How to Inflate Your iSUP

Now that you have an inflatable paddle board, it’s time to learn how to inflate it correctly. Read our guide and let us help you become a pro in no time!

Inflatable stand up paddle boards are by far the best choice for paddle board users due to advantages in durability, portability, versatility and weight. Not only that, they’re also very convenient to use as you can easily deflate an iSUP and roll it up into a compact size once it’s ready for storage. It’s important that you inflate your iSUP correctly for a more efficient performance on the water.

Here are steps on how to inflate it correctly. Plus, a few frequently asked questions that you need to know.

How to inflate your iSUP: step by step guide

Using a hand pump

1. Take your paddle board out of the bag and lay it somewhere flat.
2. Check the pin in the valve. This is usually yellow. Is it upright? If not, you need to set it that way. If you don’t, all the air that you put into the board will just come right out when you stop — which will make you start all over again.
3. Take the hose that comes with your hand pump and connect it. One end should be attached to your hand pump, while the other to your PSI gauge, so you can track the air pressure as you inflate the board. Make sure both ends are attached super tight, or you might lose a lot of air.
4. If your pump valve has a protective cap, you’ll have to remove this now and rinse away debris or dirt that may linger inside the cap.
5. Keep your hose straight, grab your pump handle using both hands. You need to push down the handle completely, then let it come back up.
6. Repeat this as necessary. If you need to reach 12-15 PSI, you need to pump around 125 to 175 times.
7. Take the hose off your hand pump and put the protective cap back on.
8. Disconnect the other side of the hose and pack up. Get ready to paddle!

Using an electric pump

1. You’ll have to follow steps 1 and 2 for inflating your paddle board using a hand pump. Just make sure the top side of the board is facing up.
2. Your electric pump comes with a hose; you’ll have to connect that to your paddle board’s inflation side. Double check this, as you wouldn’t want to attach this to your board’s deflation side, or it won’t inflate!
3. Make sure that the electric pump is securely attached. Some electric pumps will lock if you twist the hose towards the right.
4. If your electric pump allows you, set the PSI to the desired level.
5. Watch the pressure as your board fills. It’s possible for some pumps to fill even more than the PSI limit you set, so it’s very important that you check it every now and then.
6. Since this is an electric pump, you don’t have to do much from here, but just wait for it to fill your board. It usually takes about 10 minutes for this, sometimes more or less. Don’t panic if you feel like the board is inflating really fast right away, as that’s completely normal. It usually slows down once you reach 10 PSI.
7. Stop inflating once you reached your desired PSI level. Some pumps stop at 15 PSI. If your pump tops out at 15 and you want to reach a higher PSI level, you can use a hand pump to do this. If you’ll be using this while it’s really hot out, you might want to stop inflating it while you still have room for 1-3 PSI from max.
8. Once you’re done, remove the hose off both ends, put the protective cap on, pack up your pump and get ready to paddle!
   
   

FAQs

How much should I inflate my iSUP?

Inflating your iSUP is the first step to getting it ready for use. If your board says that it can be inflated to 12-15 PSI, we recommend that you inflate it to as close to 15 PSI as you can, but not over. The higher the PSI number, the harder your paddle board is going to be, so if you go over your board’s PSI capacity, it’s possible for it to pop and do real damage to it.

Is a manual or electric pump better for inflating paddle boards?

If you’re looking for a way to inflate your paddle board comfortably, you should use an electric pump. This way, you don’t have to put in any effort, and it’ll get your iSUP inflated in than 10 minutes, give or take! You can also get a better control of the pressure by using this and it’s ideal if you want to inflate several boards.

However, if you’re trying to save up and don’t really want to invest on an electric pump, you can use a manual pump instead. It does the job really well, but will require you to use your arm in pumping when you should be saving them for paddling.

How long does it take to inflate a paddle board?

This will depend on the size of your paddle board and the type of pump that you’re using. If you’re using a regular, manual hand pump, it will take anywhere from 6-10 minutes depending on how fast you pump. Now, if you’re using a good electric pump, it will take about 6-8 minutes depending on the size of the board.

Your iSUP will take shape and inflate quickly in just a few minutes, however, this doesn’t mean it’s ready! Most inflatable paddle boards are required to reach 12-15 PSI before you can use it.

What happens if my paddle board is under-inflated?

The performance of your paddle board is all about the stiffness and rigidity.

If you were to stop pumping below the recommended minimum PSI, you’ll for sure realise it once you’re sandwiched between your paddle board. Or if it’s not that obvious, you’ll most likely notice that it’s not working as well as it’s designed to do. The stiffer the board, the better.

However, like what we mentioned earlier, we do not recommend that you go over the recommended PSI level. If your paddle board can only take 12-15 PSI, just pump as close to 15 PSI as you can and stop there.

Are there any benefits to over-inflating your paddle board?

There are some inflatable paddle boards in the market that you can inflate to very high pressures. If you feel like you need a high amount of stiffness and rigidity for something like SUP racing, or you have to support a weight of over 400lbs, over-inflating might be an option.

However, for most scenarios, a higher than normal PSI level is overkill. Although higher pressure can make your board a lot stiffer and more rigid, we can’t emphasise enough how unnecessary this is, especially for just an average stand up paddle boarder.

Is there anything else that can affect my paddle board’s PSI?

Yes, extreme cold and heat can affect your paddle board’s PSI. If you store it in a cold storage, your board’s PSI might decrease; whilst storing it in a hot storage can add as much as 2 PSI to your board. We recommend that you let a bit of the air out of your board before putting it away.

How do I deflate a paddle board for storage?

If you don’t have a place to store your paddle board while it’s inflated, it might be a good idea to just deflate it. Owning an electric pump will come in handy here too. All you have to do is attach the hose to the deflation side of your board, wait for several minutes and it should deflate on its own.

However, if you don’t have an electric pump, you can just open the valve and set it, so it’s not upright. Air will begin to come out, but will obviously take you longer than usual. You can help speed it up by gently pressing on the board with your feet or hands. Don’t push too hard, though, or you could pop a seam!

What is the best way to pack my iSUP, and where should I store it?

If you’re keeping your board inflated even while in storage, you’ll have to store it at home or in the garage where it won’t pop. Make sure the temperature there isn’t too cold or too hot, as this will affect your board’s PSI level. Either way, the air will naturally deplete, so just don’t forget to top off the board with more before you use.

Now, if you’ll deflate it before storing, just make sure it’s deflated properly before rolling it up. You’ll have to start at your board’s nose, aiming towards the action mount as you do so. You might want to remove the fins if it’s removable. Otherwise, this is going to be another challenge for you as it won’t integrate with your rolled-up board either. This means you’ll have to work around it if you can’t remove it. Your valve will start making noise when you reach your board’s tail. Don’t panic, as this is completely normal. That’s just a sign that more air is coming out, and that’s a good thing! Lastly, once it’s all rolled up, you can stash it back in it’s carrying bag.

The good news here is it really isn’t that hard to inflate or deflate your board. You just need to be gentle to make sure you won’t damage your board accidentally while you’re doing this. If you still don’t have a pump yet, though, it might be a good idea to get one now! Kahuna has an electric pump and a hand pump in store that you can purchase depending on what you prefer to use. Our hand pump is included in each kit but can also be purchased by itself; same as the electric pump that you can also use for other inflatables like pools and such. Get yours now so you can bring it with you on all your next paddle boarding adventures!