Surfing Essentials

Surfing Essentials are the items that every surfer needs. You’ll need a good surfboard for beginners, board shorts, wetsuit, sun protection and a few other surfing equipments.

A high-protection sunscreen is a must to protect your skin from the UVA and UVB rays. Besides, surfers also need a sunscreen with moisturizer to keep their skin feeling fresh and soft.

Surfboard

Purchasing the right surfboard can either make or break your surfing experience. Whether you are a beginner or an advanced surfer, having an understanding of the various types of surfboards and their different designs will help you determine which board is best for your surfing level and conditions.

Long boards are ideal for beginners as they are easier to stand on, paddle and ride. They are also safer as they provide more stability and maneuverability.

Board Shorts

Whether you’re catching waves or just enjoying the warm water, a pair of board shorts is essential. They are light, quick drying and stylish.

These swim trunks from John John Florence have details like a flat waistband that make them comfortable and functional. They also have a lack of inseam stitching that helps prevent chafing. They’re also made with a waterproof material for easy transition from ocean to land.

Wetsuit

A wetsuit is a must for surfers and other water sports. Its insulating material, neoprene, traps your body heat and allows you to stay in the cold water for longer periods.

It also protects your skin from the sun’s harmful rays, which can burn your face and hands if they reach them. Neoprene starts off white but is turned black with carbon to increase strength and provide heightened UV protection.

Goggles

Unlike regular sunglasses, goggles wrap right around your face and offer enhanced protection from sun glare and water. They also feature strong frames that won’t come off during a wipeout.

Additionally, goggles can help prevent a common side effect of surfing called Surfers Eye (Pterygium), a fleshy pink noncancerous lesion on the cornea. Goggles can also protect against bacterial eye infections, since saltwater provides an ideal environment for microbes to thrive.

Sunglasses

If you’re going to spend money on sunglasses, make sure they are made for surfing. They should float, so you never lose them in the water and they should have polarized lenses to cut out glare.

Surf sunglasses should also have a ventilated frame to reduce fogging. Tint options are important as well – bright, sunny conditions require darker grey lenses while at dawn or dusk brown lenses are ideal.

Sunscreen

Sunscreen is crucial for surfers, especially those who go on long sessions. This particular sunscreen is reef friendly and non-toxic, and contains no oxybenzone or octinoxate, which are chemicals that have been linked to coral bleaching.

It is also water resistant and won’t wash off easily, making it great for surfing! It’s even formulated to minimize eye-stinging. It is also cruelty free, vegan, and comes in eco-friendly packaging.

Boardbag

Surfboard bags help keep your board(s) safe. Many come with extra padding for protection and pockets to store your fins, leash, wax and ding repair.

Travel tombs are great for long distance surfing trips, especially when traveling by plane. They have heavy-duty padding that protects the boards even when handled roughly.

Hemp surfboard bags are good for the environment and also offer solid protection for boards. They are large enough to fit multiple boards and feature padded internal separators.

Leash

A leash is a urethane cord that attaches to the surfboard and a surfer’s ankle via a velcro strap. It is used to prevent the board from floating away after a wipeout.

Leash size is key — it should be the same length as or slightly longer than the surfboard. A long leash will help you maintain proper etiquette in crowded surfing areas by keeping your board away from other surfers.

Surf Robe

A surf robe is an important piece of gear for surfing because it lets you change in and out of your wetsuit while staying warm and dry. This one is made of 100 percent cotton and comes in an oversized fit to keep you covered.

The hooded poncho towel robe from Slowtide is another good option and has a cozy winter-weight cotton terry. It also has a large hood and snap buttons for privacy while changing.

Surf Watch

Surfers need a watch that’s a bit more rugged than the average smartwatch. The Casio X-Splash is the perfect choice. It lacks GPS & fitness features (like training apps) but it’s packed with modes that cater to a wide range of sports.

Plus, it’s able to connect with your phone and double as a watch. A smooth combination of work and play.

Continue for more depth in reading