The best Paddle Boards for Van Life

Van Life is more than just the van. It’s the adventures that van takes you on! With Summer heating up in Australia I wanted to share with you my favourite piece of Summer gear on board, my inflatable paddle board from Atoll.

Let me start by saying I’m pretty harsh on gear. I carry toys with the intent to use them and share them with friends, the paddle boards are no exception. Over the years I have tried a few different brands, some have not stood up to my tests. I have had boards scratch up from dogs, fins break with beginners and grips bubble in the sun, but these boards from Atoll have truly taken a beating and they still look brand new! Their rugged durability is perfect for my lifestyle.

Inflatable is so so soooo important in the van. Being able to deflate and store these boards in duffle bags is super important. No way would I have space for an 11ft board in my van otherwise. Some of the best paddle spots I have found have been a total surprise, so having the boards tucked under the bed at all times is key to spontaneous adventure.

If you know me and you’ve seen my van builds you probably have an idea of my style. I like things clean and I really dig that military look. I love that these boards are a simple block colour and not covered in hibiscus flowers or fish. Their simple understated design pairs perfectly with an overland rig.

The boards come with a hand pump, which I do keep around in case there is a place to paddle which requires hiking into. Most of the time however I can pull right up to the water with the van, this means I can use my on board air compressor to quickly inflate and hit the water. If you don’t have on board air you can invest in a good 12V pump - and look, it seems lazy, but there is no shame in using pumps, save your energy for more paddling.

I take my dog everywhere and paddling is no exception. Aside from size, one of the reasons I prefer an inflatable board is because my dog can get on and off it more easily. His claws don’t slip like they do on a hard board surface so he can move around on the whole board and really enjoy the trip.

Another advantage of the inflatables is that you can crash them into things without worrying about cracking or chipping the board. I like to explore around rocks or trees when I paddle so inevitably I sometimes bump into things. This is also a key feature for anyone with kids who, in my experience, just love to smash into stuff.

If you are heading out for a full day or even multi day paddle get your hands on an Osah Drypak bag. I keep a few in the van for adventures or if I have to store gear on the roof rack and they have colourways which just so happen to match the Atoll Boards perfectly!

So what are you waiting for?! Grab a paddle board and add it to your adventure kit!
Available in Australia here.