Surfboards

Start with the waves you actually surf and what you want the board to do. Then work through design, volume and dimensions—in that order. A board that paddles well and carries speed through soft sections needs different design features than one built for late drops and tight turns in hollow waves. Get the design right first, then choose the size. Our Big 3 surfboard buying guide walks through the process.

Use a board you know well as your starting point. Does it catch enough waves? Does it carry speed? Can you turn it the way you want? Its volume gives you a useful reference, but the number only makes sense alongside the design. A wider tail or deeper concave can create lift without simply adding more foam. Where the board fits in your quiver matters, too: a groveler may need extra volume for wave count, while a step-up may need it for paddle power. Our volume and sizing guide explains what to look at before settling on a liter number.

Only if the new design calls for it. Length comes after design and volume. A shorter, wider board with a fuller tail can feel much bigger than a narrow shortboard of the same length. Start with the model’s sizing guidance and stock dimensions rather than carrying your old board’s length into a completely different shape. Read the Big 3 for how length, width and thickness work together.

Look for a design that makes speed when the wave isn’t giving you much. Flatter rocker helps the board carry through flat sections, while a wider nose and tail add paddling ease, lift and glide. That’s why design matters more than just adding liters to your regular shortboard. Browse our groveler surfboards and use the model reviews to narrow down the feel you want. Our surfboard buying guide explains these design differences.

Make paddling and catching waves the priority. You want a design that helps you get into waves and keep moving, rather than one chosen only because it looks like a pro’s board. Depending on the surfer and the conditions, that can mean a flatter-rocker hybrid, a funboard or a longboard. Choose the design first, then work out the volume and dimensions that fit you. Our Big 3 guide covers the same approach from your first board onward.

Think about where you want to stand and how you want to surf. A noserider puts the emphasis on trim, glide and walking toward the nose, with a fuller outline and flatter rocker. A performance longboard generally has a narrower nose and more rocker for surfing off the tail and handling curvier waves. There are also designs that combine elements of both. Browse our longboards and read how to choose a longboard before choosing a shape.

When the waves get faster and more powerful, the board that creates speed in small surf may give you more lift than you want. A step-up shifts the focus toward paddle power and control. More rocker, a narrower outline and a smaller tail can help the board fit steeper waves and stay controlled at speed. Don’t choose it on length alone; match the design to the conditions you’re buying it for. Our guide to choosing a board for powerful swell explains the change from a small-wave board to a step-up.

Look beyond the liter number. Width affects whether you can carry the board comfortably, sit on it and paddle it effectively. Thickness and rail shape affect how easily you can put the board on rail, and board weight matters when carrying and maneuvering it. More foam isn’t helpful if the whole board is difficult to handle. Our sizing guide for women, girls and smaller surfers covers these practical fit questions.

Start with the fin boxes. The fins have to fit your board before you get into size, template or construction. Next, use the fin manufacturer’s sizing guidance and consider how you surf and the board’s tail width. A more upright template favors tighter turns; more rake favors longer arcs. Stiffer construction can support harder turns, but carbon isn’t automatically the right choice for every surfer. Shop surfboard fins and read our fin buying guide to work through the choices.

Start with the conditions you want it for. Midlengths can have very different designs, so extra length alone doesn't tell you whether a board suits soft waves or more powerful surf. In our JS Big Baron Carbotune review, Trip explains the Big Baron's speed in smaller or softer waves and the El Baron's control in more powerful surf. Choose the design for your waves, then compare volume and dimensions with your current board. Browse our midlength surfboards to compare models.