Highlighting - Apps for SUP
There are so many apps on iOS and on Android that it can be daunting to decide which ones you may need to increase your Stand Up Paddling experience. Do you pick one that tracks your distance and speed, do you pick one that tells you the weather (but which one is the best for weather), maybe you need one that works for bragging about your SUP pics (well, the only good one here is Instagram). We’ve got you. We will look at a bunch of apps that we have found helpful when making decisions to make our SUP time beneficial. All the apps below offer a free version and a paid version. Depending on the type of paddling you do and what your goals are you may want to look at the paid option.
The apps listed are broken down into categories; Paddling Locations, Distance and Speed Trackers, Weather and Water Conditions, and Whitewater Paddling. All the apps below have links to iOS (apple phones) and Android (if there is an Android option).
Let’s get into it.
Paddling Locations
As you are looking for more paddling locations in the Maryland area, be sure to check out the SUPClubMD Locations section of this blog. We highlight a few locations each month from the Ocean City area to the Potomac River and mountain areas of Western MD. Additionally, we are working on a comprehensive map for paddling locations, SUP shops, and rental places in Maryland, click here to access it. Maryland has a ton of launch points for miles of paddling, see the beauty of MD.
Go Paddling is a comprehensive app tailored for kayakers and stand-up paddleboard enthusiasts, offering a wealth of information and features to enhance their paddling experience. The app serves as a valuable resource by providing detailed information on various water trails and launch points, enabling users to explore new locations confidently. With a user-friendly interface, Go Paddling allows individuals to discover routes suitable for their skill levels and preferences, fostering a sense of adventure and exploration.
Go Paddling incorporates a community-driven element, allowing users to share their own experiences, tips, and recommendations. You are also able to post pictures and basic information about a launch site, like if it has bathrooms or is a long walk from the parking lot. The only downside is you need to read the descriptions because some of the put-in spots are more for whitewater kayakers and not normally conducive for the average SUP paddler.
Blue Adventures was introduced in 2023 and is from the people at iRocker SUP. It is entirely driven by user contributions, designed to help you discover the perfect stand-up paddle boarding locations tailored to your preferences. It is similar to GoPaddlling but focused on SUP locations, and is more up-to-date. This dynamic platform features a continually expanding database of global SUP spots, allowing you to explore nearby gems, compile a bucket list of dream destinations, and actively engage with the paddling community. Through Blue Adventures, you can contribute by leaving reviews, recording your distance, speed, and time on the water during your sessions, adding captivating photos, and sharing your favorite paddleboarding locations with fellow enthusiasts worldwide.
One of my biggest issues with Blue Adventures is that there is not a lot of user activity in updating areas in Maryland. This idea of crowdsourcing paddling locations only works for the masses when people add their thoughts and pictures about a particular area.
Distance and Speed Trackers
iOS (currently not available for Android)
Paddle Logger is your essential companion for detailed session tracking, enhanced connectivity, and water safety. With a user-friendly design, this app simplifies your experience – just one button is all it takes to start tracking, allowing you to focus on maximizing your time on the water.
Paddle Logger's integration with Apple Health adds an extra layer of functionality, contributing to closing your Health Rings through your paddle sessions. The standalone Apple Watch App offers all the tracking features of the iPhone App and more, including the convenience of the Action Button on the Apple Watch Ultra. Seamlessly blending convenience and comprehensive tracking, the Paddle Logger is tailored to elevate your paddling adventures while prioritizing your safety and well-being on the water.
SUPClubMD wrote up a full review on PaddleLogger a few months back. Click here to see our review.
Strava is a popular fitness app and social network designed for athletes, including cyclists, runners, and paddlers. It allows users to track and analyze their activities using GPS technology. For kayakers and stand-up paddleboard enthusiasts, Strava can be a valuable tool to log and share their paddling sessions, including details such as distance covered, speed, and route.
One of the key features of Strava is its ability to create a sense of community among athletes. Users can connect with friends, join clubs, and participate in challenges. This social aspect can be motivating for individuals who enjoy sharing their paddling achievements and experiences with like-minded enthusiasts.
Additionally, Strava offers detailed activity analytics, allowing users to review their performance over time. Paddlers can track their progress, set goals, and gain insights into their fitness levels. The app's user-friendly interface and compatibility with various GPS devices make it a versatile tool for individuals seeking to enhance their kayaking or stand-up paddleboarding experience while staying connected with a broader community of active users. Strava has two versions, a free version, and a paid option. Most of the major features are available on the free version but if you are interested in the analytics then consider the paid version.
Elevate your water sports performance with Waterspeed, your ultimate companion for tracking, improving, and sharing your aquatic adventures. Whether you're into Sailing, Wingfoil, Kite, Windsurf, Surf, or other water sports, Waterspeed has you covered. This comprehensive app allows you to record your experiences, access real-time information, and analyze your performance – all at no cost.
Designed for both amateurs and pros, Waterspeed offers insightful overviews and detailed analyses to cater to every watersport enthusiast's needs. Engage in competitive training with features like Tack and Gybe recognition, Best and Alpha speeds calculation, and Long-distance analyses for endurance sports. The app seamlessly integrates with Apple Watch and iPhone, allowing you to effortlessly track your sessions. Experience real-time stats such as speed, pace, distance, heart rate, wind, tide forecasts, and even water temperature readings with Apple Watch Ultra.
Weather and Water Conditions
Windy is a powerful weather forecasting and visualization tool that caters to a diverse range of outdoor enthusiasts, including sailors, surfers, paragliders, and anyone interested in detailed weather information. The app provides real-time data on various meteorological parameters, offering users the ability to visualize wind patterns, precipitation, temperature, and other essential weather metrics on an interactive map.
For kayakers and stand-up paddleboarders, the Windy app can be particularly valuable. It allows users to assess wind conditions accurately, helping them plan their paddling trips with consideration for wind speed and direction. This feature is crucial for optimizing the paddling experience, ensuring that users can navigate effectively and stay informed about potential weather challenges.
Whether you're looking for a detailed wind forecast for a particular location or a broader overview of the weather conditions, Windy provides a comprehensive and visually intuitive platform for users to stay informed and make informed decisions related to their outdoor activities.
This application is designed to provide users with real-time tide information for locations near them, and especially helpful if you paddle in or around a tidal area. The app typically offers details such as current tide levels, tidal charts, and predictions, helping users plan their water adventures more effectively.
For kayakers and stand-up paddleboard enthusiasts, the Tides Near Me app is particularly useful in understanding tidal patterns. Knowing the tide levels at specific times is crucial for planning the best times to paddle, especially in areas where tides significantly impact water conditions. The app's user-friendly interface and accurate tidal predictions contribute to a smoother and safer paddling experience.
Additionally, the Tides Near Me app often includes features like sunrise and sunset times, moon phases, and other relevant information that can enhance the overall planning process for water activities. By providing comprehensive tidal data, the app empowers users to make informed decisions about when and where to enjoy their paddling adventures.
Savvy Navvy is a navigation app designed for sailors, providing comprehensive tools for planning and navigating boat journeys. The app offers features such as route planning, weather forecasts, tidal information, and navigation alerts. It aims to simplify the navigation process and enhance the overall sailing experience. As I am not a sailor or Bay Area fisherman, most of what this app provides is way over my head but every now and then it will paint a clearer picture of what I may be paddling into.
For sailors, including those using kayaks or stand-up paddleboards, Savvy Navvy can be a valuable tool for planning routes and navigating safely on the water. The app integrates with various data sources to provide up-to-date information, including real-time weather conditions and tidal predictions. This can help users make informed decisions about the best times to embark on their water adventures.
Prepare for storms, monitor potential flooding, and optimize your outdoor plans with Rivercast™ – your reliable source for essential river-level data. This user-friendly app provides a comprehensive overview through intuitive maps and graphs, ensuring you have instant access to crucial information. Stay informed with official Flood Warnings and alerts from the National Weather Service, track river stage height in feet, and understand river flow rates in CFS when available. Rivercast™ goes beyond basic data, offering clear indicators for rivers approaching or reaching flood stage, along with real-time observations and recent historical data. With customizable Push Notification Alerts, you can tailor notifications to your specific concerns, keeping you in the know when river levels demand attention.
Empower yourself with the insights needed to navigate changing river conditions effectively. Rivercast™ is your go-to companion, delivering accurate and timely information that enables informed decision-making, ensuring your safety and enhancing your overall outdoor experience. I have used this before to see river levels before heading out.
Whitewater Paddling (kayaking or SUP)
PaddleWays, developed in collaboration with American White Water and NRS, is your ultimate digital guidebook and GPS navigation tool for whitewater adventures, covering kayaking, rafting, canoeing, and stand-up paddling. Explore exciting paddling destinations through interactive maps, guidebook descriptions, and skill-level assessments, providing comprehensive insights for safe and informed decisions.
Effortlessly plan your water outings with PaddleWays by calculating river miles, accessing points of interest, and monitoring real-time weather conditions and river flow rates (CFS). The app offers seamless navigation with detailed 2D and 3D maps, both online and offline, and allows you to connect with the paddling community through user comments, reference notes, photos, and shared locations. PaddleWays isn't just an app; it's a versatile tool and community forum, crafted by paddlers for paddlers.
This was recently released in 2023 and still has a lot of bugs to work out but they seem to be working hard on updates to make this the comprehensive whitewater paddling app.
This list is not exhaustive as there are dozens of them, but think about what your goals are for paddling and get the apps you think best suit your needs. If you are a casual summer day type paddler, then just a general weather app and maybe a free distance tracker is your jam. Perhaps you love finding new places to paddle and the GoPaddling app is perfect to find new locations in your area. Maybe you are a year-round paddler, in all weather, and on all types of terrain (rivers, lakes, open water, whitewater, etc..) and you need more information about tides and river heights before you go out. Download the apps you need and get out on the water.
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