What Board is Right for me?

This is a common, yet typically loaded question asked by surfers of all abilities. Our goal is to help you unpack this question and find the best board for you.

There are hundreds, if not thousands, of different boards to choose from on the market. Because of this, it is certainly common for surfers to become overwhelmed by their options. One of the key variables you will want to keep in mind is the surfboard’s volume.

What is Volume?

This is a term you are likely to hear quite often in the surf world. Volume simply measures the cubic liters of buoyancy a surfboard has…in simple terms it tells you: how well does this board float? A board with higher volume is going to be more buoyant, while a board with lower volume is going to be less buoyant.

The more buoyant a board is, meaning more volume, the more stable the board is going to be. In additional to stability, the board is also going to paddle easier. This means paddling out to the lineup, navigating the lineup, and most importantly catching waves will be easier.

On the other hand, a board with less volume is going to be less stable, but as a result, the board will be more maneuverable. There are however certain trade offs when it comes to using a board with less volume such as the board requiring more effort to paddle and feeling “squirrely” or too loose.

So what volume should i go with?

There are 2 points to keep in mind when deciding what volume board you should use: weight and experience. Using these two metrics, you are able to have some idea how much volume you should aim for.

Different boards may have the same exact volume yet paddle and surf differently depending on the shape of the board, dimensions, and how the foam is dispersed through the board. That is why volume is not a one and done deal.

Despite this fact, below are links to various “volume calculators” which should give you at least a starting point (these only work if you are truthful about your abilities, i.e. do not say you are intermediate or advanced if you are just learning to pop-up).

• Lost… Surfboards Volume Calculator
• Firewire Surfboards Volume Calculated
• Chemistry Surfboards Volume Calculator
• Rusty Surfboards Volume Calculator

IMPORTANT NOTE: the East Coast is not the land of perfect, consistent waves. Yes, we can get stretches (sometimes days, sometimes hours, sometimes only minutes) of good waves, but that is not the norm. What this means is that you generally are going to want to go with the upper range on volume to help you catch more waves, which = more fun, when it’s mushy/crumbly and/or smaller.

This does not mean you cannot have a “higher performance” board for more pristine conditions, but the last thing you want to do is buy a board you are not going to use.

Demo Programs + Talk to your local surf shop

Certain surf shops offer demo programs, where you are able to try a board out before you pull the trigger. You are likely going to have to pay for the demo, BUT some shops may use the demo charge as a down payment or deposit if you actually decide to purchase a board AND shelling out $50 or so bucks is much better than $1,000 and not liking the board.

So, head to your local surf shop and see what they have to offer. If anything, you can at least check out some boards and talk with guys/gals in the shop about what you are looking for.

Thanks for reading, we hope you found this read helpful! If you would like more information on soft tops and fiberglass boards, the links are below.