Boards & equipment
Soft top or hard board for your first purchase
Choose construction alongside shape, condition and the way you will use the board, rather than treating a hard board as an automatic upgrade.
Surf equipment / travel / starting out
Before you
head for
the water.
Make sense of boards, clothing and the details that go into a surf trip.
Explore the journal ↗A closer look at the kit
Browse equipment ↗
Boards & equipment
Compare a board sock and a padded day bag
A knitted cover and a padded day bag solve different carrying problems. Compare the journey, the board shape and where the cover will be stored.
Wetsuits & clothing
Read a wetsuit thickness label before comparing suits
Those slash-separated numbers describe material thickness, not a complete verdict on warmth. Read them alongside the suit's construction, fit and intended conditions.
Wetsuits & clothing
Choose a changing robe for the places you use it
Choose a changing robe around the changing location, the clothes you wear underneath and the space available in your travel kit.
Wetsuits & clothing
Start with the label.
Then check the fit.
Thickness is one part of choosing a wetsuit. Learn what the numbers describe before comparing sizes, construction and local advice.
Read about wetsuit thickness ↗Plan the days around the surf
Travel articles ↗
Surf travel
Flying with a surfboard: check the airline rules first
Treat a board bag as a separate planning problem: the operating airline, route and packed dimensions all belong in the same check.
Surf travel
Find accommodation with a place to rinse and dry gear
Look for an actual rinse point, a workable drying space and permission to use them; a photograph of a balcony does not answer all three questions.
Surf travel
Plan rest days without leaving equipment in a hot car
Arrange a place for the board before planning the rest-day excursion, so an unscheduled afternoon does not turn the car into equipment storage.
Care & storage
Read wetsuit cleaner instructions before use
Check compatibility, dilution and the complete wash sequence before using a cleaner, rather than treating a stronger mixture as a better clean.