and are easy to remove when you need to pack down your SUP as small as possible. They simply click into place with no tools required and also include a secondary screw for added security.
Our newest range of inflatable paddle boards - the Future Series - takes paddle board fin type customisation further than ever before. The Voyager 14’0” includes our all-new Spin Box System: a versatile fin setup with a removable central fin box which can be detached when packed. The Spin Box System is compatible with multiple fin setups, including single fin, twin fin, and thruster setups, allowing you to have full control over your board’s feel on the water at all times.
Understanding which of the paddle board fin types we have outlined is right for you can be tricky. Ultimately, it all comes down to where and how you paddle. The ability to customise your fins via a US fin box or our Spin Box System can be a major draw for those who paddle in specialist conditions or want to try new things. Meanwhile, moulded fins can offer greater stability and rigidity for all-round paddling.
We’re always on hand to help if you have any questions. If you’re not sure which paddle board fin type or inflatable paddle board is right for you, please get in touch with us for some advice.
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