5 PLACES TO BUY A USED STAND UP PADDLE BOARD ONLINE

There’s no denying that stand up paddle boarding (SUP) is an expensive sport to get into.

With prices for a decent inflatable SUP starting at around £600, and even more so for a rigid board, the entry level is relatively high compared to most other board sports. Put a paddle, leash, roof-bars, bag and all other necessary extras on top of the cost of a board and you’ll soon find yourself with a fairly hefty credit card bill.

So you can see why a second hand SUP might be an attractive alternative to buying new, particularly for those new to the sport, or who just want a board to play around on at the weekends.

But where to buy a second hand SUP?

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1. eBayThe obvious choice and go-to site for bargain hunters world-over. There’s no shortage of SUP equipment listed on eBay, but you’ll need to be clever with the filters to find what you’re looking for.

Make sure you tick the ‘used’ box, and also set your location as most items of this size will be collection only (they may deliver if it’s an inflatable). You don’t really want to drive to the other end of the country to collect a board, do you? Maybe you do, but either way just check the seller’s location before bidding.

If you spot a board up for auction, it’s always worth dropping the seller a note with a ‘buy it now’ cash offer – you never know they might accept, saving you money and them hassle.

Finally, check the seller’s feedback score. If they’re notoriously bad at keeping their end of a deal, they’re probably best avoided.

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2. GumtreeGumtree is an ad site where people post things they want to sell. There might not be as much in the way of SUP equipment on this site, but the whole process is arguably easier than eBay. Furthermore, no money is exchanged via the site, so you’re slightly less exposed on that front – it’s just a case of dropping the seller a message, arranging a place to meet up and, providing the board is up to scratch, exchanging the cash.

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3. SUP forumsThere are a number of SUP sites with ‘for sale’ or ‘classified’ pages, which are typically used by fellow SUPers selling old gear to fund upgrades.

The great thing about buying through a SUP community is that generally speaking sellers will be more informed and flexible than they will be on the likes of eBay and Gumtree. They might even let you try before you buy.

For starters, check out http://www.standupzone.com/forum/ and http://www.supboardermag.com/sup-for-sale/.

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4. SUP schoolsSUP schools and rental companies can be a great source of second hand SUP gear, due to the fact they tend to upgrade their equipment regularly.

It’s worth contacting schools and rental companies in your area to see if they have any old equipment they’re looking to get rid of, or are planning on getting rid of soon. The advantage of this route is that you get to take the board for a spin first.

A potential disadvantage is that ex-rental boards generally have high milage, and probably won’t have been treated with as much love as a privately owned board.

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5. Ex-demoAs above, it’s always worth contacting local SUP suppliers to see if they have any ex-display or ex-demo stock going cheap, as inevitably they will.

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The bottom lineWhen it comes to buying your first stand up paddle board, second hand can be a great option. However before you start bidding on the cheapest board you can find, you need to know what you’re looking for, as buying a board which isn’t fit for purpose won’t bring you much joy at all.

If you’re unsure about that type of board to buy, check out this handy guide.

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