Updated November 9, 2022
Surfing provides an excellent opportunity to get up close and personal with one of the greatest forces of nature. When a youngster gets involved it is also a chance to develop coordination, balance, strength, and confidence in physical abilities and watermanship that can be significant for health and safety. This is all not to mention the feelings of elation and adventure that are hard to match.
There are many variables in considering the best surfboard for a youngster like size and age and level of competence in the water. Which board best suits the unique situation of the individual? There are thousands to choose from with a myriad of features.
To give you a headstart, some of the top surfboards for kids have been selected as an introduction. Starting with a comparison table, each is reviewed with key features, photos, and videos, and there is a basic buying guide to finish up.
If you have any questions or concerns, please use the comments section at the bottom. I’d love to know your thoughts.
For more reviews of surfing gear, please check out these popular posts:
Surfboard for Beginners Soft Top Surfboards Surfboards Surfboard Car Racks Surf Booties Surfing Wetsuits Surfboard Travel Bags Men’s Rash Guards Women’s Rash Guards Wakesurf Boards Skimboards Bodyboards Bodyboard Fins Boogie Board for Kids
Best Surfboards for Kids
- Rock-it 4’11” Chub
- Giantex 6′ Foamie
- Kona Surf Co 4’4″
- South Bay Board Company 6′ Guppy
- Wavestorm 8′
- THURSO SURF Lancer 5’10” Fish
- California Board Company 7′
- Liquid Shredder 5’10” Fish
- Wave Bandit EZ Rider 9′
- BIC Sport DURA-TEC 5’10” Fish
Best Surfboards for Kids Comparison Table
| Picture | Surfboard | Length | Weight Capacity | Suggested Age | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
  | Rock-it 4'11" Chub | 4'10" | 150 lbs | 6-12 | $ |
  | Giantex 6' Foamie | 6' | 200 lbs | 8-14 | $ |
  | Kona Surf Co 4'4" | 4'4" | 160 lbs | 6-12 | $ |
  | South Bay Board Company 6' Guppy | 6' | 150 lbs | 8-14 | $ |
  | Wavestorm 8' | 8' | 200 lbs | 12-18 | $ |
  | THURSO SURF Lancer 5'10" Fish | 5'10" | 200 lbs | 12-18 | $ |
  | California Board Company 7' | 7' | 210 lbs | 14-18 | $ |
  | Liquid Shredder 5'10" Fish | 5'10" | 170 lbs | 8-18 | $ |
  | Wave Bandit EZ Rider 9' | 9' | 200 lbs | 12-18 | $$$ |
  | BIC Sport DURA-TEC 5'10" Fish | 5'10" | 154 lbs | 12-18 | $$ |
| Picture | Surfboard | Length | Weight Capacity | Suggested Age | Price |
The soft top provides good traction and is wide, thick, and stable making it easy to catch whitewater waves.
It has durable heat-sealed construction with dual wood stringers for rigidity and twin removable fins for tracking and maneuverability. With the fins removed it can easily be used for skimboarding.
The bottom has an intriguing zebra-stripe look designed to repel sharks to go with a wide range of deck colors.
All that is lacking is a leash which you will have to purchase separately.
- Length: 4’10’”
- Weight: 10 pounds (shipping weight)
- Dimensions: 58” x 19.5” x 2.5”
- Weight Capacity: 150 pounds
- Suggested Age Range: 6-12
- Materials: EPS foam core, heat-sealed fiberglass cloth, and epoxy resin, dual wooden stringers for rigidity
- Features: 2 removable fins, easy-grip soft top
- Accessories: leash not included
- Colors: choice of 7 colors with a black & white sea camo zebra-striped bottom (for shark deterrence, they say)
- Pricing: low
Thick, stable, and buoyant, new riders will find it easy to catch small waves and the slick HDPE bottom and 3-fin set-up provide speed and tracking.
A traction pad aids in getting a good grip and a leash is included to keep the board nearby after a wipe-out.
It comes in three attractive color combinations at a nice low price.
- Length: 6’
- Weight: 10 pounds
- Dimensions: 72” x 20” x 3”
- Weight Capacity: 200 pounds
- Suggested Age Range: 8-14
- Materials: EPE foam deck, EPS foam core, slick, high-density polyethylene (HDPE) bottom
- Features: 3 removable fins
- Accessories: traction pad, leash
- Colors: choice of yellow & blue, red & blue, or white & blue
- Pricing: low
Without the fins, kids can get their start using it bodyboard-style to develop the confidence and skills to move on to getting upright on foam and small waves from there.
Stable and buoyant, features include a soft easy-gripping IXPE foam top and a fast polyethylene bottom, and it comes with a coiled leash in a choice of six lively deck colors and a checkerboard bottom.
Pricing is low.
- Length: 4’4’”
- Weight: 10 pounds
- Dimensions: 52” x 19.5” x 2.2”
- Weight Capacity: 160 pounds
- Suggested Age Range: 6-12
- Materials: EPS core, soft IXPE foam top, full layer of fiberglass and epoxy resin, scratch-proof, slick HDPE bottom
- Features: squash tail, 3 removable fins, easy-grip soft top
- Accessories: coiled leash
- Colors: choice of 6 colors with a black & white checkerboard bottom
- Pricing: low
South Bay Board Company 6′ Guppy
Well constructed and durable, it has a textured IXPE foam deck for traction and two wooden stringers for rigidity.
A slick diamond weave HDPE bottom deck and 3-fin set enhance speed and tracking while a handle makes it easy for kids to carry, and a 6’ leash makes it hard to lose.
It comes in two kid-friendly striped color schemes at a low price.
- Length: 6’
- Weight: 12.4 pounds (shipping weight)
- Dimensions: 72″ x 21″ x 3″
- Weight Capacity: 150 pounds
- Suggested Age Range: 8-14
- Materials: EPS foam core, IXPE foam top deck, slick diamond weave HDPE bottom, 2 wooden stringers for rigidity
- Features: 3 bolt-through, safe rounded edge, removable fins, carry handle, textured foam deck for traction
- Accessories: 6’ leash
- Colors: blue/white or pink/white stripes
- Pricing: low
- 30-day 100% satisfaction guarantee
View More From South Bay Board Company
Durably constructed with 3 marine-ply stringers for rigidity and other top-quality materials, it has a textured traction pad, a smooth HDPE bottom, and comes with a leash.
Kids up to 200 pounds are effectively supported but as skills reach more advanced levels most surfers will look for a new board to match.
Pricing is low.
- Length: 8’
- Weight: 11.5 pounds
- Dimensions: 96″ x 22.5″ x 3.25″
- Weight Capacity: 200 pounds
- Suggested Age Range: 12-18
- Materials: EPS foam core, GFT (Graphic Film Technology) deck skin, textured IXL deck and rails, slick HDPE bottom skin, 3 marine-ply stringers for rigidity
- Features: 3 removable bolt-through fins, textured traction pad
- Accessories: leash
- Colors: sunburst graphic
- Pricing: low
The THURSO SURF Lancer is an ultra-lightweight shortboard with the buoyancy and stability to make young beginners comfortable on the first try and can satisfy them later with small wave hotdogging performance capabilities as they develop.
It has a soft non-slip deck, slick HDPE bottom deck, two wood stringers for rigidity, and a fishtail, and twin fins for carving in small waves.
A swivel leash is part of this reasonably priced package and it comes in the attractive THURSO SURF blue and white striped design.
- Length: 5’10”
- Weight: 6 pounds
- Dimensions: 70” x 20” x 2.75”
- Weight Capacity: 200 pounds
- Suggested Age Range: 12-18
- Materials: EPS core, slick HDPE bottom, high density, heat laminated, cushioned IXPE deck, 2 wood stringers for stiffness
- Features: 2 removable fins, non-slip deck, swallowtail
- Accessories: double stainless steel swivel leash
- Colors: blue and white strips
- Pricing: low
California Board Company 7′ Surfboard
The highly buoyant EPS core gives kids a good chance to perfect their skills in small waves and foam.
Well constructed, it has a soft EPS foam deck, fast HDPE bottom deck, 3 stringers for rigidity, and a 3-fin set-up for tracking and maneuvering.
A rear traction pad aids in gripping the deck, a PU surf leash keeps the board nearby after a wipe-out, and it has a plastic tail cap to prevent dings and scrapes when stored upright.
Attractively adorned with a distinctive wood-grain and green striped design, pricing is low.
- Length: 7’
- Weight: 6.5 pounds
- Dimensions: 84.6” x 21.5” x 2.4”
- Weight Capacity: 210 pounds
- Suggested Age Range: 14-18
- Materials: EPS core, slick HDPE bottom, high density, heat laminated, EPS foam deck, 3 molded-in wood stringers for stiffness
- Features: 3 removable fins, non-slip deck, plastic tail cap to protect against dings
- Accessories: traction pad, PU surf leash
- Colors: wood-grain and green stripes
- Pricing: low
View More From California Board Company
The EPE foam deck provides a comfortable grip and high-quality bottom and core materials along with dual stringers make for sturdy rigidity.
Carving in small waves is enhanced by a low rocker, swallowtail, and dual removable fins.
It currently is available in a simple blue color at a low price.
Unfortunately, you’ll need to purchase a leash separately.
- Length: 5’10”
- Weight: 10.01 pounds
- Dimensions: 70” x 21” x 2.5”
- Weight Capacity: 170 pounds
- Suggested Age Range: 8-18
- Materials: EPS core, slick HDPE bottom, EPE foam deck, dual wooden stringers for rigidity
- Features: 2 removable fins, rounded nose for stability, low rocker, swallowtail
- Accessories: leash plug, leash not included
- Colors: blue
- Pricing: low
View More From Liquid Shredder
Youngsters will like the buoyancy and ease of getting up in foam and small waves. Intermediate and advanced riders will appreciate the 4.5-inch tri-fin set-up for tracking in the full range of surf from small to large to novelty waves to blown-out shore break.
It’s a durable and rigid platform with dual maple stringers and will hold up to dings and scrapes much better than hardtop models.
You will have to provide your own leash, and surf wax to get a good grip.
Currently available in blue on top and red on the bottom, the pricing is a bit higher than most of the other models reviewed here.
- Length: 9’ (available in 7’ & 8’ models)
- Weight: 23 pounds
- Dimensions: 108” x 24” x 3.5”
- Weight Capacity: 200 pounds
- Suggested Age Range: 12-18
- Materials: EPS core, slick HDPE bottom, dual maple stringers for rigidity
- Features: 3 x 4.5” pop-through removable fins
- Accessories: leash plug, leash not included, requires surf wax for a grip
- Colors: blue/red
- Pricing: moderate
It’s a hard-top model with the buoyancy and stability of a longboard and the carving and maneuverability of a shortboard.
BIC proprietary construction techniques have produced a durable design that will keep you surfing for years as your skills develop.
It has an integrated deck pad for traction but you’ll have to purchase a leash separately.
Pricing is at the high end of the spectrum of the models reviewed here.
- Length: 5’10”
- Weight: 16 pounds (shipping weight)
- Dimensions: 70” x 20.5” x 2.6”
- Weight Capacity: 154 pounds
- Suggested Age Range: 12-18
- Materials: EPS core, BIC proprietary hard-top construction
- Features: 3 removable fins
- Accessories: leash plug, leash not included, integrated 3D deck pad for traction
- Colors: white
- Pricing: high
Best Surfboards for Kids Buying Guide
Price
While there is a wide range of pricing in surfboards, most to be considered for kids are beginner-level models that run at the less expensive end of the spectrum. Most are soft-top models which are more user-friendly for beginners and cheaper than hard-top boards.
Kids are growing and developing their skill levels such that in a year or two they could well find that a longer or more performance-oriented model would be more suitable. So buying an expensive board to start with may not be the most economical choice if it will be replaced soon anyway.
You could consider purchasing a model that the child could “grow into” but you want to make sure that the model chosen has the buoyancy and stability required for the kid’s skill level.
All the models reviewed above are fairly low-priced, ranging from around $150 to $500.
Hard-Top Versus Soft-Top
As mentioned above, soft-top boards tend to have advantages for younger and beginner surfers. All the models reviewed here except for one, the last one on the list by BIC Sport, are soft-top models. They tend to be more buoyant and stable, in general, and user-friendly, as well as cheaper. Most are not longboard length, which would be very unlikely to be suitable for small riders.
For a more detailed discussion of the pros and cons of hard and soft-top models, please refer to the buying guide in this article: Best Surfboard for Beginners.
Size
The best size of a surfboard for a kid depends on several factors. The surfer’s height, weight, and skill level, and types of waves should all be considered.
Stability is especially important for novice riders and this is influenced by the board’s volume and buoyancy, and by the length, and especially the width.
Here is a soft-top surfboard sizing guide for some specifics.
For more reviews of surfing gear, please check out these popular posts:
Surfboard for Beginners Soft Top Surfboards Surfboards Surfboard Car Racks Surf Booties Surfing Wetsuits Surfboard Travel Bags Men’s Rash Guards Women’s Rash Guards Wakesurf Boards Skimboards Bodyboards Bodyboard Fins Boogie Board for Kids
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