Surfer Equipment Guide

The first surf essential might seem pretty obvious, but it will be the one thing that you always need while in the water.

If you’re a beginner, we recommend looking at larger surfboards, such as a longboard surfboards, as they are far more conducive to surfing smaller waves. 

Head down to your local surf shop and talk it out with the employees running it. They will likely have experience in surfing and can help you navigate through the hoard of surfboards.

Whatever you do, get a wetsuit. They are the only things between you and the cold water.

Wetsuits come in a variety of shapes and sizes. The type of wetsuit that you need will depend on a few different variables.For starters, if you live in a cold environment, you will want to get a wetsuit than is thicker than normal.

Wetsuits can cost a lot of money, so make sure to only buy what you need. Remember, the job of a wetsuit, first and foremost, is to keep you protected from the cold water. You don’t need anything fancy to be a great surfer!

Whether you are surfing local or flying across the world to hit foreign surf destinations, we recommend that you get a surfboard bag. Surfboard bags come in a variety of shapes and sizes as well. Some are meant for local surfboard transportation, providing your board with a bit of element protection while allowing you to store a few pieces of surf gear, while some provide serious padding for air travel.

An alternative to a surfboard bag is a board sock! Board socks are great for those who are only traveling back and forth from home to the beach, as they provide minimal protection.

A tide watch is a prime piece of surf gear for those who want to optimize their time in the water. These waterproof watches do far more than tell you time! They worked based on your location and can provide you with various pieces of information around the surf conditions at a specified time.

The best tide watches can save you and your surfboard from a trip down to the shoreline on a day where the surf isn't ideal

Whether you want to document your surf progress or capture some epic surf moments to share with the world, you’re going to need a good surf camera. There are hundreds of handheld waterproof cameras out on the market, though we highly recommend getting a GoPro if you can.

GoPro is pretty much the leader of the surf world in terms of action sports cameras. Plus, they have tons of different surf accessories that you can pair up.

To store all of your surfing accessories, you don’t want to use just any random backpack.

Instead, get yourself a surf backpack! Surf backpacks come with all of the necessary pockets and compartments to store smaller pieces of surf gear like wax, wax combs, fins, fin keys, etc.

Thanks to their water-resistant designs, they can store your wetsuit or bathing suit as well.

If your surfboard doesn’t come with a traction pad, you’re going to need some good surf wax. What does surf wax do, you ask? Essentially, it keeps you from slipping off your board while riding. Surf wax applies a thin layer of texture to your board when applied properly. The beauty of wax is that it is very inexpensive, so you can stock up.

Do note that different types of wax are suited for different climate conditions, from hot to cold. Always make sure to read the labels on wax before purchasing it.