Almost every inflatable paddle board comes with a manual pump in the package. But if yours didn\u2019t come with one, can you use your friend\u2019s or partner\u2019s pump to inflate your SUP? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Also, if we\u2019re being honest, manually inflating your paddle board can be quite the task, especially if you\u2019ve carried your SUP some distance to get it to the water. Most of us would probably prefer to use an electric pump, given the choice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
But if you have several paddle boards\u2013maybe one for each family member\u2013 you might be wondering if you\u2019ll have to buy a pump for each one, or can you get one pump for all of them?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So the big question is: are paddle board pumps universal? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The quick answer is, no, unfortunately. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Different inflatable boards have different SUP valve types. However, there are adapters that you can use and most pumps come with multiple valve adapters so they can inflate different air valve types. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
As mentioned, different paddle boards have different valve types. You can only use a pump if it is designed for your paddle board\u2019s valve type or by using the appropriate valve adapter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The good news is that you can get a valve adapter easily. Plus, most pumps come with adapters so you don\u2019t have to go through the trouble. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here are the different valve types you\u2019ll find on inflatable paddle boards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Boston valve is more common in inflatable boats and other larger inflatables\u2013not so much in inflatable SUPs. However, it\u2019s still good to know about it, as you might end up with an inflatable with this valve type, especially if you\u2019re an avid SUP fan. Besides, most electric paddle board pumps<\/a> come with a Boston valve adapter<\/strong>, so it doesn\u2019t hurt to know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Boston valve is a one-way valve (meaning that it only allows air to flow in one direction) and it\u2019s designed for easy and quick inflation and deflation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It has three key parts. The first one, which is the base and is attached to the inflatable boat, the middle part, and a cap that makes the third. It\u2019s really not much more complicated than that. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The middle and first part of the valve are screwed together \u2013 so you remove the cap and attach your SUP pump to that middle part to inflate your boat. Since it\u2019s a one-way valve, air can\u2019t flow back out while you\u2019re inflating. Once you\u2019re done, simply screw the cap back on. That\u2019s it! <\/p>\n\n\n\n When you want to deflate your inflatable, just unscrew the middle part and air will start coming out. You can use an electric paddle board pump to suck all the air out\u2013most SUP electric pumps now come with a deflate function. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The Boston valve is that simple. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Most inflatable paddle boards have a Halkey Roberts valve. You\u2019ll find this valve type on many popular SUP brands including Thurso Surf, iRocker, and Bote, among others. It\u2019s also common in inflatable kayaks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This valve type is simple and easy to use. It has three parts, just like the Boston air valve. There\u2019s the base, which is inside the inflatable paddle board. The middle part is screwed onto the base and it has a pin or piston which is a key part of the valve. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The top (and third part) is the cap which screws onto the middle part. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To inflate your paddle board, unscrew the cap and lift the pin inside of the middle part. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Remember how I said the pin is a key part of the valve? When it\u2019s up, the valve is closed, but when it\u2019s pressed down, the valve is open. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you inflate your blow-up paddle board when the valve is open, it will lose pressure once you remove the pump, and might not be as rigid as it should be. The video below explains the Halkey Roberts valve perfectly. <\/p>\n\n\n\nHalkey Roberts Valve<\/h3>\n\n\n\n