People who love watersports may have trouble choosing what to invest in when it comes to picking a paddle board or kayak. For those who love the challenge of gliding across a body of water, they’re both great. In the past, paddlers would have to buy one or both. Now there is a newer product on the market; the kayak paddle board combo. It’s an easy-to-use, quick-to-setup, cool new hybrid that turns your stand up paddleboard into a kayak.
Two stand up paddleboarders cruise the ocean blue from their SUP kayak seats.
Kayak Paddle Board Combo – The SUP Hybrid
Taking a break from paddling to cool off.
Benefits and Drawbacks of a Kayak Paddle Board Combo
Kayak paddle board hybrids are new and enjoyed by many paddlers. They’re a great equipment addition for people who enjoy their watersports, especially for anyone who is looking to get into fishing or longer trips on their SUP. That being said, you might have some other ideas on how you’d like to use your SUP kayak seat. And that flexibility is truly one of the best parts. Its ease of setup, storage, and transport means you can bring it with you everywhere in your SUP backpack. You can attach it to the D-rings on the front of your board as a comfortable passenger seat for a child or adult. You can even take it out on the water tucked under the rigging or stashed in a deck bag. That means you don’t have to decide whether to SUP or kayak at home. In fact, you don’t even need to decide before you leave the shore! You can make up you mind about which way you feel like paddling once you’re already on the water.
Easily clip your SUP kayak seat to the D-rings and you’re ready to hit the water!
That flexibility also pays off because it offers significant cost savings since there is no need to purchase two crafts. You can even use the same paddle! While you can adapt some paddle boards with a kayak seat and paddle, buying the hybrid means it is done properly and safely. No need to try to tie a lawn chair to your board or rig up some other unnecessarily complicated situation. You can comfortably enjoy paddling while either standing or sitting. Furthermore, the hybrid allows for longer boarding adventures as the paddler can change position when muscles get weary. Tired of standing? Simply unfold and attach the seat, swap your t-bar grip for a second blade, and you’re good to go.
Ready for a long day on the water! Comfortably sit or stand throughout the day.
The drawback of a hybrid is that while you save money on equipment and greatly enhance your board and options on the water, you are not getting a specialized kayak. There has to be some compromise around design and style. Although a kayak SUP combo functions as both, it’s definitely not the kayak you want to take down class 5 rapids.
Switch out the t-bar grip and add a second paddle blade for a double-bladed kayak paddle.
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