9 Women’s Stand-Up Paddleboard Essentials of Summer 2012

Roxy 10’6″ SUP

Of the new women-specific stand-up paddleboards this year, the Roxy 10’6″ SUP was our favorite. SUPs are new to Roxy (the company has been making surfboards since 2007), and this one hits a sweet spot: it holds a line so well that we didn’t have to switch sides every other stroke. It’s portable at 26 pounds, and its wide, 32-inch waist made it easy to catch waves, but its slim sidecut made it hard to turn. Verdict: a perfect beginner board for cruising around on flatwater and straight-lining it to the beach in whitewash.

Patagonia Anika Polarized Tee

Patagonia’s Anika Polarized tee adds extra sun protection with its 20-UPF treatment. And the quick-drying polyester feels wonderfully like cotton.

Aloe Gator Ultra SPF 30+ Lotion

Saltwater is no match for waterproof Aloe Gator Ultra SPF 30+ lotion. You need soap to get it off your skin—and that’s a good thing. It goes on without feeling greasy and protects all day long. We love that it comes in a 1.5-ounce travel size.

Teva Fuse-Ion

Sticky rubber on the soles of Teva’s draining, retro-styled Fuse-Ion water shoes made us feel sure-footed whether we were scrambling on wet Colorado boulders or Hawaiian lava rock, and their hydrophobic upper stayed ridiculously dry when doused.

Kialoa Pipes

The narrow 7.4-inch-wide blade on the carbon-fiber Kialoa Pipes paddle was designed with women in mind—the smaller the blade, the less resistance it creates in water, and the easier it is to maneuver. Still, it’s remarkably strong for feeling so wispy. Our shoulders were grateful on long flatwater outings, and we appreciated its lithe quickness while chasing waves.

Maui Jim Dawn Patrol

Maui Jim’s lightweight Dawn Patrol sunglasses are a throwback to the Hawaiian company’s original styles. Their bronze polycarbonate polarized lenses nix glare on the water.

Roxy Local

Roxy’s adjustable trucker-style Local hat breathes in the back through mesh, while the jute front gives it a little natural island flavor.

O’Neill Superkini Top

O’Neill’s new microsuede-like polyester-polyurethane fabric lining  the inside of the Superkini bra top and Tunnel Side bottom stays put against your skin when wet because of its subtle texture. We’re not sure we love the fabric’s slightly rubbery feel, but it works.

O’Neill Tunnel Side Bottom

O’Neill’s new microsuede-like polyester-polyurethane fabric lining  the inside of the Superkini bra top and Tunnel Side bottom stays put against your skin when wet because of its subtle texture. We’re not sure we love the fabric’s slightly rubbery feel, but it works.

Carve Designs Vista Full Piece

Complete coverage needn’t mean frump. Carve Designs’ flattering Vista Full Piece swimsuit never swerved when we dove under waves.