Ry Glover

One thing we can tell you about BOTE’s general design philosophy is this: We’ve never been the types to “throw everything at the wall and see what sticks.” On the contrary, everything we do—everything we’ve ever done—from a product standpoint and from a design standpoint has always been and always will be highly intentional and deeply considered.

Call it the curse of the creative, the price of particularity, the malediction of the meticulous—whatever you want to call it, this much is clear: we’re design freaks. We believe thoughtful design not only brings a product to life, but it brings the life out of the product. From the outset, inventive design and innovative function go hand in hand.

After all, our SUPs and kayaks are designed to be best-in-class, top-of-the-line watercrafts extraordinaire. Why shouldn’t they be stylish as hell, too?

Tails, hulls, bottoms, bows. If it all sounds like gibberish to you, we’re here to help.

While the terms “hybrid displacement” or “race-style hull” might sound complex, the differences in SUP shapes are actually pretty simple.

The shape of your SUP—and, in particular, BOTE’s obsession with mastering SUP shapes—is a huge part of what differentiates the paddle board experience across activities. For instance, if you’re interested in paddle board surfing, your board should be shaped differently from someone looking for a paddle board for fishing. Likewise, if you’re new to stand up paddle boarding and simply want to play around and get used to your new pastime, you’re probably not going to need a super sleek touring board. In short, SUP shapes say a lot about who you are as a paddler and where you want to go.

So, if you’re looking to shape up your SUP-shape knowledge, you’ve come to the right place.

Sometimes change can be hard. The quest for improvement can backfire badly. Sequels can be disasters (looking at you, Dumb and Dumberer).

Other times—when the stars align and the paddle board deities are looking down on you in delight—your pursuit for the innovative life can be rewarded more handsomely than a Bonnie & Clyde holdup at a banking convention.

Innovation is the name of the game at BOTE. And resting on laurels, no matter how buoyant they might be, isn't in our DNA.

Meet Florida Man.

No, not the clickbait-news Florida Man "Arrested in Local Park for Practicing Karate on Swans." And certainly not the Florida Man who "Paused a Police Chase to Drink a Stolen Capri Sun Because 'Smoking Crack Makes Him Thirsty'."

We're talking about the real Florida Man. The original Florida Man. The Florida Man who embodies all that it means to actually be from Florida.

There are a couple things everyone can agree make America great: one, our national parks and, two, our highways. Because without the asphalt arteries to get you there it would be damn near impossible to get to the most pristine natural areas this country has to offer. What does this mean for SUP adventurers? An insanely diverse variety of SUP experiences from coast to coast.

There are a few really great things about SUP camping: First, it gives you killer access to pristine natural areas you might not otherwise reach via car camping or even backpacking. Second, it's a journey trip, which adds an explorative expedition quality to the paddle board experience (aka you feel like Lewis & Clark or Tom Sawyer). Finally, you can pack as much beer as you want without worrying about weight. Okay, we're partly kidding about that last one, but what is true about SUP camping is that if you pack smart, you can pack more. More than backpacking, for instance, where some folks skimp on clean underwear just to shed a couple of ounces. Not necessary with SUP camping.

Before you know where to look, you've got to know what you're looking for. That's kind of the deal when it comes to seeking out standup paddle boarding destinations. Do you want to catch waves? Or is paddle board fishing more your speed? Maybe you're more of a SUP camping trip kind of person. Whatever your paddle preferences, the good news is that the Southeast is loaded with world-class options for every kind of paddler. Like an overstuffed burrito, the Southeast is basically bursting at the seams with rivers, lakes, bays, bayous, freshwater springs, and more.