SUP Wall Racks
SUP Wall Rack by GateKeeper (set holds 2 SUPs)
The two SUP on-rail wall racks by GateKeeper are one of the best SUP wall rack solutions we've found. The on-rail part just means it stores your stand up paddle board on the rail at about a 45 degree angle instead of flat like many SUP wall racks. As SUPs can be up to 32 inches wide, this is a critical distinction. Storing a board flat out from a wall means you reduce the room size by almost 3 feet when SUPs are stored horizontally. The angled SUP storage saves about a foot. While the two board rack is a bit more expensive than a single board SUP wall rack, it allows for paddle storage as well, and of course a second board should you get another one for yourself or a family member. Stand up paddle boarding is always more fun with a friend, so its really nice to have a second guest board. This SUP wall rack storage solution will accommodate that future potential.
The Challenges of Storing a Stand Up Paddle Board
While stand up paddle boards may seem just like an oversized surfboard, they are in fact quite a bit larger which leads to storage issues that many new SUP enthusiasts don't consider when first buying a stand up paddle board. Its not uncommon for an SUP to be eleven or twelve feet long. They're also over 30 inches wide, but thats not really the storage issue problem. The vast majority of surfboards can be stood up in some out of the way corner as they're typically less than 8 feet in length (aside from the longest long boards). Racks for surfboards typically only come into play if you've got a whole quiver (multiple surfboards for multiple wave conditions) of surfboards, or if you're merely interested in displaying your board as a conversation piece.
When you're looking for a place to store a paddle board its less about options and more about where this thing will fit, if at all. You can't store a stand up paddle board vertically unless you have twelve foot or higher ceilings. Few houses do, and even fewer do when you're near the beach or the water where space always seems to be at a premium and living spaces seem to get smaller to compensate. An interesting aside here is that SUP retail shops even have to consider this issue when sourcing space as many retail spaces have 8 or 10 foot ceilings, which really put a crimp on SUP display options. Even storing a SUP horizontally is a challenge as many storage type rooms, aside from the garage (which apartments don't tend to have), aren't 12 feet long. Thus what happens is your storage room options boil down to larger rooms like living rooms, recreation rooms, garages, or outside. In an apartment, the living room is typically the only choice. Unless you're going to hide it behind the couch (which isn't a bad idea), an SUP wall rack is an essential space saving investment. In a house with a garage, thats your natural solution, yet floor space is usually at a premium. Using SUP wall racks or a ceiling rack system is an effective way to tap into unused overhead space. Outside storage is fine if its secure (these things are quite expensive) and covered so as to avoid exposure to the sun (which will create havoc on a board over time).
While stand up paddle boards have a somewhat variable useful life depending on usage, the best SUP wall racks and SUP ceiling racks are made of durable materials and thus can easily last decades. Thus its a pretty good investment to get your boards up and out of the way to minimize out of the water damage, which is probably the most significant risk to the life span of your stand up paddle board.
Due to these storage and transportation issues, owning an inflatable paddle board makes that much more sense. You can store it anywhere and its incredibly easy to transport to and from your house. With an inflatable SUP there is no need for wall racks, ceiling racks or any type of storage system. You can simply roll up the board and store it in a closet or storage room.