Safe & Secure Stand Up Paddle Board Storage Ideas (2024)

When you’re not using your paddle board, you might be tempted to just lean it in the corner of your garage or spare room.

While that might seem like a smart idea, it’s really not and it may damage your SUP.

You’ve probably spent a fair amount on your paddle board, so protect that investment with some proper SUP storage options.

There are lots of options to choose from — racks, mounts, and straps — but the right SUP storage solution is up to you.

Let us help you find the best way to store your stand up paddle boards so they last you for many years to come.

First we’ll recommend our favorite solutions, and then give you tips on where and how to store your paddle boards.

Best Indoor SUP Storage Racks, Mounts, Straps

SUP Storage Locations

When you’re ready to store your board, you have two basic location options:

• Indoors
• Outdoors

Ideally, you have the space indoors to store your board because it will be better protected than with outdoor storage.

Of course, we know that not all paddle boarders have the space for inside storage.

Indoor vs Outdoor Storage

Indoor SUP storage is ideal because you can prevent the board from being in the sun and from excess moisture.

Alternatively, if you store your board in your garage or on your porch, then you have to take care that you prevent moisture, heat, and UV rays from damaging the board.

But what if you have to store it outside? Well, there are few precautions you can take to protect your board.

• Look for a shady spot so that you prevent the sun’s UV rays and heat from hitting the board.
• Don’t have a shady area? Put a weather resistant tarp above the board, covering it entirely without actually touching the paddleboard (direct contact with the tarp can cause moisture buildup and mold/mildew).
• Make sure rain/snow won’t directly touch the paddleboard, or damage it by weighing down a tarp above the board.
• Indoors, avoid sun, moisture and heat.
• Either outdoors or indoors, don’t weigh down the board with other items.

If you’re using a storage facility, like Public Storage, then make sure it’s a climate controlled storage space.

How To Store Your SUP (Types of SUP Storage)

When you’re not using your stand up paddle board, there are few different options for safely storing it.

The most popular options are:

• racks
• mounts
• straps
• bags

Now let’s look at each of these options in a bit more detail to help you determine which of them best meets your needs.

On A Rack

Racks are one of the most common ways for paddlers to store their SUPs, especially if you have more than one board.

You can choose from a free-standing rack or something that attach to the wall or ceiling.

If you’re using a rack for storage, then make sure that it’s designed for stand up paddle boards, otherwise you might damage you boards.

Look for some padding on the rack or some straps that keep the sides and hull protected.

Always make sure that the deck goes against the rack and not the hull, if you’re using a rack that touches the body of the board instead of the edge or side of it.

Also make sure that the height of the rack is easy enough for you to reach your SUPs, otherwise you can end up hurting yourself.

Racks are a great choice for storing your SUPs in the garage, basement, or spare room.

In A Mount

If you want your SUPs to be a piece of decor when they’re not in use, then a mount might be the more attractive option to you.

Mounts attach to the wall or ceiling so that you can display your SUP on its edge for everyone to admire.

Of course, you can also use mounts in a garage, basement, or spare room if you don’t have enough space for a rack to store your paddleboards.

In Straps

Though not quite as common, you can suspend your SUP from the ceiling with straps to store it. This would be an alternative to a rack.

The benefit using straps to store your paddle board is that you can easily store the paddle with the board.

Of course, you’ll have to be careful where you hang the straps though to make sure that the board is safe and secure – and doesn’t get bumped!

If you’re hanging your SUP in straps to store it, then make sure that the hull faces up towards the ceiling for the safest way to store it.

In A Board Bag

Though it’s not ideal, you can keep your rigid SUP in a board bag to store it.

The good thing about the bag is that it protects the board from debris.

But the bad thing is that it doesn’t let the board breathe.

Additionally, if you’re only using a bad then you’re likely going to be leaning the SUP against the wall for storage, which can warp the board.

So, for the best results when leaning a SUP in its bag against the wall, first put a blanket or other padding between the board and the floor.

And make sure you lean the board on its side to limit any warping or damage.

How To Store Inflatable SUPs

If you’ve got yourself an inflatable board instead of the rigid, or hard body, board, then your storage options are much simpler.

You’ve got two options here:

• store it deflated
• store it inflated, but only partially

Hands down the cheapest and smallest footprint option is to store your iSUP deflated.

Here’s the steps to take for properly storing a deflated iSUP:

1. Clean the paddle board and let it dry completely.
2. Fully deflate the paddle board.
3. Leave the valve open.
4. Loosely roll up the deflated paddle board.
5. Put it in the stuff bag or backpack that it came with.
6. Place it in a cool, dry area inside (like a closet).

A couple of things to keep in mind here.

One, don’t store stuff on top of the deflated iSUP because you don’t want to damage it.

Two, make sure you don’t tightly roll it because it needs to be loosely rolled for storage.

If you want to store your iSUP without deflating it, then you can store it like a rigid board using any of the options above.

Just be sure that you do store it partially deflated (around 5 lbs per square inch).

The benefit of storing an iSUP like a rigid SUP is that you prevent any permanent creases or formations from being formed, which can happen when it gets rolled.

SUP Storage Tips

As you consider how and where to store your stand up paddle board, there are few other considerations for you to mull over.

We’ve got some tips to help you pick the best SUP storage solution for your needs.

• Never store your SUP dirty. You should always clean your paddle board with a freshwater rinse to remove any salt, mud, or other debris or buildup before you put in storage.
• Prevent warpage by avoiding pressure points. You don’t want your board to warp in storage, so make sure it’s not strapped or wedged in tightly. If it’s getting pinched, then it can deform and warp.
• Distribute board weight evenly. You don’t want the paddle board deforming or warping because you distributed the load poorly.
• Never use bubble wrap, or other plastic, to protect the board. Plastics stick to the paddle board, especially in warm temperatures, and result in moisture build up and damage on the paddle board.
• Keep the paddle board away from UV rays. Delaminating, cracking, and splitting is only a few of the things UV damage and heat can cause in the long run. Apply a sun-protective spray to the board, if you need to do so.
• Should the fins be removed from the SUP for storage? Yes. If tightened screws are left in the fin box for storage, then they can cause cracking or splintering. Also, the excess resin can build up around the screw holes from time to time, and if this resin is not removed, it can cause removal and replacement issues.

As you can see, you have several options for stand up paddle board storage.

And if you follow our tips, you’ll keep your SUP safe and secure until next season.

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