We’ve all been through that. You just finished a great session on your new, very portable Compact SUP. You’re calm, joyful, and eager to go home.
Then you try to put it back in the bag.
Now it seems like I’m wrestling an alligator. Since you took it out, the board looks like it’s gotten 30% bigger. You push, you sweat, and you wonder whether the factory employed some kind of evil sorcery to get it into that tiny bag in the first place.
As the person who makes these particular travel-friendly boards, I can tell you that it’s not magic and it’s not impossible. It only needs a certain way of doing things.
Because compact boards are made differently than regular all-rounders, they need a different way to be packed. For example, they often use lighter materials and special folding fin boxes.
This is the best guide for packing your compact board quickly and easily every time.
The Golden Rule: Get ALL The Air Out (The “Vac-Pac” Hack)
You can mostly deflate a normal inflatable SUP by opening the valve and folding it up. The extra air doesn’t matter much because the bag is too big.
The bag tolerance is almost nil with a little board. It won’t fit if there’s any air left.
The secret isn’t strength; it’s low pressure. You have to use your pump to suck the air out, which will make your board flat and stiff like a pancake.
- The Technique: After letting most of the air out passively, attach the pump hose to the “DEFLATE” (Out) side of your hand pump. Attach it to the valve on the board and pump it until the board is totally sealed and wrinkled.
This single step makes the folding process 80% easier.
Step-by-Step: The Compact Folding Method
Don’t do the “nose-to-tail” roll that everyone else does at the beach. Because they are smaller, compact boards usually need a more exact fold to fit in their backpacks.
(Please note that you should always read the documentation for your individual board, as certain ultra-compacts need to be folded in half lengthwise first.) This is the most popular way to use travel boards.
1. The Prep Work
Make sure your board is entirely dry and has no sand on it. Sand can harm the PVC over time because it behaves like sandpaper inside the bag. Take off the leash and fins if they come off.
2. The Valve Position Strategy
Put the board flat with the fins pointing up. The most important thing to do is fold toward the valve so that the last amount of air can get out. There is always a little bit left, even if you vacuumed it.
If your valve is at the end, start folding from the front.
3. The Precision Fold (The Crucial Part)
This is where owners of tiny cars go wrong. You can’t just roll it loosely.
- The First Fold: Take the board’s nose and perform the first fold. This fold needs to be tight and flat.
- The “Flat Fold” Method: Instead of wrapping it up like a cinnamon bun (which makes a big cylinder), try folding it flat, like you would a towel or a letter. Each fold should be around the same width and depth as your backpack.
- Be careful with the Fin Box: it’s usually the widest and stiffest portion. When you get to the fin box area, make sure it is exactly flat on top of a fold layer. Don’t ever try to bend the fin box.
4. The Strap and Bag
As soon as it’s completely folded, apply the compression strap (which normally comes with small boards) to keep it from unrolling.
When putting the board in the bag, don’t try to push it down. Put the backpack on the ground and unzip it all the way (like a clamshell). Then, put the folded board inside and zip the bag around it.
For more general tips on organizing travel gear efficiently, these packing principles from travel experts can also apply to managing your watersports kit.
3 Common Mistakes That Ruin the Pack
- The number one reason the board won’t fit is because you skipped the “vacuum” step above. It only takes an extra 60 seconds to push the air out.
- Folding it Wet: Putting a wet board in a sealed bag is a surefire way to get mold and foul aromas. Get it dry!
- If you have to use all your strength to close the zipper on your backpack, halt. You could break the zipper or pinch the board material. Take it out of the box, vacuum it again, and fold it up tightly.
Conclusion
With practice, it gets a lot easier to pack a little board. It might take you 10 minutes the first few times, but soon you’ll be able to complete it in 3 minutes.
Don’t forget: vacuum it flat, fold it tightly, and never force the bag.
Check out our newest Compact Series Paddle Boards if you want the best mix of mobility and performance. They are made for hikers, backpackers, and people who live in cities with limited storage space.
