Starboard Generation or Starboard Touring? They are two of the most interesting choices for a paddler who has grown out of an all-round board and wants better glide. But they do not aim at exactly the same paddler. Generation is the more versatile, all-water crossover: a board for touring, training, exploring a choppy coastline and catching the occasional small wave. Touring puts more emphasis on efficient point-to-point paddling, a predictable straight line and carrying kit.
Which is the right choice comes down to where you paddle, whether you want to surf, how much you carry, and whether you mean a hard board or an inflatable. That last question matters: Starboard uses Generation and Touring names across different designs and constructions. A hard Generation is not directly equivalent to a 12'6 inflatable Touring Deluxe Lite.
Quick answer: Starboard Generation vs Touring
| Buying question | Generation | Touring |
|---|---|---|
| What is the main aim? | All-water crossover: touring, training, chop and small surf | Efficient distance paddling, exploration and carrying kit |
| Does it need to surf? | The more sensible option for occasional small-wave use | Not the priority |
| Long flat-water trips? | Capable, lively and versatile | Usually the more natural choice if distance efficiency matters most |
| Mixed coastal conditions? | Strong appeal for dynamic water and surf crossover | Choose a suitable width and construction for stability and tracking |
| Carrying luggage? | Check the exact model's attachment points | Touring configurations generally make this a key consideration |
| Best buyer? | Paddler who wants one board for several styles | Paddler whose priority is getting from A to B efficiently |
What is the Starboard Generation actually designed for?
Generation is best understood as a crossover hard-board concept. Starboard positions it to bridge touring, race-style paddling and surfing. That makes it appealing to a paddler who wants the board to come alive when conditions are interesting, rather than simply make long flat-water kilometres feel effortless.
For example, a customer who paddles sheltered Hampshire rivers but also takes the board to coastal water on a clean swell may find Generation the more rewarding all-round hard board. A long, efficient waterline helps it tour, while its overall design is more comfortable with small-wave use than a pure expedition-oriented shape.
Don't mistake “race-style” for an uncompromising elite race board, though. Generation is about a useful compromise. If your overriding aim is maximum race pace, look at Starboard's All Star or Gen R instead.
What does Starboard Touring do better?
Touring is the more direct answer for a paddler who wants to explore further, track cleanly and carry belongings. Touring-specific designs spend less of their design brief accommodating surfing and more on dependable cruising. The right length and width can deliver a combination of easy tracking, usable stability and glide that feels substantially better than a conventional all-round SUP.
For a long trip on the Solent, a multi-hour river outing or an easy-paced day with a dry bag, Touring is the sensible starting point. Narrower race-influenced touring models can demand more balance than wide recreational touring models, so don't choose based on the name alone.
Generation vs Touring for flat water
On sheltered rivers and lakes, either can be enjoyable. The distinction is personality: Generation gives you a versatile, athletic hard-board feel; Touring typically offers the more obvious point-to-point and luggage-focused proposition. If your objective is to build miles with predictable glide, give Touring priority. If you like varied paddling, turning and occasional fast efforts, Generation makes a strong case.
Generation vs Touring for the sea and chop
Neither model name guarantees stability. Width, rail shape, hull behaviour and rider ability all matter. The paddler who regularly launches at Hayling or Calshot should choose a board that remains manageable in the actual wind-and-tide chop they encounter, not simply the narrowest specification advertised.
Generation's crossover brief can make it particularly attractive when the outing might include small surf. Touring can be a better choice for sustained distance paddling and carrying equipment through variable conditions. Wider configurations are often more practical for a non-racing sea paddler than extremely narrow, performance-led ones.
Can you surf a Starboard Touring?
Some touring SUPs will pick up a gentle runner or small wave, but surfing is not their reason for existing. Their straight-line design, length and rails can make wave manoeuvring awkward compared with a surf-capable crossover. If catching small waves is part of your plan, the Generation design makes far more sense. For regular dedicated SUP surfing, however, we'd look at Starboard's surf-specific shapes rather than pretend Generation replaces them.
Which is better for a heavier paddler?
That depends on your stability requirement and the precise length/width/volume of the model. A heavier paddler who wants touring mileage and luggage should prioritise sufficient usable volume and a stable width, not simply the fastest board on paper. Generation can work brilliantly for competent heavier paddlers, but a narrow model can be challenging, particularly in chop.
Hard board or inflatable? Don't compare the wrong things
Starboard Touring exists in different constructions, including inflatable options such as Deluxe Lite. Those are important alternatives when you need easy storage or transport. A rigid composite Generation hard board will feel different underfoot, accelerate differently and have different rails from an inflatable Touring package. The correct comparison is first intended use, then construction, then size and width.
If easy transport is essential, read our Starboard 12'6 Generation Deluxe inflatable review and Starboard Touring 11'6 vs 12'6 vs 14' size guide. The inflatable Generation Deluxe and hard Generation should not be treated as identical boards just because they share a name.
Where does the Starboard Roamer fit?
Roamer is worth considering if your definition of touring means genuine expedition distance, gear carrying and more open-water commitment. Generation is the crossover; Touring is the familiar distance-cruising route; Roamer points more deliberately towards expedition use. Read our Starboard Roamer 2027 introduction if that sounds like your type of paddling.
When should you choose the All Star instead?
If you are looking at Generation because you want to train faster and perhaps start racing, also look at the All Star. Generation's strength is the breadth of its use; a dedicated race shape prioritises speed and efficiency under load. The All Star can reward committed paddlers, but it is not automatically the right first narrow board.
Our verdict: who should buy which?
Buy Generation if you want a fast-feeling hard SUP that can tour, train, handle varied coastal water and occasionally catch small waves. It is for the rider who enjoys changing the way they paddle from session to session.
Buy Touring if you want a distance-oriented SUP with easy tracking and the option to carry equipment. Choose the correct construction and width to suit the journeys you actually intend to paddle.
We can help you narrow the choice using your weight, height, balance, normal paddling locations, transport constraints and whether you want to carry a bag or catch waves. Browse Starboard paddleboards at The SUP Company or ask our team about the models and sizes currently available.
Starboard Generation vs Touring FAQs
Is Starboard Generation a touring board?
It can absolutely be used for touring, but it is a broader crossover that also values dynamic water and small-wave riding.
Is a Starboard Touring faster than Generation?
Not universally. Speed depends on the specific length, width, construction, paddler and conditions. Touring is generally more explicitly focused on efficient distance cruising rather than surf crossover.
Is Generation suitable for beginners?
It depends on the exact size and construction, rider balance and conditions. For a complete newcomer, a wider touring or all-round inflatable may be easier.
Which board is better for the Solent?
If you're carrying kit on longer coastal trips, begin with Touring. If you want mixed training and occasional waves, consider Generation. The suitable width and stability matter more than the model name.
What is the difference between inflatable Generation and hard Generation?
They are different constructions and designs. Check the product specifications for the precise model rather than assuming they perform identically.