If you are a beginner and want to get into surfing, then you are at the right place.
The selection of surfboards can be overwhelming due to the sheer number of brands, types, and sizes that are available.
To resolve this, we’ve put together this detailed guide to help you find the best surfboards for your needs — from a wide-range of beginner styles.
We’ve also included detailed product reviews of the absolute best surfboards that can be found on the market today.
For example, you will find an excellent selection of boards that are suitable for all kinds of skaters, surfers, waves, and our flat water readers as well.
| Name | Category | Product |
|---|---|---|
| Premium Surfboards | Best Overall |  |
| Giantex 6' Surfboard Surfing Surf Beach Ocean Body Foamie Board | Budget Pick |  |
| Rock-It 5'8" Albert Surfboard | Upgrade Pick |  |
1. Premium Surfboards
Pros:
- Board caters to both kids and adults
- Easy to paddle and maneuver
- Strong, lightweight board
- Great for flat-water and small waves
Cons:
- Not recommended for beginners who want to surf big waves
- At this price, beginners may also purchase the board as a toy, not as a tool for learning
This entry in our list of the best surfboards for beginners is a terrific item for anyone who wants to learn how to surf.
There are three different sizes available for this soft-top foam surfboard, and as such, it’s suitable for both adults and kids. The biggest size can accommodate even the tallest adult.
The board is soft, which makes it easy to paddle and maneuver. It’s also flexible, so it’s fairly lightweight and great for flat-water and small waves. It’s not meant to surf big waves, however.
Read more about the Premium Surfboards
2. Giantex 6' Surfboard Surfing Surf Beach Ocean Body Foamie Board
Pros:
- Eco-friendly, non-toxic
- Great for both kids and adults
- Easy to carry
What more could you ask for in a great beginner’s surfboard? It’s surprisingly inexpensive, comfortable, and delightfully simple. It’s ideal for kids, yet large enough to fit adult riders, too. If you’re a first-timer looking to try out a foam board, this would be a great option.
In addition to providing a lot of fun for newbies, this body board is also a lot tougher than it looks. Its water-tight polymer construction is surprisingly sturdy and absorbs shock well. It’s thick and durable, so you won’t have to worry about any dings or dents.
Best of all, it’s protected by a rock-solid 1-year warranty. For this price, you can’t really expect more. The Giantex 6’0” Body Board is perfect for first-timers or as a fun, inexpensive gift for kids.
Read more about the Giantex 6' Surfboard Surfing Surf Beach Ocean Body Foamie Board
3. Wavestorm 8' Classic Pinline Surfboard
Pros:
- Strong and durable
- Good value for your money
- Cuts quickly through choppy waters
Wavestorm, a company that manufactures high-quality kayaks and SUPs, has decided to venture into the surfboard industry.
The 8' Wavestorm Pinline Surfboard is made of high-quality bamboo with a fiberglass deck. Coming in at a total length of 8', it's suitable for beginner to intermediate surfers.
Being a 1-layer board, you can expect the fiberglass to be too soft to be used by hardcore surfers, but it's sturdy enough to carry on most of the physical aspects.
Read more about the Wavestorm 8' Classic Pinline Surfboard
4. THURSO SURF Lancer 5'10'' Fish Soft Top Surfboard Package Includes Twin Fins Double Stainless Steel Swivel Leash EPS Core IXPE Deck HDPE Slick Bottom Built in Non Slip Deck Grip
5. Formula Fun 5'3" Foam Soft Board Surfboards
Pros:
- Handmade with the highest quality materials
- Flexible, strong, but still soft.
- Perfect size for kids
- Includes two fins
Read more about the Formula Fun 5'3" Foam Soft Board Surfboards
6. Gold Coast Surfboards
Pros:
- Can ride in various conditions
- A great-looking board that’s well suited for beginners
- Affordable price
- Includes a carrying bag
- Excellent customer service
Cons:
- Not for aggressive surf
- Not great for heavier surfers
The Gold Coast Surfboard – 5’8 Hybrid is a 5-foot-8, three-fin and leash model. It’s made from polystyrene foam—one of the more uncommon materials for surfboards. Although a foam surfboard is a bit more particular than wooden surfboards (which are the most popular material), this hybrid design is easy to paddle and catch waves with.
It also comes with a soft EVA rubber top as well as a bottom. And the bottom is made from a planethis makes the board lightweight, but also durable. And the board can easily be maneuvered into the waves. It’s also very responsive.
This surfboard comes with a soft and low-tack adhesive footbed. It also comes with raised rail kick tails, which are designed to keep the body of your board in the air when you’re on it.
Read more about the Gold Coast Surfboards
7. Wavestorm 8' Surfboard
Ocean.
The Wavestorm 8’6” Surfboard is a fantastic option for beginners. It’s economically priced and it’s made from durable and strong components that are designed to withstand the elements.
The Wavestorm surfboard has a core made from thick polyethylene foam, which is not only comfortable but also springy. The ocean pattern on the top is textured, which helps it to stay afloat in a range of water conditions. While you’ll be able to use the board in a variety of situations, it’s specifically designed for flatwater conditions.
Read more about the Wavestorm 8' Surfboard
8. StormBlade 6ft Swallow Tail Surfboard // Foam Wax Free Soft Top Shortboard
Pros:
- Premium performance, top quality construction
- Surfing fun at any size
- Great for learning the sport
- Perfect for kids and adults
- Budget-friendly
- Easy to assemble
- Versatile
- Designed for people of all levels of experience.
- Great for families who enjoy spending time together
- Amazing price
Cons:
- Could use more padding for the feet
- Hard to balance at first
The Stormblade is an excellent choice for all surfing enthusiasts looking for a high quality board that is perfect for beginners and intermediates. It comes with a nice carry bag so you can easily take it to any beach.
It is a versatile board in that both adults and kids can use it. Furthermore, it is made from top quality materials which makes it very durable.
The Super Flex construction makes it perfect for beginners as it is very flexible to accommodate to your body. The soft top keeps you safe when you fall off your board. It is also very easy to set up.
Read more about the StormBlade 6ft Swallow Tail Surfboard // Foam Wax Free Soft Top Shortboard
9. Rock-It 4'11" CHUB Surfboard
Pros:
- Great all-around shape for small waves and beginner surfers
- Excellent quality for the price
- Fast
Cons:
- Planing hull is not very forgiving when the board is not fully rigged
- Wetsuit may be needed in colder waters
The Rock-It is a good buy if you are a beginner or if you are on a budget. This board is a great deal that is even more impressive when you consider that it’s made from 100% poly foam. It’s a pretty small board, but that’s because it is designed to be ridden in very small waves. If you are planning to surf larger waves, this won’t be the best choice for you. For most entry-level surfers, this board will be more than suitable.
The Rock-It is a good option for beginners because it is easy to maneuver. It is fast and easy to paddle. The board has a planing hull that allows for fast speeds, making it great for catching waves. If you’re more experienced, this board is also a good choice because it is very easy to turn. It has a rocker tail, which provides some additional power and the tail is designed in such a way that the water can get under your feet, giving you extra speed.
Read more about the Rock-It 4'11" CHUB Surfboard
10. Liquid Shredder FSE EPS/PE Soft Surf Board
Pros:
- The board is made with EPS foam, PE foam, and fiberglass
- It’s super lightweight
- Ideal for beginners
- The board is also very durable
Every surfer knows that weight is one of the most important factors when it comes to choosing their surfboard. The Liquid Shredder Surfboard is ideal for beginners, since it is lightweight, and may be one of the best surfboards for the price.
The EPS and PE foam are lightweight, and they also offer more volume for the foam than ordinary PVC or carbon foam. They are also much more flexible, so they don’t crack in freezing temperatures. They also prevent your foot from getting as beat up when you fall off your board.
The core of the board is FSE Fiberglass. FSE is a special, high-density fiberglass which is light and strong to reinforce the board so that it will last through many surfing sessions. We love the durability of this surfboard.
Read more about the Liquid Shredder FSE EPS/PE Soft Surf Board
11. Empire Ehukai Soft Surfboard
Pros:
- The Ehukai first hit the market to rave reviews and has not lost much steam since then.
- The Ehukai is a sexy, compact, soft longboard that will catch your eye and have you looking for the surf.
- The longer length Ehukai makes it easier to keep the nose up on smaller waves and will give you a bigger surfboard feel even if you’re smaller or shorter.
- It’s just the right weight for a soft board, but still remains easy to carry and handle.
The board is nice and soft, but still has a good amount of shape. It’s a versatile size at 22” long x 7” wide x 3” thick and will easily fit inside your car and is easy to carry if you leave it in the water.
At 22” long, it is the perfect size for average sized surfers (5’8 to 6’2) and women. It is also often used by men and has no problem holding the weight.
The longer tail and nose projection make this surfboard very easy to control and maneuver through any type of wave.
Read more about the Empire Ehukai Soft Surfboard
12. BIC Sport DURA-TEC Surfboard
The BIC Sport BIC Sport DURA-TEC Surfboard is constructed with extremely durable non-polyester fibres that are light, soft, flexible and will last for much longer.
It comes with a fast and smooth-gliding deck, moulded ribs for strength and continuous rocker for ease in paddling out. A soft deck pad is also included. It has a swallow-tail design for a clean and easy bottom turn.
Read more about the BIC Sport DURA-TEC Surfboard
13. BIC Sport PAINT Surfboard
Pros:
- awesome color range
- Incredible great value for the quality
First the brightest colour board range of PAINT collection from BIC Sport. Brilliant artwork combined with more flex, lively creative design and reasonable price of under 200 $ makes it popular for intermediate to advanced riders. Also great board for kids under 10 year-olds, designs in right size and the brand with high quality.
Read more about the BIC Sport PAINT Surfboard
14. Ronix Koal Classic Stub Fish 4' 3"
Pros:
- Good all-around board
- Easy to turn
- Great for beginners
- Great for short boards
Cons:
- Limited cruising range
- Not ideal for long boards
The biggest feature of the Koal Classic is that it’s fun to paddle and easy to ride. It has nice speed turning characteristics, and it also has enough volume to help you keep your board up on rail when you need to make a quick turn. This board is ideal for small to average surfers with a height of 5’3” and below.
The overall volume of the Koal Classic is 25.7 liters, which means that it’s not much of a board for catching airs, but it works well for a board that can do the classic shortboard movements while still being able to perform as a more modern fish design with its clean nose/tail and low rocker lines.
We found that the short length of these boards (39.5”) make it easy to pop into waves at any location and the boards are fun and forgiving if you still need to work with your turns.
Read more about the Ronix Koal Classic Stub Fish 4' 3"
15. Rock-It 5'8" Albert Surfboard
This is your quintessential entry-level surfboard that is suitable for beginners, children, and adults alike.
The Rock It is the ideal board for kids and smaller surfer-sized adults. The entire board is 24 inches wide and 5 feet long, and it only weighs around 11 pounds. This makes it ideal for any surfer who’s planning on taking a number of swells to the beach. After all, packing a bigger board to the beach can prove to be a challenge.
Of course, one should always keep in mind that even with the Rock It being lightweight, your weight can affect its durability. But, that’s true of most other surfboards, so the Rock It is no exception.
Read more about the Rock-It 5'8" Albert Surfboard
16. Softech 6'6" Handshaped Softboard Surfboard
Pros:
- Has a hollow interior design to provide traction for beginners
- Very durable
- Lightweight
- Almost no scrubbing required
This surfboard is a great choice whether you’re a beginner, or you’re already an experienced surfer. It’s the most affordable surfboard on the market, and it is extremely stable. This also makes it a great choice for your little ones.
This surfboard is lightweight so you won’t have to carry around something too heavy when you want to go surfing. On the other hand, you will have to expect some scrubbing until you get used to it.
Because it’s a softboard, it’s a good idea to attach fins on it. That improves its tracking and handling. It also makes the board more stable.
Read more about the Softech 6'6" Handshaped Softboard Surfboard
17. CWB Connelly Bentley Wakesurf Board 4'9"
CWB Connelly Bentley Wakesurf Board 4'9", 57" – Best Surfboard.
The CWB Connelly Bentley wakesurf board has all the qualities that you want when looking for the top rated surfboards. It has a wide design, which helps it glide through the water.
It weighs only 10 pounds and is 57 inches long. You can ride this surfboard in wakesurfing applications to have a lot of fun. It will allow you to do all sorts of tricks that you like to do on your wakesurf board.
Read more about the CWB Connelly Bentley Wakesurf Board 4'9"
18. BIC Sport G-Board EVO Soft Surfboard
Pros:
- Has EVA deck traction pads to keep your feet from slipping
- Has raised rails to keep you from catching an edge
- Excellent durability
- Great for beginners and intermediates
- Will not rust
- The design is ideal for paddle boarding and surfing
- Very lightweight
- When the board is shipped to you, it is in a regular cardboard box
- Soft, non-slip EVA foam pad and grip
The BIC Sport G-Board EVO Soft Surfboard is a 6” stand up paddle board. It is made of EPS foam and is lightweight, making it easy for you to carry. It weighs just 27.8 pounds and costs a reasonable amount of money. If you’re looking for a board that will take you across the water easily and without a struggle as you paddle, then you should definitely take a look at all the features available from BIC Sport.
Read more about the BIC Sport G-Board EVO Soft Surfboard
19. Channel Islands Surfboards Bethany Soft-Top
Pros:
- One of the most highly rated boards out there
- Durable and undeniably versatile
- Can handle a variety of conditions
The Bethany is Channel Islands’ super-soft-top surfboard. It’s pretty much a do-it-all model that you can use both in small waves and in reef break conditions.
The Bethany provides the rider with plenty of maneuverability and speed, making it a great board for experienced surfers who want to tackle some challenging conditions.
Over the past years, the Bethany has won various awards for its design, which is both classic and innovative.
Read more about the Channel Islands Surfboards Bethany Soft-Top
20. California Board Company CBC 5'8" Slasher Surfboard
Pros:
- Perfect for beginners
- Very affordable
- Rocker is great for small waves
- It great board for all beach breaks
- Rails are soft on your feet when wave sliding under head high waves
- Performs great at moderate or high tides
- No need to purchase another board for more advanced maneuvers
- Durable/durable
- Easy to paddle
- Lightweight
This board is perfect for beginners, so if you are just planning to learn how to surf, this is a great weapon.
It is constructed from high-quality polyethylene. It is a short board that is suitable for paddling at a slower speed. The length between the nose and the tail is 45 inches, which is 5¡å8 in metric.
Read more about the California Board Company CBC 5'8" Slasher Surfboard
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the best brand of surfboard?
Of the top surfboard brands on the market, the following are the best.
SURFBOARDS : HUMPHRIES
This brand is popular among and in demand by top-rated surfers such as Jordy Smith, Jeremy Flores, and more. One of its best models is the Airush Mason, which features a tri-fin system, a slight concave profile, and an oversized volume that helps you with maneuverability.
Interestingly, Humphreys is really the first-ever surfboard manufacturer, with the founder having worked alongside George Freeth, a California surfer who is considered to be the person who introduced surfing to California.
Are NSP surfboards any good?
This is one of the questions I get a lot and NSP (Never Summer) makes some great boards. They are all custom boards made in Colorado and they’ll work for just about any kind of riding you want to do. I’ve ridden several of the NSP boards myself and they’re great.
What is the best surfboard for intermediate?
Those new to the sport of surfing will find a truly fun and exhilarating experience with an entry-level surfboard that’s between 6”- 9” in length and are less than 30 lbs in weight. The type of board you buy will have a big impact on how much fun you have on the waves.
Once you have the fundamentals down, and are an intermediate surfer, it’s time to have a look at the different types of boards you can purchase.
For the intermediate surfer, the board choices are between a shortboard, fish, hybrid, longboard, or a funboard.
What is the best length surfboard for a beginner?
As a beginner, you may not know what to look for in a surfboard. But luckily, you can really choose your length based on your height, weight, and confidence level. Here's a starter guide that we hope you find useful.
Beginners should look for a mid-sized surfboard ranging from 22’ to 6’ feet in length. Here’s why. Larger boards are harder to control so going with one that’s too big simply makes learning more difficult. But shorter boards will make it hard for you to stand up on your first few attempts.
Beginner surfers should get a board that is 3’ to 3’5 feet (9 cm to 10 cm) wide. The wider it is, the easier it will to stand up on.
Conclusion
As the top surfing magazine in the world, we get dozens of requests a year to review surfboards. That is why our team of experts created this list of reviews, to recommend some of the best surfboards available on the internet for the new wave of baby surfers. Our expert surfers log dozens of hours a year on all of the products on this list and have done their best to be as thorough and honest as possible. This means that you can come to this list with confidence, because they have been picked based on their overall quality and performance. We stand behind every recommendation as one of the best.
Our Recommendation
| Name | Category | Product |
|---|---|---|
| Premium Surfboards | Best Overall | |
| Giantex 6' Surfboard Surfing Surf Beach Ocean Body Foamie Board | Budget Pick | |
| Rock-It 5'8" Albert Surfboard | Upgrade Pick | |