The Complete Surf Gear Guide for Beginners

This is the first installment in our larger Learn to Surf series, which breaks down our entire beginner surf curriculum with video and written lessons.

This is lesson one of seven. When you’re ready, continue on with Lesson 2: Surfboard Control for Beginners.

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If you are a beginner surfer, selecting the ideal surfboard for your skill level can be a daunting task, and with hundreds of options, you may not even know where to start.

Don’t stress! As an award-winning surf & yoga camp in operation for over a decade, we know a thing or two about picking the right surf equipment and have compiled our favorite surf gear options into a nifty guide just for you.

We have also included a handy video to help you visualize your needs.

And since sustainability is baked into our company’s ethos, this guide will highlight some of the more eco-friendly surf equipment options available on the market today. We also have an entire blog on sustainable surf brands.

All of our options on this Surf Gear for Beginners list are chosen to support businesses that protect people and the planet, especially our most important resource for surfing — the ocean.

Whether you are traveling to visit us here in Costa Rica or heading off to some other warm-water surf destination, this blog (and video) are “geared” for you!

Best surfboards for beginners

As a beginner surfer, you will want to start with a bigger board between 8 and 9 feet. Bigger boards have greater volume, making it easy to paddle, catch waves, and ultimately stand on your feet.

We recommend using a soft-top surfboard (covered in padded foam) to prevent damaging the board and injuring yourself when wiping out. If you fall and get hit by the board, it won’t hurt nearly as bad as getting hit by a hard-top board.

We have also included one of our favorite hard-top beginner/intermediate surfboards.

However, for more detailed recommendations, check out Choosing a Beginner Surfboard.

When looking for a hard board, prioritize volume — you want a board that provides a nice combination of float, stability, and paddle power.

For more on how the shape of your board will affect your surf experience, read: The Different Types of Surfboard Shapes.

NSP P2 Soft Longboard (beginner)

Most of Bodhi Surf + Yoga’s surfboard quiver consists of P2 Soft Longboards made by NSP. Not only are these surfboards some of the most popular rental boards in the world, but they are also Ecoboard Level One verified.

NSP Ecoboards have a measurably reduced carbon footprint compared to conventional surfboards.

To earn Sustainable Surf’s Level One Ecoboard verification, NSP constructs their P2 Soft Longboards using renewable, recycled, and/or up-cycled material inputs and materials and processes that reduce toxicity during manufacturing.

Furthermore, these boards are extremely durable and long-lasting. Finding products that stand the test of time is one of the best ways to mitigate environmental impact, as durability and sustainability go hand in hand.

NSP Cocoflax (beginner/intermediate)

In addition to its large stock of P2 Soft Longboards, Bodhi Surf + Yoga will also add a number of NSP Cocoflax surfboards to the quiver for our beginner and intermediate surf students.

NSP manufactures several different surfboard models using its award-winning Cocoflax technology (made from raw coconut husk fibers), including the Dream Rider, Hooligan, and Endless.

Recognized as some of the most eco-friendly surfboards, NSP Cocoflax boards are manufactured using significantly less fiberglass than conventional surfboards, earning them the Gold Level Ecoboard verification from Sustainable Surf.

FYI: Surfboard anatomy

The front of the surfboard is called the nose, while the back of the board is called the tail. You can tell the difference between the nose and the tail by where the fins are.

The fin boxes are underneath the tail on the bottom side of the board. When plugging fins into the fin boxes, make sure the fins’ pointed end faces toward the tail.

The leash plug and string are also located at the board’s tail. This is where you will attach your ankle leash.

The top side of the board is called the deck. This is where you will apply surf wax for added traction and grip.

The sides of the board are called the rails.

Most surfboards will have dimensions along the stringer (or center line) on the bottom side of the board. The board’s dimensions should include length, width, rail thickness, and total volume.

Our favorite organic surf wax

When you eventually decide to buy a hard-top board, you’ll also need to get some surf wax to apply to the deck of the board for added traction.

Unfortunately, nearly all conventional surf wax brands contain toxic, non-biodegradable petrochemicals that eventually pollute our oceans and beaches.

According to Surfing Green, it is estimated that 6 million bars of surf wax are used and discarded annually globally.

However, one wax brand based out of California has gone above and beyond to develop an eco-friendly surf wax that has minimal impact on the planet, and that is Matunas.

Matunas surf wax

Matunas surf wax contains various natural ingredients like jasmine, aloe, clay, and tree sap, which are locally sourced from an organic farm in Santa Cruz, California.

Matunas surf wax is made using organic, biodegradable, and non-toxic ingredients, and each bar is wrapped in 100% recycled paper labels printed with soy ink.

FYI: How to wax a surfboard

Picking the right surf leash

Along with your surfboard, the ankle leash is a must-have equipment for the beginner surfer.

When it comes to picking the right surf leash, strength and durability are the most important factors to consider if you don’t want to find yourself swimming back to the beach with a broken leash post-wipeout!

And what about surf leash length? As a general rule of thumb, your ankle leash should be about one foot longer than your surfboard. For example, if you are surfing an eight-foot surfboard, you should be using a nine-foot surf leash.

Wave Tribe eco leash

At Bodhi Surf + Yoga, we carry a large supply of Wave Tribe eco leashes — the world’s first 100% recycled surfboard leash made from plastic bottles.

As a surf school teaching hundreds of surf lessons per year, we encounter broken surf leashes regularly. Thankfully, the Wave Tribe eco leash comes with a one-year unbreakable guarantee.

FYI: How to attach the surf leash

We have a thin velcro strap called the rail saver at one end of the leash. This is the end you will attach to the leash string loop at the back of your board.

To attach the surf leash to the board, completely un-velcro the three small sections of the rail saver and pull one end through the string loop at the back of the board. Make sure to line up the string with the non-velcro section of the rail saver (pictured above) and then velcro the three sections closed.

A thick velcro strap you will attach to your back ankle is on the other end of the leg rope.

When attaching the surf leash to your ankle, the swivel should be facing over your ankle bone or behind your heel. Velcro the strap on nice and tight so that the swivel doesn’t migrate to the inside of your ankle, where it will trip you when popping up.

Best bathing suits for surfing

There are many factors to consider when shopping for the ideal bathing suit for surfing, and no one knows this topic better than Bodhi Surf + Yoga co-founder Adrianne.

In her ultimate guide, How to Choose the Best Swimsuit for Surfing, Adrianne provides a detailed list of what you should be looking for in a surf swimsuit and offers a number of different eco-friendly surf bathing suit brands for both men and women.

Sensi Graves eco-friendly swimwear

Designed for women by professional kiteboarder Sensi Graves, this eco-friendly swimwear prioritizes functionality — meaning it will actually stay on (and cover all the essential parts) in big surf.

What is more, Sensi Graves Swim products are made from Repreve recycled plastics, and 1% of sales are donated to environmental non-profits.

Vissla ecolastic boardshorts

Made from Cocotex upcycled coconut husk yarn and Repreve recycled polyester, Vissla’s ecolastic boardshorts offer a nice blend of style and sustainability.

Although Vissla still has a long way to go in sustainability, its commitment to creating better products for the environment may inspire other mainstream surf brands to pivot in the right direction.

Facial sunscreen

Here in Bahia-Uvita, Costa Rica, we sit just nine degrees north of the equator, which means the mid-day sun can be incredibly unforgiving!

As a surfer, it is always best to use mineral sunscreen that sits on top of your skin, rather than your typical chemical sunscreen that rubs in (and eventually rubs off into the ocean). Zinc oxide is the main ingredient in mineral sunscreen, which acts as a barrier between your skin and the sun’s harmful UV rays.

Not only is zinc-based mineral sunscreen better for your skin, but it’s also better for the ocean, as it doesn’t contain chemical additives like oxybenzone and octinoxate. These harmful chemicals are found in most generic sunscreen brands and are toxic to humans and coral reefs.

All Good mineral sunscreen

One of our favorite mineral sunscreen brands is All Good. A fellow B Corp and 1% for the Planet member, All Good is also certified Reef Friendly and Climate Neutral.

In addition to zinc oxide, All Good mineral sunscreen contains beneficial natural ingredients such as aloe, calendula, coconut oil, green tea, and cacao.

Badger Balm mineral sunscreen

In addition to being a family-owned business, Badger Balm has been voted a “Best for the World” B Corporation every year since 2015.

This is primarily because of Badger Balm’s high standards when it comes to sourcing ingredients for their products, which are organic and fair trade certified.

Long-sleeve rash guard

Many surfers in Costa Rica prefer to enjoy the 80-degree warm water sans rash guard, but only during sunrise and sunset sessions when the sun’s harmful UV rays are minimal. But if you will surf here between 9 am and 4 pm, then the long-sleeve rash guard is a key-buy.

Not only does the long-sleeve rash guard prevent your upper body from getting burned, but it also protects your chest and stomach from getting scraped up by the surfboard deck when paddling, hence the name “rash” guard.

Patagonia long-sleeve hooded top

Patagonia’s mission statement says, “We are in business to save our home planet.”

Patagonia is a Certified B Corp and a founding member of 1% for the Planet — donating one percent of sales to environmental conservation for the past 35 years.

One of the critical ways Patagonia has reduced its products’ carbon footprint is by shifting its global supply chain to support organically grown or recycled materials.

Patagonia’s Men’s RØ® Hoody long-sleeve rash guard contains 84% post-consumer recycled nylon made from recycled fishing nets to help reduce ocean plastic pollution.

Surf hat

Sometimes sunscreen just doesn’t cut it, especially if you’ll be out surfing under the sun for an extended time. That’s when having a surf hat really comes in handy!

Although surf hats rarely look “cool” when worn by surfers in the lineup, they are highly functional in preventing skin cancer — well worth the trade-off.

Patagonia surf brim bucket hat

Patagonia’s Surf Brim Bucket Hat (pictured above) is made from 100% post-consumer recycled nylon from discarded fishing nets.

What is more, all of Patagonia’s products come with an “ironclad guarantee” that holds for the entire product lifetime. Patagonia’s products are built to last, but if they don’t, the company will repair, replace, or refund you.

Polarized sunglasses

As a surf instructor and ocean lifeguard, I have learned a lot about the importance of shielding my eyes from the sun’s damaging rays, especially when these UV rays are magnified by the reflection of the ocean’s surface.

When heading to the beach, bring a pair of polarized sunglasses to protect your eyes pre and post-surf.

Sunski polarized sunglasses

Yet another 1% for the Planet member and climate-neutral company, Sunski produces post-consumer recycled plastic sunglass frames delivered in plastic-free packaging.

Not only are their sunglasses some of the most sustainable on the market, they’re also quite stylish!

Reusable water bottles

When surfing, the combination of sun, salt water, and physical exertion can quickly lead to dehydration, so bring a reusable water bottle with you to the beach!

Klean Kanteen stainless steel water bottle

In 2004, Klean Kanteen introduced the first BPA-free stainless steel and reusable water bottles to the market, with the ultimate goal of providing an alternative to single-use plastic bottles.

Today, Klean Kanteen remains a family and employee-owned B Corporation, 1% for the Planet member, and a carbon-neutral company working to prevent large swaths of plastic from entering our waterways and, ultimately, our oceans.

We are eternally grateful to Klean Kanteen for helping us establish a reusable bottle “loaner program” for our surf students by donating some stainless steel bottles to Bodhi Surf + Yoga.

And that’s a wrap. We hope that, with this information, you can feel confident to go out and know what you need in terms of beginner surf gear! Happy surfing!

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Read the next series installment, Surfboard Control for Beginners: Learning to Surf in the White Water.