Traction pads, tails pads, or deck grip are patches of foam-type material that adheres to the deck of your surfboard to provide you with some extra grip and traction in place of surf wax. You’ll often find traction pads on the tails of shortboards, hybrids, or any type of board that caters to vertical maneuvers,…
Category: Buyer’s Guide & Surf History
Learn how to find the best surfboards, fins, and equipment for yourself or that special someone. Get familiar with some of the history behind your favorite boards and equipment.
Surfboard Bags for Everyday Protection & Traveling
Surfboards can have this weird tendency to feel real fragile whenever they’re out of the water. Bumps against corners and car trunks, drops on rocks or asphalt, sun damage, overly-tightened tie downs, careless baggage handlers, messy cargo holds, etc. – can all lead to a situation where your board is looking worse for wear and…
The Twin Fin Surfboard
The twin fin, like the thruster or quad, describes a certain type of fin setup rather than a surfboard-type. However, like the other prominent fin setups described here, the twin fin certainly deserves a page of its own. If you’re new to twin fins, you’re in for a treat. It’s a type of fin setup…
Surfing Equipment for Beginners
If you’re just starting to surf or you’re interested in giving it a try, you might be wonder what sort of equipment you’ll need as a beginner surfer. Here’s what you’ll need: A big board with decent volume. A wetsuit. A leash. Some wax. The beauty of surfing is that it’s simple at its core.…
Single Fin Thumb Screw – A Quick Review
I’ll admit, I was a bit skeptical of the no-tool thumb screws and plates for single fins at first. I’m not sure exactly why, but I was. I’m talking about the little thumb screws and plates that you’ll see for a few bucks on Amazon or online surf shops. (Here’s a quick tip: instead of…
Do Surfboards Come With Fins?
Do Surfboards Come With Fins? Surprising as it might be, since you’re going to need a good set of fins to get the most out of your new surfboard, most surfboards do not include fins. Crazy, right? Some surf shops will make this pretty clear – either with a sticker on the board or included…
Surfboard Racks – Build ’em or Buy ’em
If you’ve been surfing for a while, you’re probably aware that along the way you’ve somehow developed this weird desire to keep accumulating more and different surfboards. It’s a disease that cannot be cured. It’s fun to surf a variety of boards – it allows you to get to know your own surfing better -…
El Cheapo’s Guide to Surfing – Is Surfing Expensive?
Surfing is special because it’s not a rich man’s sport. Sure you’ve got to live relatively close to the ocean, but other than that the cost to entry can be pretty low. If you’re a beginner surfer and want to own your own equipment rather than rent, you can probably get into the water for…
Surfboard Sizes & Dimensions
Generally speaking, there are some recommendations to follow for sizing a surfboard regardless of your experience level. That said, depending on your skill level, paddle strength, and ability to read waves, you can really surf whatever you want. Experimentation, remember? What do Surfboard Dimensions Mean? You’ve probably noticed the little numbers – usually near the…
Vintage Surfboards
A brief look into “vintage” surfboards. What Were the First Surfboards Made Out of? The first surfboards were made out of solid wood, from either trees sources locally or ones that had washed up on shore. Wood was the primary surfboard construction method for quite a while. Even after surfing spread from Hawaii to California,…