Skip to main content

Portable Paddling: Our Favorite SUP Gear

sup gear, supping, stand up paddle board
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Getting out on a stand up paddle board started out as an outdoors and fitness trend a few seasons ago, and went mainstream very quickly. Instead of dying out like many outdoors fads, SUP’s growing popularity means you’ll probably see them out on every local lake and shoreline this summer. We’ve been hauling our Boardworks SHUBU Sport board on our summer travels, and have refined our SUP gear to a few essentials for paddling everywhere from open ocean to high mountain lakes.

Related: The Manual’s SUP Guide | Sanborn Paddles

Recommended Videos

Stearns Sospenders Belt Pack $70

Stearns
Perfect for the angler or SUP yogi who needs a little extra range of motion, Stearns belt pack gets its flotation power from a 16-gram CO2 cartridge. The gas and air pouch roll up conveniently into the belt, and are deployed with a simple pull cord. The best part is that it’s completely resuable with a new gas cylinder. Now you don’t have an excuse for bad form on your next attempt at a balance pose on your board. Just don’t blame us when you take a dip in the lake.

lululemon T.H.E. Short H20 $49

lululemon T.H.E.
We grabbed a pair of these hybrid shorts when we toured lululemon’s design center, and they’ve been our go-to pair of shorts ever since. This version of the shorts has been chlorine tested to make sure they are extra durable.They maintain four-way stretch for flexibility whether you’re paddling, swimming laps, or out for a long run – we like to to combine a few activities and finish with a cannonball into our favorite swimming hole to cool off. T.H.E. Shorts are also quick drying; we got soaked during a rainy paddle session in Banff National park, and were completely dry by the time we had our boards packed up back at the car.

Boardworks Raven Adjustable Paddle $279

Boardworks Raven
The Raven not only keeps us skimming the water very smoothly, but also looks great while we’re paddling. The bamboo veneer is painted with a Northwest Native American inspired design that is sure to turn heads when you’re on the water. The shaft and handle are carbon fiber, ensuring excellent stiffness and power transfer when you’re working hard. Its adjustment system locks in place very easily, making this one of the easiest paddles to set and forget when you’re in a rush to catch sunset on your board.

SealLine Seal Pak $35

Seal Pak
We find ourselves needing a little extra carry space more often than not when we’re out on our SUPs. Rather than deal with oversized dry bags or packs, the Seal Pak hip belt fits all our needs. Sized perfectly to stash your wallet, phone, a few snacks, and camera, it is easy to seal out water, and sits comfortable on your waist (yes, it’s a fanny pack) or lashed to a tie down point on your board.

Zinka Nosecoat $9

zinka nosecoat
Whether you’re trying to emulate the surf bums like Jeff Spicoli at Ridgemont High, or just want to keep yourself from looking like a lobster, Zinka is a great sunscreen option. the nose coat is 25% zinc oxide, completely blocking out UV rays where you need the most protection. We like to mix and match some of the colors for a little extra warpaint look. If you need to stock up, the Power-Pack ($46) includes a couple colors of nose coat as well as lipbalm, a facestick, and conventional SPF 30 lotion and spray.

Austin Parker
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Austin Parker is a former contributor at The Manual Parker is a powder skier and sport climber and is no stranger hauling…
Netflix is planning to continue investing in gaming, including new co-op games
The company has had games on its service since 2023.
Netflix logo on TV with red backlighting

Even as Netflix is raising prices on consumers, the company has also announced that it will be introducing couch co-op and party games for subscribers. The company has offered cloud gaming as a "beta" to a subset of its subscribers since 2023, and the move into co-op games suggests that the streamer will continue to invest in this area.

Co-CEO Greg Peters made the announcement as part of the company's Q4 earnings report, but he didn't detail what games might be available through this new platform. “We think of this as a successor to family board game night or an evolution of what the game show on TV used to be," he explained.

Read more
The best adventure movies: The films that keep you on the edge of your seat
These adventure movies will take you to new parts of the world
Harrison Ford in Raiders of the Lost Ark

The idea of an adventure movie is pretty specialized. These are movies that exist broadly within the world of action cinema, but they are just one small corner of that world. These movies typically involve exotic locations, traps, and tunnels. Sometimes, they're set in the jungle or the desert, and sometimes they're set on the high seas.

Personally, I'm partial to sea-faring movies, maybe in part because I have no desire to live my life on the water. In my own life, these movies have often represented a chance to understand the world, and to appreciate its vastness, splendor, and danger.

Read more
8 best dystopian shows if you’re ready for gripping, unsettling storytelling
Zombies and slavery are two of the most dystopian subjects on TV right now
Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes in The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live.

Dystopian fiction dives into our deepest fears and makes us reimagine society at its worst. Although many people are already living a nightmare around the world, dystopias in fiction reinforce the injustices of human life and put a spin or analysis on something tangible. Films and novels were arguably the most popular methods of dystopian storytelling throughout most of the 20th century, but the rise of more complex TV writing and acting has allowed it to catapult to the top of the genre's food chain.

The versatility of dystopian TV means that it branches out across many different categories. Science fiction, fantasy, and horror are all great options for writers to paint a picture of a world during the end times. These are the best dystopian shows to watch if you want a thoughtful analysis of what happens when human society becomes warped beyond repair.

Read more