A rack of shortboards and longboards in different colors
Pexels / 757133

Surfboard Types

From classic longboards to high-performance shortboards, find the shape that matches your style and waves.

Shortboard

5'6" - 6'6"

Intermediate to Advanced

The go-to for performance surfing. Designed for speed, responsiveness, and radical maneuvers in good waves.

Best For

High-performance surfing, quick turns, tubes

Pointed noseThruster finsHigh rockerThin rails

Pros

  • Maximum maneuverability
  • Fits in critical sections
  • Industry standard

Cons

  • Hard to paddle
  • Needs quality waves
  • Steep learning curve

Fish

5'2" - 6'2"

Beginner to Advanced

Wide, flat, and fast. The fish excels in weak waves where shortboards struggle. Pure fun.

Best For

Small waves, mushy conditions, fun sessions

Swallow tailTwin or quad finsFlat rockerWide nose

Pros

  • Fast in small waves
  • Easy paddling
  • Loose, skatey feel

Cons

  • Less control in power
  • Limited in larger surf
  • Can be squirrely

Funboard / Hybrid

6'6" - 8'0"

Beginner to Intermediate

The bridge between longboard and shortboard. Stable enough to learn on, maneuverable enough to progress.

Best For

Learning progression, all-around surfing

Rounded noseThruster finsModerate rockerForgiving rails

Pros

  • Easy wave catching
  • Good for progression
  • Versatile

Cons

  • Not high-performance
  • Too big for some
  • Jack of all trades

Longboard

8'0" - 10'0"

All Levels

Classic surfing at its finest. Glide, style, and the art of walking the board. Timeless.

Best For

Noseriding, cruising, small wave fun

Rounded noseSingle or 2+1 finsLow rockerHeavy

Pros

  • Catches everything
  • Stylish surfing
  • Great for small days

Cons

  • Hard to turn
  • Heavy to carry
  • Needs smooth waves

Mid-Length

6'8" - 8'0"

All Levels

The modern quiver killer. Combines the glide of a longboard with the turning of a shorter board.

Best For

Versatility, smooth lines, modern style

Hybrid shapeVarious fin setupsModerate rockerRail variety

Pros

  • One board for most conditions
  • Smooth and fast
  • Modern classic

Cons

  • Compromise design
  • Not specialized
  • Learning curve

Foam Board

7'0" - 9'0"

Beginner

The best first surfboard. Soft, safe, and forgiving. Every surfer should start here.

Best For

First waves, learning safely, surf schools

Soft foamFlexible finsWide and stableDurable

Pros

  • Safe for learning
  • Very stable
  • Affordable

Cons

  • Limited performance
  • Can't duck dive
  • Outgrow quickly
Soft-top versus mid-length
Soft-topMid-length
LengthAbout 7'6" to 9'About 6'8" to 8'
Who it is forFirst months in the waterAfter the pop-up is reliable
VolumeHighMedium
Duck diveRarelySometimes

Not sure which type is right for you?

Gear

A soft-top, and a bag that fits a shortboard

Start on the 8-foot foamie. The day bag below is 6 foot 3, so it does not fit that board.

Surfboard Life participates in the Amazon Associates Program. Links below are affiliate links: if you buy, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. We only link ASINs we checked, and we do not invent ratings. Affiliate disclosure.

Dakine Daylight surfboard day bag, the Amazon listing photo.

Dakine

Dakine Daylight Surfboard Bag Hybrid, White, 6'3

A day bag keeps wax off the car and takes some UV off the board between sessions. This one is cut for 6'3".

Worth knowing

  • Listed length is 6'3"
  • Enough padding for a day at the beach
  • Amazon listing photo

Limits

  • Will not fit a funboard or a longboard
  • Not a travel coffin

Verdict. Right if the board is 6'3" or shorter. Measure before you order.

Amazon listing photo

View on Amazon
A blue foam board carried into shorebreak. Illustrative photo, not the Catch Surf Beater.

Catch Surf

Catch Surf 54" Beater Original Soft Surfboard, Finless, Black

The 54-inch Beater is a finless soft board for small shorebreak. It is not an 8-foot learner log.

Worth knowing

  • Soft
  • Short enough to toss in a car
  • Finless, which is a different feel

Limits

  • Too small for most adults on day one
  • Finless is not a thruster foamie
  • Photo is a different foam board

Verdict. Fun in tiny shorebreak if you already surf. For a first board, start longer.

Wikimedia Commons / Blue Foam Surfboard

View on Amazon
Wavestorm 8-foot soft-top surfboard, the Amazon listing photo.

Wavestorm

Wavestorm Classic Soft Top Foam 8ft Surfboard

An 8-foot soft-top is the board most adults should learn on: long enough to paddle, soft enough to fall on.

Worth knowing

  • 8 ft length
  • Soft deck
  • The usual kit includes fins
  • Amazon listing photo

Limits

  • You will outgrow the performance
  • Hard to duck-dive
  • Colorways change by year

Verdict. A sensible first board for an adult in small waves. Check the volume calculator before you size down.

Amazon listing photo

View on Amazon