Why are Double Chamber Inflatables Better?

two paddleboarders walking down the beach towards the sea at sunrise
19 March 2020
Why are Double Chamber Inflatables Better?

Double chamber inflatable SUPs are a new addition to the paddleboarding market which have been designed to offer performance and safety improvements for paddlers. Only in the last couple of years has the technology emerged and here at Two Bare Feet, we’ve been right up there leading the way with some of the best double chambers around. So, why would you buy one instead of the tried and tested single chamber designs in every other board?

How do double chamber SUPs work?

First, let’s look at how double chambers are made and the differences between them and a single chamber...

All Two Bare Feet paddle boards are made with drop-stitched air chambers which have a very high tensile strength and can inflate to 18 Psi. Where double chambers are concerned however, there are two separate drop-stitched air chambers which are individually sealed with their own DWF (double wall fabric) laminates and individual pressure retention valves.

In the past, a lot of SUP manufacturers built their boards with a 50:50 ratio, so the chambers were equal in size. However, we believe that this isn’t the most efficient and effective use of the double chamber system, which is why our 2020 range features a much smaller internal chamber.

This internal chamber is in the centre of the board containing around 10% of the air. Because of its compact size, air displacement is incredibly minimal giving the rider a strong base underfoot. Our aim is to increase the strength of the SUP where it matters most: where you’ll be standing. The smaller chamber also saves weight as there is less fabric used to wall the internal chamber.

Performance benefits of double chamber SUPs

The performance benefits of this paddleboard design begin with the added rigidity. The second chamber adds up to 30% extra rigidity, offering a feeling that is as close to a hard board as you can get with an inflatable paddleboard.

This means that you will transfer a greater percentage of your energy directly into your paddle strokes rather than losing it through a board that bows and flexes underneath you. The result is a more efficient paddle, greater glide and greater speed.

The extra strength also means that the paddleboard will be more stable. You can plant your feet and push through your strokes with confidence, as well as move around the board to perform different strokes without displacing so much air beneath you. Displacement of air means the board will flex which can easily unbalance you.

The aforementioned smaller inner chamber is also narrow enough so that, in a regular paddleboarding stance, your feet will be either side of the chamber on the strongest part of the board.

Safety benefits of a double chamber paddleboard

A big reason for the popularity of double chamber inflatables is also down to the added safety. Some people may worry that by their very nature, inflatable boards can be delicate and you certainly wouldn’t want to experience a puncture when paddleboarding far from shore.

The chances of this happening are slim, but with the second chamber you reduce the chances of the whole SUP deflating completely as it’s unlikely both would experience a leak or be punctured at the same time. If either of the chambers do begin to lose air, you can rest assured that there is enough flotation remaining in the other to keep you afloat.

We would recommend double chamber inflatables to paddlers who really want to test their limits and stray far from shore, or to paddlers who like to explore the nooks and crannies of interesting coastlines where you might be navigating rocks, reefs and caves.

How to inflate a double chamber SUP

It’s important to pump your double chamber stand up paddleboard correctly as each of the chambers will be applying extra pressure to the other depending on the order they are inflated. This could mean that if done incorrectly, you will over-pressurize one of those chambers.  To correctly inflate your Two Bare Feet double chamber paddleboard, follow the steps below.

  1. Remove both valve caps, ensure the valve for the central chamber is open and the valve for the main chamber is closed. This will allow the central chamber to expand freely as the main chamber is inflated.
  2. Attach your pump hose to the external chamber valve and inflate this to its full working pressure (15-18 Psi).
  3. Detach the hose and screw on the valve cap.
  4. Now close the valve for the internal chamber and attach the pump hose. Inflate this chamber to its full working pressure – note: when you attach the hose, you may notice that the pump gauge is already reading a few Psi. This is due to the pressure applied by the external chamber on the walls of the internal chamber.
  5. Once you have inflated to 18 Psi, removed the pump hose, reattach the valve cap and you’re ready to enjoy your paddle.

If you are not familiar with iSUPs and the inflation process of a regular single chamber, please refer to our User Guide before setting up.

And, if you need any further advice or information about the design and construction of our double chamber boards or the correct inflation process, please feel free to contact us and one of our paddleboarding experts will be more than happy to help.