When you first inflate your new paddleboard, you’ll quickly realize that you need some accessories before you get on the water. For starters, most boards don’t come with paddles. There’s a lot of other gear you can use to make your time on the water more comfortable and fun. (Note: This post includes affiliate links, meaning we get a cut if you buy something from one of the amazing river gear manufacturers that we mention—but at no cost to you.)

Stand-up paddleboarder in Labyrinth Canyon, Green River
Taking in the scenery from a stand-up paddleboard on the Green River through Labyrinth Canyon
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Below I’ve listed a few pieces of gear that I consider essential for stand-up paddleboarding on rivers. Note, these are not affiliate or sponsored links, just gear I’ve used and enjoyed for years.

Table of Contents

1. SUP safety gear

You should have a helmet (if you’re running whitewater), a PFD, and—if you plan on running rivers—a quick-release safety leash. Helmets and PFDs are heavily fit-dependent: you really need to try a few on to figure out what will work for you. The most important characteristic of this type of safety gear is that you wear it, so make sure to get comfortable, well-fitting gear. For paddleboarding, I like PDFs that allow plenty of arm motion, like this NRS Siren.

If there is any chance you could be trapped by your leash and pinned by the current, you should be using a quick-release leash. I have a Hala paddleboard, so I went with this Hala paddleboard leash as well: It has bright red ball on the pull tab so you’ll be sure to find it when you need it. Make sure to attach it to your torso, in case you need to use it—you need to be able to reach the pull tab.

Quick-release leash on stand-up paddleboard
Here you can see the bright red pull tab of my safety leash, on my right hip. If I were to be pinned, it would be easy for me to reach down and pull the ball to release

2. SUP paddle

Considerations for choosing a SUP paddle are:

  1. Length (and adjustability of length)
  2. Weight
  3. Ability to break down

Choosing the correct paddle length for your SUP is a matter of finding the right length for your height. The taller you are, the longer your paddle should be: You don’t want to be reaching down to paddle. I use an adjustable Werner Zen, and it has a handy set of lines on the shaft showing you where to set it for your height.

The lightness of the paddle correlates to its expense. Go for a fairly lightweight paddle—don’t just get the least expensive one. It will make a huge difference after a long day of paddling.

Finally, decide whether you want a breakdown SUP paddle. A non-breakdown paddle will be less expensive and more durable, but a breakdown SUP paddle is extremely convenient: some will even fit in your SUP bag (if you have an inflatable SUP).

3. Fanny pack

Fanny packs are back! A fanny pack is the perfect way to stash your sunscreen, spare can of seltzer, and lip balm while you’re paddling. It can be difficult to bend down and access a dry bag strapped to the top of your board, but you can quickly grab anything in your fanny pack without upsetting your paddling rhythm.

The one I use is the Cotopaxi Bataan, and I definitely recommend it: It’s big enough to fit everything I want to have immediately accessible, the inside pockets allow for a bit of organization, and the zipper goes all the way around, making it easy to find what you’re looking for.

If you’re paddling spicy water, you might want to consider a waterproof fanny pack. Check out the Patagonia Guidewater Hip Pack: It’s fully submersible (although it’s not meant for prolonged soaks).

Cotopaxi Bataan Waist Pack
The Cotopaxi Bataan pack looks awesome and holds the stuff I need easy access to on our recent Thanksgiving paddle trip.

4. Small dry bag

For less commonly accessed gear, and anything you want to keep dry, you’ll want a small dry bag to strap to your board. In my dry bag, I like to keep a few warmer layers in case the wind comes up, my repair kit, a few snacks, and my headlamp.

For those purposes, the Watershed Ocoee (affiliate link) is my small dry bag of choice: It offers a lot of anchor points so you can get it firmly strapped to the board, it opens really wide so it’s easy to find your gear, and the top is easy to open and close.

Watershed Ocoee dry bag and other accessories for stand-up paddleboarding
My Watershed Ocoee dry bag is strapped securely to my board under my water bottles and coffee mug. You can also see my flat shoes.

5. Flat shoes

Something that really made a difference for me when I started paddling was switching from my thick-soled river sandals to a pair of flat-soled boating shoes. I find that when I have thick-soled shoes on, the bottoms of my feet cramp up from curling my toes trying to control the board.

A thinner sole provides a much better feel for what the board is doing and allows faster response to waves and rocks. Mine are an ancient pair of sailing shoes, but you’ll likely want more grip for wet rocks: Many in our boating group swear by Astral Brewer for men or Astral Brewess for women.

With just a few pieces of gear, you can be on the water for a safe, comfortable and fun day on your SUP. Enjoy!

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