17 Best Longboard Surfboard For Beginners (2023 Updated)

I had been looking for a longboard for my oldest teenage daughter. I looked on online and I found it to be the easiest to just go directly to the Retrospec website. It was great to see the options and the prices were even better then other websites.

The longboard came with no issues and I was given an easy way to track it. I will be purchasing here again, possibly for all my longboard needs further more. Thank you, my purchase made my daughter so happy.

She has always been sensitive to active sports in fear of pain or getting hurt resulting her not participating. She has twisted her ankle, fallen down and scrapped her knee due to using the Longboard so much and trying out new tricks and methods of riding.

She now wears her injuries as badges of honor rather then hesitation of fear. Thanks Again, I recommend this product and company to anyone looking to feel great about a purchase.

This board is great. The build is nice, the finish is nice, and rides nice, but there is a major flaw. The bearings are not good at all for what you need in a long board. I pushed way more than i shouldve which is not the reason you have one.

The reason it gets 4 stars is because for what you get for $60 is pretty good and decent bearings are around $18. As long as you fix the cheap bearings then you will have a great board. Its no santa cruz though.

P. s. FEDEX chipped my board.

I love everything about the Zed Longboard. This is my first skateboard purchase. I’ve wanted one since I was a kid. I purchased two for my daughters to learn to ride and had to get one for myself. We use it mostly for cruising around.

Purchased another for my god-daughter as well. Overall experience was awesome for this purchase. Board designs are gorge- wish I could have them all. The quality is excellent- gotta break it in at first, but very durable afterward.

Delivery was fast and reliable- was able to track my purchases easily and came very fast. We love everything about our boards! I absolutely trust this brand and make- you won’t go wrong with it!.

I’m relatively new to paddleboarding and this is the first hard/ solid board I’ve bought. I have a few inflatable boards that I really like, but I wanted this one thinking it will be simpler not to have to inflate/ deflate at the lake; and thinking I’d like a board that will perform for many years without the worry of having to patch it.

I did a lot of research and Isle boards are very highly rated, most of the reviews of this board are five stars. The board arrived in a damaged box (holes/ tears, a footprint on the word “fragile” on the box), but was very well packaged and the board was undamaged.

I wanted to take it out for a paddle before I reviewed it and now I have been to the lake with it twice. I love how light this board is. The board also tracks well in the water and rides smooth. The surface of the board is nice and soft, but shows damage and wear very easily.

After two trips out, the cover is already showing tears, dings, and damage. The board also sits really low in the water, the sides are completely submerged when I stand on it. I’m a 5’6″, 140 lb woman, and I don’t carry a lot of stuff on the board.

I’m not sure if this is typical of all solid boards, but it’s taking some getting used to since my inflatables sit light on top of the water. Because of the way it sits down in the water, it feels unstable and there’s not a lot of room to move around.

I would not try to do yoga on this board, for example, and I would not attempt to take a dog with me on the board. For convenience/ ease of transport, I would give this board very high marks. It’s relatively easy to maneuver in the water.

I’m rating it lower due to the sinking feeling I get standing and sitting on the board in the water, and to the poor quality of the cover. I don’t see this board lasting many years. A paddleboard is a big investment for me and at this price, I am disappointed in the overall quality.

I’ve been surfing for 40 years. Grew up in the power era of Dane Kealoha, Tom Carrol and the master: Tom Curren. I currently ride for a shop, CB surf shop in Carolina Beach, NC (I’m the old guy on the team), a Catch Surf dealer, but I promise you this review will not be biased.

I started being intrigued by shorter and soft boards when I saw Curren standing up on a body board and riding skim boards. That piqued my interest because of what Curren has done for the sport with board design, and due to my fascination with shorter craft.

I was riding a 5’9 hpsb prior to getting my 54 special. I’m 6ft, 155 lbs btw. Following up on my interest, I started watching Blair Conklin killing it on the 54, both in everyday surf, as well as macking Mexican shore break stuff.

Those videos prompted me to pull the trigger and get a 54 Special. My idea being that I would explore this side of surfing and if I didn’t like the board, I would stick in the used rack at the shop and sell it.

Boy was I surprised. First session was in chest to head (east coast) solid, punchy wind swell. Board caught waves easier then my short board. First wave was different due to the short rail line. Once I got used to that, however, a whole new realm of surfing was discovered.

I compare it to the first time I got barreled. Turns were tighter, airs were landed, 360s were spun with ease and roundhouses were placed in soft knee high shoulders that normally wouldn’t grant the space and power to perform one.

The best part is that pulling into seeming closeouts and sometimes making it, was amazing. The fear of being smacked by the board inside a shallow chest to head high shore break style barrel (if you have surfed on the east coast of the USA you understand.

) Is gone, and as a result, the inner limits of pure fun opened up! I am now going places on the wave I had never been to. This is the only board I surf. I’m taking it to Mexico soon and know it’ll be the only board I ride there.

I truly believe this is the future of surfing. Go ahead and laugh, then report back in 5 years. I am thankful this product was created and look fwd to a long time riding my 54. Thank you Tom Morey for creating this type of watercraft so long ago.

And thank you Catch Surf of expanding it into something exponentially greater.

I own a number of high end surfboards (7’6 LibTech, 6’2 Firewire) as well as a Wavestorm (also a foam board). There are some real advantages to surfing foam boards, despite people thinking you are a newbie.

1- if you are surfing in an area where you’re not sure if the coral could destroy your board, foamboards are great because they are cheap. In particular the Bomber uses closed cell foam which means it doesn’t absorb water when punctured.

2 – when attempting more ambitious waves you can fall on your board without hurting yourself. I dont know how many times I’ve fallen on the edge of board against my rib cage. When you’re older like me, it’s not fun.

It also makes you gun shy the next time you want to attempt a bigger wave. 3 – the extra volume lets you catch the wave earlier so you can pop early before the wave gets too steep. Great for older surfers or newbies.

Now comparing this against the Wavestorm, which is probably the most popular foam board on the market, I I am overall very pleased with the bomber for several reasons: 1 – the foam surface has traction but does not chafe like the wave storm.

I put a think layer of wax and that was enough. 2 – it has less friction than the wave storm letting you slide your feet under for pop ups more easily. 3 – the FCS2 fin boxes lets me use my other fins.

Other pros: The design of the board is pretty cool. I’ve seen a lot of foam boards and most are painted with neon paints. That’s not just ugly it basically lets everyone know you’re a beginner. The Bomber is subdued.

Actually since it is green, if they may not find you in the ocean if they need to rescue you 😀 Having a shorter board gives you an opportunity to advance your skills after you’ve plateaued on your beginner board, but the added foam protection lets you make mistakes without getting hurt.

Some cons: I’m not thrilled with the way the leash plug is implemented. I would have preferred a standard leash plug so you can double loop the leash string like on a regular board. I suppose since these foam boards are so light it may not be necessary.

The added volume makes it very bouncy and light. That’s a little disconcerting when you’re used to surfing on a regular surfboard. But it doesn’t take long to get used to it.

Super stoked on this board. Really easy to paddle and catch waves for someone who only surfs every couple of days. Takes a bit of an effort to duck dive but definitely doable. The board came with a minor fin box issue and the customer service team took quite a while to reply and i had a difficult time communicating with them.

Other than that I would definitely recommend this board or any other boards in the range from Softech.

This thing is the most fun soft board I have ridden and I have ridden them all. Pop some MR twins plus trailer and go to town. Holds on a steep face and you can whip it around all you want. Awesome at fat high tide shore break because you can just let it go.

Fun on a crowded kook festival because it’s basically indestructible. Buy it now.

I’m 6’1″ and fluctuate between 204 and 212 and not a lot of body fat, meaning I don’t float easily. This thing floats me for a bodyboard. I have been able to actually get up on my knees also. I’m nowhere good enough to surf it, but it’s fun to try.

I’d be hesitant to skim it also, but it allows me to ride surf break in a way my other bodyboards can’t because of the volume, and I have big guy boards. I can even use it in small waves. It actually even turns well.

For the price and something to have in the truck that is vesatile, it is worth it. This allows me to also keep up in froth better with my girfriend who is 5’7″ and 125 lbs. No more having to get off the board as soon because of worrying about bottoming out in the sand.

Can’t speak to durability yet. Graphics seem to get “sandblasted” , but no worse than other boards. I could have used more conservative graphics than Kalani Robb, but for the price.

I’ve surfed the heck out of my plank and I love it. I’ve surfed it 3x a week for the last 2 years and have to say it’s pretty decent as a foamy goes. That being said it is not indestructible. The clear plastic liner in the bottom side delamed, and the boog shell has separated over time.

There is not really a good way to fix the delamination. The separation is fixed with gorilla glue but it’s pretty ugly. Also the fin box could be sealed better as after 2 years it has some play and water penetrates it around the edges.

Fun: 5 stars. Durability: 1 star. Average stars 3.

At first I was a little skeptical with the performance of the new material and design used in the construction of the board. But after months of dialing the board in, I have completely fallen in love with it.

It has replaced my main board the hypto krypto by HS which is served me for a couple years, just because it rides faster, cuts harder, and allows me to perform more straight airs on tiny waves. I can’t wait to unlock more if it’s potential in the power surfing and aerial side of the game.

Awesome Board. I ride the 5’7″. I’m 5’6″ and 155lbs. I love this board from chest high and above. I got it as a travel board because I was tired of repairing dings before I could surf on my travels. I was riding a 5’10” Lost Quiver Killer previously but this board is a little more maneuverable in steeper waves in my opinion.

I’ve paired it with FCS2 Reactors, size small. Paddles great as well for its smaller stature. I’ve flown with it several times now without a scratch.

Got the 7’0 Pickup Stick and can totally compete for waves with the longboarders. When a clean up set rolls in and everyone Is out of position I can even knife into a wave face and punch out the back to save myself a beating (I’m 55 and only 5’6 140 lbs, too lol).

It turns up and down the face a lot easier than you might think so you can either choose to just cruise or try throwing a bit of spray. Been running a thruster set up but Will try quad set up at my shortboard break and race into some closeouts.

This board rips!!! This is not a costbro slug this thing is a legit. It has the shape of a real surfboard nice thinner rails turns and performs like a “real” board not a foamie. I’ve surfed head high + firing south swell here in Santa Cruz and the thing never let me down.

It held solid off the bottom and turned like any single fin would. The fact that it’s soft is nice because it’s always fun to try and throw a huge floater into the flats and see what happens. The 3 stringers make for a good stiffness, but some good flex when pumping down the line.

Great board for a shortboarder who wants to try some slashers and floaters on a longboard and not have to worry too much about getting hit or bumping into someone else. At 86 liters it catches waves well I’m 52 and maybe 180lbs and have been surfing for almost 40yrs, this board gets me stoked.

Might not be the best choice for a beginner, but for an old man who still skates and short boards this thing freaking rips. Love it 🤙🏼 P. S love the black deck and neon 80’s bottom super fun all around and that’s what surfings all about.

Picked this board up in San Clemente today. I’ve been wanting to get a Catch Surf for awhile. One of my buddies has a 9’0″ from the previous generation and I was super impressed with how it handled for a soft top.

They were so much lighter to carry on the walk to Trails or Church. Caught waves super easy, turned way better than a Wave Storm, and I got five on the nose a few times too. I’m not a ripper so this always felt great.

The only thing I didn’t like about my friend’s board was that it felt kind of “floaty,” the way epoxy boards do, and I would accidentally float off the top of a wave after a bottom turn a few times a session.

I didn’t have the float issue on this new Heritage Nose Rider today. It fits in my sedan so I don’t need to load it on my roof racks if I’m driving alone. Turns even tighter too. It honestly feels about the same to me as my traditional 9’0″ Hydro Hull, but catches waves easier and isn’t as heavy.

Took it down to Trail 6. Standard afternoon waves, waist high with some bigger sets every now and then, a little chop and kind of walled. Still had a blast! This board flies down the line. I sunk the nose a few times and I never quite got all the way up to the front of the nose, but it was my first time using it and conditions weren’t ideal.

If you’re getting a Catch Surf, you’ve already decided to splurge on a Soft Top that performs similar to a hard top. I think it’s worth going all out for this fantastic new model. Stoked to be able to post the first review too!!.

I love this surfboard!! I’m just learning to surf and I was debating between this and the 9’0 Plank x Sierra Lerback but decided to go with this one and I’m so happy I did! The design is awesome and it’s cool that it comes with a good quality fin.

It catches waves super easily and this board is very light so it’s easy to carry. I’m 4’11 and 110 lbs and this board fits me perfectly. I haven’t tried riding the nose yet but I did catch my first wave on it plus some after! I 100% recommend this board or just Catch Surf in general! They have solid quality boards for a great price with super cool designs and colors.

Plus I love that I was able to ship this board directly to my house because I was too impatient to wait until this showed up in stores.

For weekend warriors this board is brilliant. I’ve been surfing for 30 years and have had more good rides on average (UK) waves than the the rest of my boards put together. Obviously doesn’t have the feel of a proper fiberglass board in quality waves but for summer slop and onshore mess this board gives me way more fun than I’ve ever had.

Super easy to paddle into waves.

Got this for lazy days and small conditions. Took it to Cornwall and was pleasantly surprised how easy it catches waves and turns. Definitely a worthwhile board to have in your quiver for days when you just want to have some easy fun.

Surface is grippy without wax.

I’m 90kgs and this board is extremely easy to use, whether for paddling or catching waves. It’s also quite manoeuvrable given its size, just be sure to put your rear foot between the fins. A keeper for almost all conditions.

For shore break fun, better take the 5’4, or a skimboard.

Picked up the job 7 foot log yesterday from the laguna store. Came with fins and some wax. Took it out today in bolsa 2 footers with mild texture faces quick close outs and had a blast. I have been riding an 8’ wavestorm for about a year and just wanted to try something different.

I really don’t like the idea of dinging a 1200 glass board. Just wanted something I could beat up, throw my my beach cruiser. Toss into the sand and not really worry about. So. a foot shorter and a little less volume than the wavestorm.

– I was very surprised how much more maneuverable this board is vs the wavestorm. Was small enough I was able to pump a couple waves to extend my rides yet big enough to make catching waves a breeze.

Super happy with the purchase.

I am fairly new to surfing. I have a 10 ft. hardboard that I love, but that was only “working” for me on certain days. I wanted something with a bit more volume and something I could use on different days(and not afraid of dinging it up).

In Los Angeles, I surf between 1-3 ft waves. I took the plank out to El Porto and I had a blast! Even the belly rides are fun! I love the single fin(so glad that I can change that up and try different fin lengths), I love how well it floats me (5ft 10, 195lb) and I love that the board stands out in the water–Electric Lemon! This is a well-made fun board and I look forward to using it a lot in different conditions.

I am so glad that I went with this board! This is my 2nd Catch Surf Board. The first one I bought was for my teenager and she loves hers as well(8ft log).

Dude! I cannot say enough good things about this board and also this company! Super fun to catch any kind of wave at any beach. Always a fun and smooth ride on catch surfs boards. Would highly recommend the LOG to anybody learning to surf or looking for a more forgiving board.

Sick designs, top quality boards. Can’t go wrong.

Mostly a longborder who has transitioned to short boarding past few years. Wanted to get into the under 6ft board world. This board was perfect transition, so sick and so fun. Volume makes it easy to paddle and get into waves early and then keeps up speed down the line.

Reference: I’m 6’ 180lbs. Ordering on website was easy and got to me (FL) in 5 days! Only 20” wide so maybe not best for absolute adult beginners (skipper is probably better shape for that) but I’m sure would be good for kid level.

I have been surfing for decades, and have always loved a good foamie. Me being 6’2, I wanted a small, speedy board I could rip on, but also fit my body size. I think this is the perfect board for little groms just learning to surf.

It has great float to it, paddles nice, and rips! I surf all wave sizes, and this is always in my quiver no matter where I go. I recommend purchasing the stump, or another size catch surf foam board.

You won’t regret it, and they are fun no matter the age or skill level.

I just received my custom surfboard from Decosurf. It s outstanding! After I ordered it, I was able to call the shop and Mike the owner picked up. That doesn’t happen often anymore. I had a special request on the graphics and Mike assured me that his head of artistic design would understand.

Within minutes after we hung up, I received a mock up of my requested design. It could not have been any closer to what I had imagined. Great service, great product and creative, friendly management.

This Patrick is elated in Virginia Beach!.

We absolutely LOVE this surfboard! Our rooms within our Wellness Center all carry a different theme complete with full room painted murals. One of our rooms is a beach scene overlooking an ocean. Just outside of this room’s door is our new surfboard along with a “surfer’s crossing” sign.

Our clients have all said they really like the surfboard. We would definitely recommend this product to anyone looking to complete a beach theme. Thanks Guys! :).

Amazing quality and perfect customer service! I had a custom board made for guests to sign at my wedding and it turned out fantastic and was such a hit! I also now have a wonderful and beautiful memory to hang on my wall forever.

Josh went above and beyond to make sure everything was perfect and had great and timely communication. I couldn’t recommend their products / services more! Thank you guys!.

If you want this board for someone who is learning, it works great! If you want it for someone who wants to have fun and surf all types of waves it works great too! My girlfriend and I are sharing this surfboard.

She’s learning and I have 10 years of experience, and the board has worked great for the both of us. We were also impressed with the amount of protection layers they used to send the board.

Rode the board in chest high waves off Waikiki. Easy to paddle. easy to catch waves. Had to learn to nurse the turns a little. it is a foamie afterall. Looking forward to surfing the board more. will be a ton of fun.

I have bought this board for my grand daughters Christmas. It is very high quality, very attractive and light enough for the younger users. I ordered it and received it surprisingly, in days. My grand daughter will be thrilled.

I used this board a few times, worked pretty well and is fun. I wouldn’t recommend it to someone to learn on, but if you’re trying to get into finless surfing or just want a beater board this is an OK option.

One big problem is the FCS II fin boxes. This is a common complaint, but I had a fin fall out while surfing (no impact, just left the water and the fin was gone). So if you’re going to get this thing, I would suggest using at least one screw in each box to keep the fins in.

Bought the board online based off a recommendation from a surf shop employee. Couldn’t be happier. Everything I wanted it to be for a surfer just starting out. Great for learners or for a lazy day surf as this board is very easy to find your feet on.

I am an intermediate surfer who loves nearly everything about Firewire’s catalogue, range, and philosophy. I typically surf a Seaside, with an Evo for slightly bigger or more aggressive days and a foamy for slightly smaller or more lazy days.

I thought the Greedy Beaver would be a nice complement to the quiver for average days. And in hopes of making things easier on myself, I added a few liters and inches to my everyday board. Unfortunately, even with the additional size, the board still paddles far slower than any of my other boards.

And although it turns much better than the foamy (certainly not as quick and tight as the Seaside or Evo, but that probably is in part a function of the additional size), it is squirrely and slow. The marketing is good.

But in my opinion, your money is better spent on a different board. For the same general wave range, I would highly, highly recommend the Seaside. If you want additional performance, I would recommend an Evo or Dominator.

And if you want additional paddle or grovel power, go with a Potato, longboard, or foamy.

I just picked up the Seaside and Beyond in the beautiful Timbertek this labor day weekend. I have only been surfing for a few years, and only truly consistently for 1 year now so this review is coming from a relative newbie.

I am 34, 6’3, and 215 lbs and I chose the 6’10 at 47 liters. My other boards that I have been riding this summer are a 6’10 Addvance, 6’0 Evo, and a 6’2 RNF Retro. With the Addvance having 57 liters and the others being around 44, this sat nicely in the middle.

After 3 sessions I can say it paddles great, gets into waves earlier than my other boards, and was very stable/forgiving. The waves were rather soft/weak, but the S&B felt quick and I was able to make a few sections that I would not have made on the Addvance for sure.

I was able to catch almost any wave I went for and it made the small waves a ton of fun. Thanks to Cleanline for getting it ordered and to the shop ASAP! It’s my new favorite board!.

I live in the gulf and all we get are weak wind swells. I was worried it wouldnt be able to overcome the lack of energy and size, but i wanted to be able to practice short board maneuvers. I took out my 5’9 on a knee-high day where every other board Out there was 9ft+ and I had a blast! I was able to catch almost anything the logs could grab.

Being able to make a few quick turns on short crappy waves is a game changer for my growth. I’m 6’1 185lb, intermediate surfer. I love this board.