Best Twin Fin Surfboard
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When Mark Richards pioneered the Twin Fin design in the 1970s, the surfing world was very different. Trunks were shorter. Major brands were just starting. And, single fins were pretty much all that surfers knew how to ride. Four world titles later, the surfing world started changing.
Though a lot has changed since then, twin fins are still as fun as they ever were. Fast, loose, and skatey, twin fins are some of the funnest boards you can ride today. Whether you’re looking to get your soul surfing on, or just want a change of pace board for your quiver, you can’t go wrong with a good twin fin.
To help you out, we’ve come up with a list of four of the best twin fin surfboards out there. These boards will have you stoked on your new found speed and looseness during your next session.
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Our Top Picks For Twin Fin Surfboards
Thurso Surf Lance 5’10” Fish
- Loose, high-performance feel
- Wide swallowtail
- Great for surfers under 200lbs
Rock-It 5’8” Albert Surfboard
- Slow and loose feel
- Sharp swallowtail
- Great for surfers under 200lbs
Formula Fun Shortboard Fish 5’3”
- Built for serious speed
- Thin swallowtail
- Great for groms
Softech Mason Twin FCS II Surfboard
- Made for high-performance surfing
- Very small swallowtail
- Great for free-spirited surfers
What Is A Thruster Surfboard?
Thruster surfboards are tri fin boards that maximize a combination of stability, maneuverability, and speed. Simon Anderson invented the thruster in the 80s and won the Bells Beach Classic in ‘81 with the design. Surfers have been riding them ever since.
Twin Fin vs Thruster
Twin fins are an older design than the thruster set up. Twin fins are known for their looseness and speed. They fly down the line and are suited for carving turns on the open face of a wave.
Twin Fin vs Quad
Quad fins are a later development for twin fins. Quad fins give added stability and drive off of turns at the sacrifice of pure speed and the ability to effortlessly carve on the wave like a skateboard with its trucks loosened.
Twin Fin Surfboards: Our 4 Favorites
#1 THURSO SURF Lancer 5'10'' Fish
If you want to get your feet wet in the twin fin game and try your first alternative craft, look no further than the Thurso Surf Lancer 5’10” Fish.
At an amazing price point, this board had what you’ll need to get your soul surfing on and feel the loose speed twin fins can provide.
If you’re worried about getting started with a twin fin, you shouldn’t be with the Lancer 5’10”. This board focuses on stability with a wide deck and double wood stringers for board rigidity.
The Lancer 5’10” Fish has a wide swallow tail to help you hold on the wave face.
You’ll feel more connection to the wave and hold through turns. Riding the Lancer, you’ll feel the “fast and loose” that fishes are known for.
We also like everything that comes with this board. The fins are soft so they won’t hurt if they accidentally hit you. This makes the Lancer an excellent beginner board. It also comes with a legit leash with swivels so you won’t get tangled up when you fall.
Though the Lancer 5’10” Fish is suitable for any surfer under 200lbs, we’ve found that it really shines when used by younger surfers. The light weight and small size is conducive for their easy use and the twin fins help them rip on this board.
#2 Rock-It 5'8" Albert Surfboard
One of the things we like about the Rock-It 5’8” is that it has a layer of fiberglass cloth beneath the soft deck. It’s like getting the best of both worlds.
The soft deck makes this board easy and safe to learn on while providing a solid, grippy base.
The layer of fiberglass underneath the soft top adds a level of durability that you don’t usually see in soft top surfboards. This will help make sure your board will last.
Speaking of safety, this board comes with soft, flexible fins making it a great choice for any beginner.
You won’t need to worry about your skegs cutting your, or worse, since they are fairly flexible and toothless. Whether you are looking at your first surf outing or just want to not worry when riding heavy shorebreak, not worrying about where your fins are when you fall is always a plus.
One thing to note about the Rock-It, is that there is a lot of rocker, or curve, through the nose of the board. This will help you make drops, but may also make the board a little bit slower. Though the twin fins will keep the board loose, you may feel like you’re not able to fully engage the board through turns.
#3 Formula Fun - Shortboard Fish 5'3"
It’s easy to see the influence of the classic retro, fish when you look at Formula Fun’s fish.
From the outline to the length to the flat rocker, this board is just like the original fishes that first sped down the line.
Just because this board is short doesn’t mean that it will have difficulty floating.
With plenty of volume, especially through the chest area, you’ll notice that this board is easy to float and paddles well despite its size.
One cool thing about this board’s short stature is that you will really be able to feel the extent of the looseness that riding a twin fin provides.
This board is small enough to whip around wherever you direct it and sneak into the pocket of any size wave.
We also like that this board has fin boxes for Future Fins. Though better suited for more advanced riders, the fin boxes will allow you to customize as you choose the best fins for your ride. These stiffer fins will also give you more traction on the wave face.
Also, did we mention that the Formula Fun Shortboard Fish is made of recycled material. So when you get your hands on this board, not only are you helping increase your stoke, you’re also helping the planet. You’re welcome.
#4 Softech Mason Twin FCS II Surfboard
You might be thinking that this board doesn’t quite have the normal outline of a twin fin fish, will it really go. And, you would be right to wonder.
But, this board has a similar outline to the twin fins that Mark Richards used to rip on.
Like those, this twin fin is geared towards performance surfing.
The Softech Mason Ho Twin Fin board still has the fish tail, though it is smaller than many other versions of the twin fin.
The smaller swallow tail helps this board stay connected to the wave face but will give more drive through your turns.
All of this is to say that this board will feel loose and quick to help you open up your more free spirited surfing.
Another awesome part of this board is that it has the FCS II fin system. With this system, you’ll be able to switch around your fins until you find a set that you love surfing with. It’s easy, and it doesn’t require any screws.
If you aren’t sure about how well this board goes, just watch Mason Ho having a blast on it and it’s easy to see the infectious glee from riding this twinnie.
