Updated September 1, 2024
Soft top surfboards or “foamies” are a great option for all surfers but especially for beginners. Unlike just after they were developed, foamies today are durable, full of performance features, and have the benefit of being softer than fiberglass or epoxy-finished boards, thereby being less injurious to the surfer after a wipe-out or to others in the range of getting hit.
To help in selecting the right model for your surfing level and style, some of the best are introduced below. Starting with a simple comparison table, there are descriptions with key features, photos, and videos, followed by a buying guide.
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:
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Best Soft Top Surfboards Review
- South Bay Board Company Heritage
- Giantex 6′ Foamie Surfboard
- Odysea Catch Surf Log
- Odysea Catch Surf Skipper Quad
- Wavestown 8′ Surfboard
- THURSO SURF Lancer 5’10” Fish Soft Top Surfboard
- Rock It 6′ Baby Jesús Surfboard
- Wave Bandit Ben Gravy Pro EZ Rider Surfboard
Best Soft Top Surfboards Comparison Table
| Picture | Surfboard | Level | Length | Dimensions | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
  | South Bay Board Company Heritage | Beginner | 9' | 108” x 23” x 3” | $$$ |
  | Giantex 6' Foamie Surfboard | Beginner | 6' | 72'' x 20'' x 3'' | $ |
  | Odysea Catch Surf Log | Beginner - All Levels | 8' | 96” x 23” x 3.375” | $$$ |
  | Odysea Catch Surf Skipper Quad | Intermediate - Advanced | 6" | 78" x 22" x 3.125" | $$$ |
  | Wavestown 8' Surfboard | Beginner | 8' | 96" x 22.5" x 3.25" | $$ |
  | THURSO SURF Lancer 5'10" Fish Soft Top Surfboard | Beginner - All Levels | 5'10" | 70" x 20" x 2.75" | $ |
  | Rock It 6' Baby Jesús Surfboard | Beginner - All Levels | 6' | 72" x 19.7" x 2.75" | $$ |
  | Wave Bandit Ben Gravy Pro EZ Rider Surfboard | Beginner - All Levels | 7' | 84” x 22” x 3.125” | $$$ |
| Picture | Surfboard | Level | Length | Dimensions | Price |
South Bay Board Company Heritage
The SBBC Heritage is styled like a traditional longboard with a wide, stable body, and high capacity, great for larger surfers and a good beginner’s model.
It has a slick polyethylene bottom deck and fingerprint-textured wax-free top deck for speed and traction and a 3-fin thruster setup for tracking and maneuverability.
An auto-heat release valve prevents bubbling and delaminating, it comes with a leash, and there are 4 color schemes to choose from.
- Length: 9′ (longboard design)
- Dimensions: 108” x 23” x 3”
- Volume: 86L
- Weight: 20 pounds
- Weight Capacity: 250 pounds
- Surfer Level: beginner
- Wax-free textured deck, slick bottom deck reinforced with high-density polyethylene (HDPE)
- Closed-cell EPS foam core
- Auto-heat release valve to prevent delaminating and bubbling
- 3 removable screw-in fins in a thruster setup
- Rounded nose and squash tail
- Go-Pro camera mount plug
- Rounded rubber bumper tail for board protection
- Leash included
- Available in aqua, black, blue, and white schemes
- Price: $$$
View More From South Bay Board Company
The Giantex 6’Foamie is very affordable, durable, and lightweight, great for beginners, both kids and adults, and casual surfers.
The shortboard design comes with a comfortable soft top, a traction pad, and a slick HDPE bottom with 3 removable fins, convenient for transport, and effective for tracking and carving.
3 eye-catching color designs are available and a leash is part of the package.
- Length: 6’ (shortboard design)
- Dimensions: 72” x 20” x 3”
- Weight: 10 pounds
- Weight Capacity: 200 pounds
- Surfer Level: beginner
- EPE foam deck, EPS foam core, bottom of slick, hard high-density polyethylene (HDPE)
- 3 removable fins
- Traction pad
- Leash included
- 3 color patterns to choose from: red & blue, white & blue, or yellow & blue
- Low-priced
- Price: $
The Odysea Catch Surf Log designed with inspiration by pro surfer Jamie O’Brien is a traditional style “logging” surfboard with high buoyancy great for intermediate to advanced maneuvers and for beginners as well.
Durable with a dual-composite core and triple wood stringers for stiffness, it has a 3-fin set for maneuverability and a bumper tail for vertical storage. While no leash is provided, there is a leash plug.
Also available in 6, 7, and 9-foot models, too, there are 3 signature color designs and graphics to choose from.
- Length: 8’ (longboard design)
- Dimensions: 96” x 23” x 3.375”
- Volume: 86L
- Weight: 13.6 pounds
- Weight Capacity: 230 pounds
- Surfer Level: beginner, all levels
- PE deck, slick high-density polyethylene (HDPE) bottom, dual-composite core
- No board mesh
- Triple wood stringers for stiffness
- 3 removable fins
- Bumper tail for board protection and vertical storage
- Leash plug
- Available in 3 hot color combinations
- Also comes in 6, 7, and 9-foot models
- Price: $$$
Odysea Catch Surf Skipper Quad
The Odysea Catch Surf Skipper is another model created in collaboration with pro surfer Jamie O’Brien. The quad fins and fishtail design is great for down-the-line speed and great maneuverability for intermediate to advanced riders.
It is durable and stiff with 3 maple stringers and the high volume buoyancy makes it suitable for larger riders.
With intriguing graphics and colors like the entire line of Odysea boards, it is also available in a slightly shorter 5’6” version.
- Length: 6’ (shortboard fishtail design)
- Dimensions: 78″ x 21″ x 2.875″
- Volume: 48L
- Weight: 14 pounds
- Weight Capacity: 250 pounds
- Surfer Level: intermediate and advanced
- PE deck, slick high-density polyethylene (HDPE) bottom, dual-composite core
- Triple maple stringers for stiffness
- Quad removable fin set up
- Fishtail
- Available in 3 hot color combinations
- Also comes in a shorter 5’6’ model
- Price: $$$
A very reasonably priced model, the Wavestown 8’ Surfboard is a great choice for beginners with its classic soft-top longboard design most suitable for small waves.
Lightweight, it is durably constructed with 3 stringers for support, plenty of buoyancy for riders up to 200 pounds, a textured pad for traction, and a stiff 3-fin setup for tracking and maneuvering.
The brushed graphic design is eye-catching and it comes with a leash in the package.
- Length: 8’ (longboard design)
- Dimensions: 96″ x 22.5″ x 3.25″
- Volume: 86L
- Weight: 11.5 pounds
- Weight Capacity: 200 pounds
- Surfer Level: beginner
- Tough EPS core, GFT (Graphic Film Technology) deck skin, textured IXL deck and rails, high-density HDPE smooth bottom skin
- 3 marine-ply stringers for stiffness and support
- Textured traction pad
- 3 bolt-through removable fins
- Leash included
- Brushed graphic deck design
- Price: $$
THURSO SURF Lancer 5’10” Fish Soft Top Surfboard
The THURSO SURF Lancer has a lightweight, shortboard with enough stability for beginners that has the performance capabilities for small wave hotdogging to satisfy the more experienced, as well.
The stiff and sturdy platform is buoyant enough for a 200-pounder, has a slick and speedy HDPE bottom, and a fishtail and twin fins for carving.
The fins are removable for more convenient transport. It comes in grey and blue striped designs with a double stainless steel swivel leash included in the bargain-priced package.
- Length: 5’10” (shortboard fishtail design)
- Dimensions: 70” x 20” x 2.75”
- Volume: 33.6L
- Weight: 6 pounds
- Weight Capacity: 200 pounds
- Surfer Level: beginner, all levels
- Stiff EPS core, slick high-density polyethylene (HDPE) bottom skin, high-density cushioned IXPE deck
- 2 wood stringers for stiffness
- Removable twin fins
- Double stainless steel swivel leash
- Choice of blue or gray striped patterns
- Low-priced
- Price: $
Rock It 6′ Baby Jesús Surfboard
The 
Rock It 6′ Baby Jesús Surfboard is a lightweight round-tail shortboard suitable for kids and beginners on small waves or for the more experienced and ready to take their surfing to a higher level.
With a high volume, it is buoyant and will suit riders to 200 pounds. Dual stringers provide a rigid, sturdy platform, while 3 removable fins aid in tracking and maneuverability, and a textured no-wax deck gives you traction while you’re carving.
Available in a wide range of bright colors, it has a zebra-striped bottom that Australian researchers have determined deters sharks. That may sound a little far-fetched but what’s wrong with taking a few precautions?
- Length: 6’ (shortboard)
- Dimensions: 72″ x 19.7″ x 2.75″
- Volume: 50L
- Weight: 13 pounds (shipping weight)
- Weight Capacity: 200 pounds
- Surfer Level: beginner, all levels
- EPS foam core
- UV-resistant, textured, no-wax soft top
- Dual stringers for stiffness
- 3 removable fins
- No leash in the package
- Available in blue, orange, red, green, pink, and yellow with a zebra-striped bottom (for shark deterrence)
- 1-year warranty
- Price: $$
Wave Bandit Ben Gravy Pro EZ Rider Surfboard
The Wave Bandit Ben Gravy Pro EZ Rider has a fun egg shape that works well for beginners and all levels of surfer.
With an EPU core and dual maple stringers, it is a stiff buoyant board with a pop-through 4.5-inch tri-fin setup. As Ben says, “this one will handle small waves, big waves, novelty waves, and blown-out shore break.”
It does require surf wax and does not come with a leash but you’ll like the clean white deck with Ben’s signature and the radical pineapple graphics on the bottom.
- Length: 7’ (medium-length “funboard”)
- Dimensions: 84” x 22” x 3.125”
- Volume: 72L
- Weight: 16.93 pounds
- Surfer Level: beginner, all levels
- EPU (Expanded Polyurethane) core, high-density polypropylene (HDPE) slick bottom
- Double maple stringers for stiffness
- 5-inch 3-fin set
- Requires surf wax
- Includes a leash plug, leash not included
- White deck and radical bottom graphic
- Price: $$$
Soft Top Surfboard Buying Guide
Why Choose a Soft Top Surfboard?
There are several advantages soft tops have over hard top boards and a few disadvantages.
Why a Soft Surfboard Might Be Right For You
Advantages
- Cheaper – Generally the most expensive soft top boards will still be cheaper than run-of-the-mill hard top models.
- Stability – Being heavier and of greater volume, they are more buoyant and stable, making it easier for the less experienced to mount and use.
- Safer Against Head Trauma – When you fall off your soft top board and it smacks you on the head, the injury is likely to be minor compared to what can happen when the fiberglass, epoxy, or wood used in hard top boards makes contact. In addition, damages to other surfers or their boards are mitigated.
Disadvantages
- Durability – They tend to absorb water more easily than hard tops which will destroy integrity. On the other hand not being as brittle as hard boards they are less likely to break in a way that catastrophically damages the board.
- Heavier – Carrying them around will take more effort.
- Performance – The latest developments in design for tweaking the performance of surfboards generally come to hard top boards first.
Materials
Soft-top surfboards are constructed with a foam core and have a soft foam deck and slick bottom. Three of the best and most commonly used materials are:
- EPS (Expanded Polystyrene) is commonly used in the core. It is light and has been through many technological improvements since it was originally developed. Today the best is sealed and not as prone to water absorption.
- IXPE (Irradiated Cross-Linked Polyethylene) is a fine-celled microcellular foam that is waterproof, shock-absorbent, and thermally insulating, making it a good material for the deck of the board.
- HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene) is the standard material used on the bottom. It is durable, weather and impact-resistant, and can be refined to a slick, smooth surface.
There are other similar materials in use including composites.
Designs
Soft top surfboards can be put into 3 basic categories based on length.
- Longboards are 8 feet or longer and will be the widest and thickest and easiest for beginners to use and develop basic skills on. These boards are stable and fast but don’t have as much maneuverability as shorter boards.
- Fun Boards are in the size range between 6 and 8 feet and offer more maneuverability but less speed. Typically riders with a little experience will fare better.
- Short Boards are 6 feet and under. These are yet more maneuverable and less stable and require a greater skill set.
Different Types of Surfboards and Surfing
Volume
Volume is calculated roughly by multiplying the length times the width times the thickness of the board. The higher the volume the better it will float and the less the resistance in moving through the water.
Weight Capacity
The weight capacity of a surfboard is largely determined by the volume. The greater the volume the larger the weight the board can tolerate and still perform well. Manufacturers will provide guidelines. If you are a beginner these guidelines would best not be exceeded. With more experience, you can get away with loading a weight higher than what is recommended.
Fin Configurations
Depending on your style of surfing and the type of board, different fin setups will be most effective.
- Longboards usually come with a single long fin or a 3-fin thruster set up with a fin toward the back of the board and 2 fins forward one on each side. The single-fin version provides tracking and stability. When the other two are added in the thruster formation there is a better turning capability and maneuverability generally.
- Fun Boards are usually set up with a thruster configuration for their 6-8 foot length to facilitate maneuverability.
- Short Boards often also use the thruster setup. Some, especially fishtail boards, use twin fins, one on each side. This increases maneuverability but sacrifices stability. Other models use quad fins, two on each side. This setup delivers similar maneuverability but adds to stability and tracking without sacrificing speed.
For more reviews of surfing gear, please check out these popular posts:
Surfboards for Kids Beginner Surfboards Surfboards Surfboard Car Racks Surf Booties Surfing Wetsuits Surfboard Travel Bags Men’s Rash Guards Women’s Rash Guards
Feedback and Comments
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The Rock-it 4’11” Chub is a great low-priced starter board for kids who are looking for more than a toy and plan to get serious about surfing.
Great for kids as they get started and up through intermediate skill levels, the South Bay Board Company 6’ Guppy has a rounded egg, and funboard shape, with excellent stability and buoyancy.
This California Board Company soft-top is a little longer at 7 feet while remaining very lightweight at 6.5 pounds, suitable for taller adolescents and adults.
The Liquid Shredder 5’10 Fish has enough buoyancy and stability for kids under 120 pounds to learn on and features to keep experienced riders up to 170 pounds excited about the performance possibilities.
The Wave Bandit EZ Rider 9’ has a fun egg-shape great for young beginners and experienced level riders as well.
The BIC Sport DURA-TEC 5’10” Fish is a great board for kids and fairly lightweight adults who already have a little experience.
The SBBC 7’ Ruccus Soft Top Surfboard is a great model for beginners and for more experienced surfers who want to perfect or try out some new moves.
The SBBC 6’ Razzo is an easy-paddling, fast, high-performance shortboard.
The Wave Bandit Ben Gravy Performer 6-footer is a high-performance soft top shredder.
The BIC Sport Ace-Tec 7’6” Carver is lightweight, stiff, and durable with the stability of a longboard and the quick-turning performance of a shortboard.
The A Alpenflow 8’ Soft Top has a wide stable design suitable for all levels, including beginners.
The BIC G-Board EVO has an extra soft, non-slip EVA deck and a stable, high-volume, buoyant design great for beginners.
The Liquid Shredder FSE (Foam Special Edition) Soft Surfboard has a round nose and classic longboard shape great for a beginner cruising in small waves and foam.
The Rock-It 8’ Big Softy has a 225-pound capacity and longboard styling that makes it a solid, stable, forgiving soft top that is a good choice for beginners.
The South Bay Board Company Big Betsy Hybrid Soft Top 5-footer can serve dual purposes as a surfboard or a wake surfboard.
The Dakine Regulator is a durable, well-padded premium travel bag.
The Pro-Lite Finless Coffin is a very large well-padded bag that will safely transport 3-4 surfboards securely.
The Pro-Lite Smuggler, named for its false-bottom feature, is another high-quality surfboard travel bag that does a great job for 2-3 boards.
The FCS Day Fun Board Surfboard Bag is very lightweight at less than 4 pounds, but still has the durability to provide substantial protection for a single board on day trips or extended travel.
The Wave Tribe Surfboard Travel Bag is a well-padded bag that has a shell made of eco-friendly hemp or recycled nylon.
This South Bay Board Company surfboard bag comes in a range of sizes from 5′ to 10″ to suit not only surfboards but also stand-up paddleboards primarily as a day bag.
The Pro-Lite Rhino is a lightweight bag great for holding up to 3 boards.
Abahub Premium Surfboard Travel Bag is a high-quality, budget-priced travel bag great for surfboards but with a wide range of lengths, there are several also suitable for SUP.
