What is Better - Kayak, Canoe or Stand Up Paddleboard?

ISUP is the most versatile, really need to try one out for a while and get comfy on it. They can hold more than most kayaks and the ability to deflate and tote them is second to none. Something about dangling my feet over it or laying down for a nap on it or standing is just super cool. i don't feel hemmed in and its much more stable than most touring yaks IMO. I'd love to hear a long term review of a decent touring ISUP after camping/portaging with massive load on it.

Started with a kayak, love being alone on the water, love swimming. Tried paddle board for two summers and ready to get my first. Looking forward to day tripping, laying on the water and of course the solitude.

Hey man, thank you for keeping short & to the point!

I have a sup board a d omg it's so much fun. I got a seat for it and brought a kayak paddle works OK. But since also kayaking I am definitely buying a sit on top as I feel kayaks sit ins or onto are much more stable. I decided a seat on top as I like to go swimming when I'm out at sea and a sit in I've been told are hard to get back in. So new to padding but my word it's soooooo much fun. A day off and I'm straight down to a beach or launch point. I am proud to say I am an addict and I absolutely love it.

I love my SUPs! One massive advantage for me is that they are inflatable and pack down really small. I can store them easier and transport them easier. I have a SUP I can surf, I use it as a mobile platform to snorkel off, and you can get touring paperboard to carry big loads. I've had multiple people on a larger board and even a dog. They have a really low profile that has gotten me places not even a kayak could reach, let alone a canoe. Don't forget you can sit on them too! Or lay down and drift around. In some ways they are the most versatile of all these water craft, if not the best at any one things. You do need to be fit and a strong swimmer though. You don't wear a PDF with paddleboards, they are your PFD.

Pack boat all the way! Picked up a swift Cruiser pack boat and use a kayak paddle on it but also have a sit on top kayak. Warmer than my sit on top kayak in the cold times too.

I could add that some of the positives of open canoes are that you have the ability to move your legs and sitting positions more, which you cannot do with kayaks. This is particularly good in long trips, where in a kayak your legs are stuck in the same position. It can also get quit hot and smelly underneath the spray deck. There is nothing worse than cold water dripping down your back. You seem to be quite wet a lot, unless you wear a dry suit and that in itself get hot. I find also the sitting position itself (that is slightly leaning forward) in a kayak uncomfortable. I have never had a go of a SUP but the paddling stroke I see looks very ungainly, and not as ergonomic as the O/C or the kayak strokes. Maybe it is just the ones I've seen

I guess it depends on your personal interest. I don't mind a spot of SUP with my kids, but not for long. I much prefer the distance covered, speed and fun that can be had with sea kayak adventures though. All paddlesports have their value - starting with a Challenger K1 may then stimulate interest in canoeing or kayak when the bug bites... all encourage fun on the water and an interest in outdoor pursuits

Paddleboard for me :D getting my race sup soon will be using it for touring too

Each has its benefits. The surprise to me has been the SUP. Many people want to get on the water but have nowhere to store a large boat, or even a folding type. I'm not a fan of inflatable SUPs, but you can take an one on a bus and store it at home in a closet. As a serious flatwater canoeist (ocean expeditions!), I was always quite critical of the people I saw on SUPs, until I bought one (race-type performance hard board). Now, I can load and unload my own boat and paddle it on my own and get a really good workout.

Very helpful!!!

My trip down the kayaking way of life really started for a silly reason. I was out for my first time trying magnet fishing and I got it stuck badly. The only way to get it back was by boat, which I did not have. Thankfully a nice fellow came along with his boat and got it unstuck. So, I need something for future issues that may come up. Well, a Canoe was my first thought. But I really wanted to be on my own, so I settled on a kayak. I only got to go out three times last summer, but it was great! Can't wait for the warm weather to return to get out there again. Just wanted to add, kayaking is not overly expensive to get into. Making it a fun way to get outside and have some great times! 😁

Thank you Nice video

Hard to argue personal preferences. I've had each craft at one time (kayak, canoe and now, SUP). The "inflatable" SUP is the lightest and most versatile. I too, like others here, have added a seat, but I also glued on extra Scotty mounts and rings. In Ohio, a SUP does not require a vessel license... unless a seat is added. So I got one, go figure. BTW, an inflatable waist PFD is the way to go.

Alright Ken. the answer is simply: kayak. Or maybe canoe... SUP is great too! PaddleTv is the No.1 choice for paddlers! Best wishes paddlers of all the world. Peace 🍀💚

My Placidboatworks Rapidfire is only 22 lbs and makes portages a breeze, it’s a pleasure to paddle. It’s a solo canoe that handles big water like a champ ! Absolutely fantastic for multi day canoe camping trips !

I love all three and as you said, it depends on what you want to do, your lifestyle, family situation, etc. and that can change. Hubby and I loved canoe tripping when we were younger and lived in Ontario, 🇨🇦 where there are some wonderful lake routes. Now that we are retired and live on the west coast on Vancouver Island where canoeing isn’t as popular, I took up kayaking and paddle boarding. It’s not my hubby’s thing but I love it. Kayaking in the lovely bays off the ocean and paddle boarding on small, quiet lakes where it is calmer and I can get my nature therapy. My SUP is inflatable and only 22 lbs so I can handle it myself. I agree with you. Pick one or more and go for it.

Best paddlecraft is the one I am in at the time. Or the one speeding by me ha!

Your right , I should buy that pelican mustang that's on sale this weekend only. I should just start kayaking.

Pack canoes and Combi’s are taking market share from Kayaks at the upper price points. A pack canoe is a one person canoe that is essentially a kayak without the deck. Not as good for rough conditions, but better for everything else. They are designed for a double blade paddle or traditional canoe paddle. Combi’s are midsize canoes for use as solo canoes or tandem, also with either paddle type. There are several good companies that make competitive products, but Swift makes the best YouTube videos. Watch those to get an idea of what’s possible, then shop for the best boat for you.