Finding the Perfect Time to Use Your Standup Paddleboard

Maybe you gave yourself the gift of fun this year by buying a standup paddleboard, or maybe you bought one for someone else so that you have someone to go out on the water with you.

Whatever the reason, once you have a standup paddleboard, you might be eager to use it, but you may have trouble figuring out the best time to go.

As you step into a new year, now is the time to begin planning your paddleboard adventures.

When you invest in the best standup paddleboard you can find, like the ones from Hydrus, you want to be sure you carve out time in your schedule throughout the year to enjoy it.

Besides, the more you get out on the water, the better you’ll become. So this post helps you decide when to use your paddleboard so that you get the most enjoyment you can with your paddleboard adventures.

What Time of Year Is Best for Paddleboarding?

Your standup paddleboard can be used throughout the year. Although summer may seem like the most obvious time to hit the water, every season can bring something new and interesting to your paddleboard experience. So check out what each season might bring and what you need to keep in mind:

• Winter: With the right gear, you can use your standup paddleboard during the winter, and it may become a new addiction. As long as you check the weather and make sure someone knows where you are, you can thoroughly enjoy paddling in the winter. The landscape takes on a different scene, you can explore without crowds, and you can soak in the serene environment. Just dress in layers, including gloves, to remain warm. You should also stay close to shore and have an extra stash of clothes in case you fall in and need to change. Staying close to shore keeps you closer to safety in the frigid temperatures.
• Spring: As you enter spring, water and air temperatures begin to increase so you can find plenty of beautiful days to get out and enjoy the water. Although you may be anxious to get outdoors, you still should stay close to shore when you venture out unless you’re in an area that is temperate year-round. As you inch closer to summer, you can begin treating your outings more like you would in summer. Just be aware that spring can be tumultuous in many areas. Storms can suddenly pop up and rain can be quite cold and oppressive. Keeping your eye on the weather is a must, but spring offers a time on the water that is pleasant, not too hot, and a lot less crowded than summer.
• Summer: This season is the sweet spot for standup paddleboarding. This time of year you can feel free to explore offshore on any water in your comfort level and area of experience. Most people equate paddleboarding with summer for good reason. If you fall in, it’s refreshing, and you don’t have to worry about staying warm. You do, however, have to be more aware of the heat and sun and often must deal with crowds on the water.
• Fall: Fall is quite similar to spring, but instead of temperatures increasing, you’ll see both water and air temps begin to dip. The threat of storms and high winds is similar to that of springtime so treat this season like you would the spring. Enjoy the less-crowded scene, but as you get closer to winter, begin dressing in more layers and staying close to the shore.

No matter what time of the year, you can watch the landscape change for each season and enjoy a different perspective as the months go by.

If you paddleboard in the same spot, you’ll begin to notice the different patterns in nature and wildlife while you enjoy your time on the water.

Just be sure to keep an eye on the weather forecast when you go out, and be smart about how you deal with your surroundings.

Instead of using your paddleboard solely in the summer, select some other dates during different seasons to use your board.

You may find that you have other times of year you enjoy just as much, if not more than summer.

On the other hand, you may discover that you enjoy them all equally for the different experiences each season brings.

What Time of Day Should I Use My Paddleboard?

Just like the different seasons, different times of the day offer different experiences.

You don’t have to be a morning person to enjoy a paddle in the morning, and you don’t have to be a night owl to enjoy a sunset while on your paddleboard.

Each of the following times of day offers a different experience, and it just depends on what you’re looking for:

• Morning: There is something exciting about using your standup paddleboard on the water in the morning, especially in the early morning as the sun is rising. Some creatures are beginning to wake and others are beginning to go home for rest. So it just feels like everything and everyone is stirring, but at the same time, it feels quite serene. The other people on the water might be those getting a workout in before they head off to work or others soaking in the same peacefulness as you. So morning can be a quiet, gentler time on the water.
• Midday: Midday can be much hotter, especially in the summer, with the sun directly overhead. At the same time, you’re likely to face the most crowds during this time of the day. However, if you like to be out and about with others, want to meet other people in the paddleboard community, or just enjoy people-watching, you might enjoy hitting the water during midday.
• Evening: We don’t recommend paddleboarding in the dark or so close to it getting dark that you might be caught out on the water with no light. However, enjoying a sunset on your paddleboard can be quite an experience. While others tend to pack up for the day, going out after dinner and enjoying less crowded water can be similar to a morning on the water. However, in this case, it seems like everything is bedding down instead of waking up.

No matter what time of the year it is or what time of the day it is, you can always find a great time to use your standup paddleboard.

Start looking at your calendar and mark down some dates with plans to go out and enjoy all the seasons on your paddleboard.

If you make plans now, you’ll have a year’s worth of year-round paddleboarding to look back on and be that much more experienced the next year and ready for more.