soft board or hardboard), what kind of waves you’ll be riding in, your height, your weight, and your ability level. It depends on the type of board you want to go for (i.e. There’s no easy formula to choosing which size of surfboard to get. The most beginner-friendly hardboard to move to would be a Mini-mal. Hardtop boards are generally made of carbon or fiberglass and are less stable, but can go a lot faster and are far easier to turn. Once your little surf star starts to progress and can consistently catch waves, they might want to make the move to a harder board. Beginners and kids alike should go for a foam board (also known as a softboard) because they are more stable, buoyant and well, soft! These boards are generally no bigger than 7’ and will allow your children to play in the waves without getting hurt. Perhaps the most important thing to look for is whether the board is hard or soft (made of foam). There are a myriad of boards out there and knowing which one to go for can be confusing. Check out this Dad’s guide to what you should spend on a board for you kid. If you’re looking to help your kid have some fun in the waves while on vacation, go for a board that won’t break the bank and won’t matter if your kid finds that surfing isn’t actually for them. In the same regard, you should probably aim not to spend unnecessary amounts of money on a board that will need changing up in a few years. As you progress, you usually move towards a shorter board, but hey – if your kid grows and the board stays the same, this will have the same effect! A bigger surface area means it’s easier to balance and stay stable, and therefore easier to catch waves. When it comes to beginner surfboards, bigger is generally better anyway.

And in the same way that you would buy a wetsuit a few sizes too big so it will last them while they grow, you could consider doing something similar with a surfboard. Kids grow fast, there’s no getting around that. If your little one’s never popped-up in their life, there are a few things you should consider before coughing up the cash to pay for their first ever surfboard. That is, unless you have little tykes who started shredding before they could walk, in which case they’ll probably tell you what they want (and if they don’t – check out boards 9 and 10 in this article). THINGS TO CONSIDER BEFORE BUYING A SURFBOARDīuying a surfboard for your child will be a similar process to buying a beginner’s surfboard. All of the boards below will be easy to carry and balance on, and will be soft enough not to hurt your little one in the water, so their first surfing experience is sure to be a blast!įor more of our top surfing gear recommendations, check out the Best Surfboards.

That’s why we’ve tasked our expert team of Adventure Junkies shredders to do the hard work for you, and narrow down a list of the best surfboards for kids.įinding a safe and reliable surfboard for your child isn’t so dissimilar from finding a good surfboard for beginners.

But with a wide variety of boards to choose from, it can be difficult to know exactly where to start. The season of surfing is approaching somewhere, and so is the swell it’s time to get those energy-filled tykes into the water for some adventure! And what better place to start than surfing? Proven to develop coordination, strength, balance, and confidence, surfing offers tangible progress and is a sport both kids and parents can enjoy for a lifetime.

Softboard timeworks