Is paddleboarding good for weight loss?
Mia Kelly
Published Jan 19, 2026
On average, an hour of recreational paddleboarding burns 305 to 430 calories, paddleboard yoga 416 to 540 calories, paddleboard surfing 623 to 735 calories, and paddleboard racing 713 to 1125 calories. For comparison, running for an hour typically burns 510 to 650 calories.
Does paddle boarding burn belly fat?
From boosting your mood to burning that belly flab, iSUP is a fitness trend that's here to stay. Don't get us wrong, paddle boarding isn't a quick fix to shedding pounds. It's not a magical detox, but it certainly has tremendous benefits. People who iSUP a few times per week will soon see the fat shed off.
How many calories do you burn paddleboarding?
On average, you'll burn 330 to 460 calories per hour while recreational paddle boarding. That's twice the calories you'd burn walking your neighborhood! The average, recreational (all around) paddle is done on calm water with light winds at a walking pace.
How good of a workout is paddleboarding?
Beyond the core alone, SUP is also a great all-round body workout. It's an exercise in strength and endurance that requires almost every element of the body to cooperate and pull its weight. When you paddle through the water, your quadriceps, shoulders, arms, and knees work together to propel you forward.
Is paddleboarding a weight bearing exercise?
Paddle boarding is a weight bearing activity, therefore, it doesn't place excess force on the joints the same way other exercises such running does.
40 related questions foundIs paddleboarding good cardio?
BOOST YOUR ENDURANCE & STAMINA
Luckily, paddle boarding is not only a cardio exercise, but also builds strength in your upper body, core and legs. There's your solved endurance and stamina equation folks.
What muscles does paddle boarding work?
There are 11 muscles paddle boarding works:
- Lungs (diaphragm)
- Heart.
- Quadriceps.
- Hamstring.
- Rhomboid.
- Lats.
- Traps.
- Triceps.
Is paddleboarding good for your back?
Paddleboarding (aka stand up paddling or SUP) is great for strengthening your back and core. However, like many core exercises, you need to make a conscious effort to use your core and avoid over-torquing your lower back and hips.
Is paddleboarding on your knees good exercise?
Stand up paddleboarding builds all-body strength
When you paddle through the water, your quadriceps, shoulders, arms, and knees work together to propel you forward. Your leg muscles also up their game to help the core in keeping your balance.
Is kayaking or paddle boarding a better workout?
Kayaking is a fun workout, but it primarily exercises your arms and core. SUP, on the other hand, utilizes your entire body. Your arms, core, legs, flexibility, and overall balance will benefit from your workout aboard your paddleboard. If you want a full body workout, SUP is simply the best option.
Why does paddle boarding burn so many calories?
“When Paddle Board Racing at a high intensity your heart rate and cardiovascular are at full throttle.” Paddle board racing is where you can burn the most calories since it involves the highest intensity paddling.
How many calories does 2 hours of paddle boarding burn?
On a light and easy paddle on calm water, you can burn right around 300-to-400 calories. On a more vigorous paddle, such as a cross-training SUP workout incorporating yoga or something really rigorous like SUP racing, you could expect to burn over 750-to-1,000 calories!
How much weight can a paddleboard hold?
Paddle boards can hold an average of 200 to 300 pounds. But boards that hold 500 pounds or more are widely available. Paddle boards are weight-rated by individual manufacturers in pounds or by volume. SUPs themselves can weigh from 15 to 40 lbs, which factors into how much weight they can hold.
How many calories do you burn playing paddle tennis?
Playing padel can burn between 700 and 1000 calories. Yes, you read that right! Padel improves aerobic capacity, which helps prevent health risk factors and will make your heart stronger and more efficient, not to mention the fact that playing padel will leave you so tired that you'll sleep like a baby that night.
How do you stay on a paddle board?
Staying Balanced on a SUP
- Position your feet so they are parallel, about hip-width distance apart, and centered between the edges of the board.
- Keep your toes pointed forward, knees slightly bent and your back straight.
- Keep your head and shoulders steady and upright, and shift your weight by moving your hips.
Is paddleboarding hard on the knees?
Overuse injuries and strains from SUP are common and include mostly the muscles of the shoulder and/or rotator cuff muscles, the knee joint, foot and ankle and low back. It's good to have a knowledge base of the anatomy and function of each group so you can better adapt your SUP training to avoid these injuries.
Does paddle boarding cause back pain?
What lower back structures are at risk from SUP boarding? Muscles/ligaments/joints can be strained/sprained/irritated, which can be very painful. There are lots of ligaments and muscles located in the lower back region, and too many to discuss now.
Is paddleboarding good for lower back pain?
Paddleboarding is one activity that will work your core stabilizer muscles while at the same time engaging your back.
Can you paddle board in the dark?
Stand up paddling in the dark is a great way for paddlers to get more out their adventure, but it is always recommended that you take safety precautions. With these few tips, you should get started on your evening expedition. Start with just one night trip; then get deeper later on.
Why do my legs shake when I SUP?
Why Are My Legs Shaking While Stand Up Paddle Boarding? There are several reasons why a person's legs could be shaking while stand up paddle boarding, including difficult conditions and an inadequate location, as well as the wrong SUP board, an underinflated paddle board or the wrong position.
Why do my legs hurt after paddle boarding?
But the typical muscle soreness that you feel after a workout becomes very real the next morning. When paddleboarding, you are using a lot of the smaller muscles that you don't typically use, causing them to be sore the next few days.
Can a paddle board sink?
They can not deflate, they can not fill with water and sink, and can always safely get you to shore if damaged while paddling.
What size paddle board do I need for my weight?
The general rule of thumb when determining what size stand up paddle board is right is to add 9-10 inches to the height of the paddler. In addition to the height, consider the weight of the paddler, their experience, and where they will paddle.
How do you paddleboard in cold weather?
Everything You Need To Know About Cold Weather Paddle Boarding
- Stay Close To Shore. Stay close to shore. ...
- Use a SUP Leash. ...
- Wear proper SUP Winter Clothing. ...
- Do I need a Wetsuit or Drysuit? ...
- Check the Weather Forecast. ...
- Paddle Only In Water. ...
- Be Back On Shore Before Dark. ...
- Don't paddle alone.