Buying a present for a surfer is never easy, but there are some of the best surfing accessories that every one of them will love to have. The surfboard is an essential gear for every avid surfer, but that is not enough to enjoy the waters and the waves and keep yourself secure and protected both from the sea and the sun.
For that, you need to have a complete surfing gear from your wetsuit to keep you protected from the water, a board leash, a board wax, and a durable bag to carry everything else, among others. But no matter what accessory you are getting, it has to be made high-quality and durable to last against the harsh surfing conditions. Something comfortable is also necessary to not impede your movements while doing your favorite activity.
Table of Contents
Top 9 Best Surfing Accessories in Review
There are a lot of surfing accessories for you. And with countless options available, it can sometimes be confusing how to select the best one.
Whether you are surfing once a year or every weekend, we’ve come up with a list of the best surfing accessories for you. These nine products can complete every surfing gear for both beginners and seasoned surfers. It will keep yourself protected from the harsh surfing conditions as well as let you do your thing the best way possible.
But if you don’t have a lot of time to go through the entire article of the best surfing accessories review and comprehensive buying guide, we’ve created a summary of some great options you can choose.
- O’Neill Reactor 3/2mm II Full WetSuit – Best Overall
- Putty Buddies Floating Soft Silicone Earplugs – Best Earplugs for Surfing
- Wave Tribe Eco Premium Leash – Best Board Leash
- GoPro Hero6 Camera – Best Surfing Action Camera
- Rip Curl Rifles Tide Watch – Best for Style and Function
- Dakine Cyclone II 36L Dry Pack – Best Surfing Backpack
- Vault Cargo Roof Rack Crossbars – Best for Traveling
- Sticky Bumps Warm-Tropical Surfboard Wax – Best Surf Wax
- Pro-Lite Smuggler Surfboard Travel Bag – Best Surfboard Bag
#1. O’Neill Reactor 3/2mm II Full WetSuit – Best Surf Wetsuit
Specifications:
- Material: 100% Neoprene and nylon panels
- Thickness: 3/2 mm
- Polyester collar
- Krypto knee pads
A wetsuit is something that every avid surfer needs, whether you are going into the water once or month or every other day. A good-quality wetsuit can help your body stay protected from the sea and the sun, especially a full suit. And while most surfers already have one, a second wetsuit is always a good one to have as they can get old and after some time, depending on how often you go surfing.
So, whether you are looking for the best surfing accessories for yourself or a surfer you know, a new wetsuit can be a great idea. And when it comes to a full wetsuit, there’s nothing better than the O’Neill Reactor II 3/2mm Full Suit.
When it comes to a high-quality and dependable wetsuit, the O’Neill Reactor is an outstanding choice for a lot of surfers. It comes with a perfect thickness that keeps you warm against the cold waters, while still making you comfortable despite its long sleeves. Plus, you can wear the wetsuit however you want. It comes with a zipper at the front, which allows you to open it up and wear the suit around your waist. The polyester neck collar of the O’Neill Reactor comes with an adjustable feature as well, which is advantageous for those who don’t want to feel uncomfortable and a bit restricted.
When it comes to snug fit and comfortability, this wetsuit has a lot to offer as well. Plus, it’s very stylish so that it can fit even those with the most fashionable tastes. The O’Neill Reactor is an excellent choice for a wetsuit if you need something comfy for the summer. And while it can provide a bit for warmth against the cold water, it might not be enough to protect you from surfing during winter.
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Can provide warmth but stays comfy during the summer season | Not ideal for use during winter season |
Very easy to wear and remove after surfing |
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Super stretchy and very comfortable to use |
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Excellent quality |
#2. Putty Buddies Floating Soft Silicone Earplugs – Best Earplugs for Surfing
Specifications:
- First and only floating soft silicone and moldable earbuds in the world
- One-size fits all design
- Tacky texture
Surfing is an exciting sport and super fun. And because you stay in the water a lot, you need to get yourself protected. A wetsuit can keep your body protected from the water, but how are you going to keep your ears protected?
Extended contact with the cold water can often lead to bone growth in your ears, or what most call as surfer’s ear. So as protection, get the best quality earplugs like this Putty Buddies Floating Silicone Earplugs. Doctors from all over the world recommend it for surfers as an Ear, Nose, and Throat doctor made it.
Further, the quality of the earplugs is also amazing. It features a soft silicone material, which makes it extremely moldable. Like its name, this pair of earplugs feels like putty when used, so it’s very comfortable in your ears. Plus, it also creates an impressive seal that will keep the cold water out of your ears.
The Putty Buddies Silicone Earplugs are floatable, so when it happens to fall out of your ears, you can easily spot them in the water. It also comes in vibrant neon colors, which makes them ideal for kids and easy to look for when it falls into the water.
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Recommended by doctors worldwide | It can sometimes get very sticky |
Moldable and very simple to use |
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Made of soft silicone material |
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Floats in the water |
#3. Wave Tribe Eco Premium Leash – Best Board Leash
Specifications:
- Length: 9 feet
- Superman Velcro surfing leash strap
- With certified melding surfing leash technology
One of the best surfing accessories is a good-quality and reliable surfboard leash. If you are a seasoned surfer, then you might know how important it is to get a strap made of very durable material that is strong but still comfortable to use.
So, if you are looking for a little something to add in a surfing kit, then look no further than the Wave Tribe Eco Premium Leash. The cord is good for the environment as it came from 100% recycled plastic. The raw material was tempered and melded to reach the best durability and strength possible to make it heavy-duty enough to withstand even the biggest of waves.
When it comes to a surfboard leash, the comfortability of something made from durable material is often compromised. However, that is not the case with the Wave Tribe Leash. It offers a tight fit to your ankles but still very comfortable to use. Plus, it comes with a robust Velcro strap. You get some extra features as well, like the small pocket on the leash where you can stash a key. It’s a very convenient addition for when you need to surf alone.
Overall, a leash is one of the best surfing accessories, and the Wave Tribe Eco Premium Leash is high-quality and environmental-friendly that is perfect for every mindful surfer.
Pros | Cons |
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Features a leg-rope swivel technology | Diameter of the leash can't accommodate thicker suits |
Comes with durable velcro straps |
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With a small stash for keys |
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Tight but comfortable fit |
#4. GoPro Hero 6 Camera – Best Surfing Action Camera
Specifications:
- 4K resolution
- 60 FPS (frames per second)
- 2-inch touchscreen display
It’s fun to go surfing on a good day, but there is no doubt that it’s even more enjoyable if you can shoot your surf videos with ease. So, if you are feeling a bit creative and want to shoot some surf videos on your own, having a high-quality action camera is essential. And when it comes to the best camera for every sporting activity, there is nothing better than the GoPro Hero 6 Action Camera.
It is the smallest, most versatile, and the most lightweight action camera you can ever find right now. But despite its tiny size, the GoPro Hero 6 packs a lot of features and functionality that surfers will love. This action camera can provide twice the performance you can get from its predecessor. Plus, it is also waterproof up to 10-meters deep even without a case.
The GoPro Hero6 Action Camera features 4K resolution at 60 frames per second, twice the limit of the Hero 5. It also features image stabilization when you are shooting at 4K resolution and can capture slow-motion videos at 240 frames per second at 1080 resolution. The camera comes with a next-gen video stabilization capacity as well and can shoot a lot better in low light conditions compared to the older GoPro model.
What is more interesting is that the GoPro Hero 6 comes with a host of extra features as well. It comes with high-quality image and audio output, something that is very hard to beat when using other action cameras. It also features a voice control capability, which is very convenient to have as you can turn the camera on by only using your voice.
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Comes with an image stabilization feature at 4K resolution | Can be a bit expensive |
Can shoot in 240 FPS or slow motion at 1080 resolution |
|
Waterproof up to 10m deep without a case | |
Comes with a voice control feature |
#5. Rip Curl Rifles Tide Watch – Best for Style and Function
Specifications:
- 500 pre-programmed tide locations
- Waterproof up to 100-meters deep
Surf watches are among the best surfing accessories for wave riders and surfers. It’s an essential and functional gear that can measure and show the tides from about thousands of different surf spots from all over the world. This high-tech watch can indicate the times for low and high tides at any surf break in the world.
And when it comes to the best watch for surfers, you should look no further than the Rip Curl Rifles Tide Watch. It’s a handy tool for every surfer looking for the best waters to go into when they want to surf for the day. It has 500 pre-programmed tide sites from all over the planet. But more than that, this tide watch can provide a lot more features as well.
For one, it is the first tide watch in the world that can also track your performance while surfing based on the measure of your speed, the wave size, and the distance you traveled. It can also follow the wave count while you surf as well as monitor your movements while you are in the water. It’s a very lightweight and small surfing gadget that works like a personal logbook.
The Rip Curl Rifles Tide Watch can deliver real-time statistics to your wrist by using its assisted GPS feature. And once you are done surfing for the day, you can sync your surfing data to your smartphone using the dedicated Rip Curl Search app. As it is specially made for every passionate surfer out there, the wristwatch is also waterproof up to 100 meters deep.
The Rip Curl Rifles is also the first GPS surf watch in the entire world, which means you can also measure surfing through its Search GPS feature. Overall, this watch can be quite expensive, but it can provide every essential element to help surfers get the best surfing locations and record their performances.
Pros | Cons |
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Versatile display and can switch from a detailed view to graph view easily | Quite expensive |
High-quality construction and is water-resistant | |
Very easy to use, no need for an instruction booklet |
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Extremely lightweight |
#6. Dakine Cyclone II 36L Dry Pack – Best Surfing Backpack
Specifications:
- Capacity: 36 Liters
- Material: 305 Denier Cordura HP ripstop
- Extras: laptop sleeve, water bottle mesh pocket
While there are a lot of accessories, you can get an avid surfer, one of the functional ones that every surfer would want is a reliable surfing backpack. It’s a lot better than a regular bag, and it can carry a wetsuit and features durable construction to withstand common outdoor conditions.
And when it comes to surfing backpacks, the Dakine Cyclone II 36L Dry Pack is the best of its kind. While it can be a bit expensive, all the features and function you can get from this pack is worth the investment. For one, it’s very durable, from the materials used and the construction, so you can be sure it will last for a very long time.
Dakine didn’t skimp on the quality and durability when designing this dry pack using the 305 Denier Condure HP ripstop combined with a welded construction with waterproofing capabilities. All your belongings are safe and secured from any leak inside this backpack.
The Dakine Cyclone II 36L Dry Pack also comes with tons of storage space and compartments. It includes a non-padded case for your laptop and a side pocket to hold your water bottle as well. With its 36 liters capacity, you can keep all your things inside with ease and more space for everything else.
Also, it comes with a two-way purge valve that is a very convenient addition. So, if you are using the backpack out at sea, you can inflate it so it can stay afloat. With all the features and functions you can get from this pack, you might wonder how convenient it is to use. The good thing is that Dakine designed the Cyclone II Dry Pack with breathable mesh at the back panel and ergonomic shoulder straps. From the construction, design, function, and comfort, this surfing backpack is one of the best surfing accessories you can find.
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Provides massive storage space with tons of compartments | A bit on the expensive side |
Impressive waterproof construction and design |
|
Designed with a two-way purge valve | |
Extremely durable |
#7. Vault Cargo Roof Rack Crossbars – Best for Traveling
Specifications:
- Capacity: 150lb
- 54-inches outside dimension
- Fits rails up to 47-inches apart
It’s great if you live near the ocean, but if you don’t, it can be taxing to carry and transport your board wherever there is a nice surf to visit. Especially with its massive size, transporting surfboards can be very challenging, unless you have rack crossbar installed in your vehicle. Whatever type of surfboard you have, it is necessary to both protect your board and your car, and a car rack can do that.
When it comes to searching for the best roof rack system for transporting your surfboard, you should look no further than the Vault Cargo Roof Rack Crossbars. It is a high-quality product that is also very easy to use and install. Plus, it does a long way when it comes to protecting your surfing gear during travel. The roof rack crossbars feature excellent design fit for the outdoors, which is perfect for all surfers out there. It features crossbars, rubber strips, and end caps, everything you need to keep your gear and your vehicle protected.
The design of the car rack is very fitting for SUVs as well as any other vehicle that features elevated side rails. When it comes to construction, the Vault Cargo Roof Rack is a solid one. The crossbars us sturdy materials, which allows them to carry a variety of gears, and not just your surfboard.
One of the selling points of the Vault Cargo Roof Rack is the adjustability it can provide. You can use this rack on whatever car you have, given that it meets the requirements for the side rails. The crossbar comes with keys as well, so you can lock it down on the roof of your vehicle securely and safely.
Overall, the Vault Cargo Roof Rock is one of the best surfing accessories for those looking for a user-friendly, versatile, and robust system to transport their surfboards.
Pros | Cons |
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Designed with padded clamps to help protect your surfboard from any scratch | Crossbar attachments can sometimes come off |
Offers a lot of space to strap the surfboard in as well as other gears |
|
Ideal for SUVs that comes with elevated side rails | |
Can carry as much as 150 pounds of weight |
#8. Sticky Bumps Original Warm-Tropical Surfboard Wax – Best Surf Wax
Specifications:
- 6-pack board wax
- 80-gram bars
- Recommended for use over 69-degrees Fahrenheit
The best surf wax is a must-have for every surfer out there. It can be a vast difference between you staying on the surfboard of you thrown off into the sea. Plus, it gives you extra protection from your board against slipping when big waves are coming down.
When it comes to the best surfing accessories that every surfer will find useful, the Sticky Bumps Original Warm-Tropical Surfboard Wax is a great option. The company has been making great board waxes since 1992, and their snag and grab technology is still very useful for every avid surfer out there.
This surfboard wax can give you a rough but still incredibly soft surface or platform on your board to stand on. Like its brand name, this wax creates small and sticky ridges or bumps on the surfboard to give you a fantastic grip, whether you are surfing for fun or competition.
One other selling point of this Sticky Bumps Surfboard Wax is its eco-friendly feature. During the manufacturing of the board wax, no raw product went to waste. Plus, the wax itself is biodegradable and will not be harmful to the environment or the water.
Another thing that sets the Sticky Bumps Surfboard Wax apart from other waxes in the market is that real surfers designed it. It means that this board wax features quality that can help surfers in the best way possible. It has been tested out in the water countless times as well. Both the passion and safety poured into making this wax will keep you on the surfboard for much longer compared to cheap and environmentally-harmful board waxes.
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Designed with a snag and grab technology | Can be too sticky at times |
Biodegradable and environmental-friendly |
|
Design and made by surfers |
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Offers incredible grip |
#9. Pro-Lite Smuggler Surfboard Travel Bag – Best Surfboard Bag
Specifications:
- 10-mm Air-Lite foam protection
- 2-point system
- Two nominations from Surf Industry Manufacturers Association
Surfing is great, but carrying a lot of stuff can be very taxing. It will save you so much time and energy if you have a bag that can take most of your things, including your surfboard. But, not every bag will do as you need to consider not only the size of the pack but the protection it can provide your board as well.
So, if you are looking for the best surfing accessories, then consider getting the Pro-Lite Smuggler Surfboard Travel Bag. Not only is it designed to carry one surfboard, but multiple ones at the same time. This board bag can hold as much as three surfboards, with only two zips showing, and the other is in secret through a false bottom. This design is also the reason why it is called the smuggler bag.
When it comes to construction, there is nothing sneaky about this bag. It features a 10mm Air-Lite foam material for protection that provides enough thickness to secure and keep your surfboards safe. The pack also comes with a non-corrosive zipper, which is very simple but an extra benefit, especially as you will often get the bag wet or around the sea.
And aside from the spacious bag design that can fit up to three surfboards, there are also external and internal storage. You can use these extra spaces to carry all your other surfing accessories, such as your wetsuit and other essentials.
Overall, you can’t ask for an even better bag than this Pro-Lite Smuggler. It is especially ideal for surfers who need to carry or transport multiple boards.
Pros | Cons |
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With extra storage for a wetsuit and other accessories | A bit expensive |
With false bottom to take the third surfboard in secret | |
Designed with Air-Lite foam protection |
|
Can carry multiple surfboards |
Top Pick – Best Surfing Accessories
If there is one thing that every surfer needs, whether they are beginners in the sport or have been surfing for years, it’s a wetsuit. And whether they already have one, an extra wetsuit is always lovely to have. So, for the best surfing accessories, a wetsuit is our top pick, particularly the O’Neill Reactor II Full Wetsuit .
This full-body suit is for surfers and divers, which means it has every feature that a surfer will need. It is very comfortable to use and provides a level of warmth that can protect your body from the cold water. It is also thick and stretchy in the right place, with its ergonomic knee pads, to keep you going through long surfing sessions without any issue.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are countless options for purchasing the best surfing accessories. From wetsuits, board wax, and board bags to travel bags for surfers, earplugs, tide watches, and many others. All of these things are essential to allow surfers to get the best of every ride on the waves.
But, choosing what you need the most, based on your surfing skills and how frequent you do the sport, is essential. There’s no need to buy every surfing gear out there if you are not likely to use it because you only go surfing once or twice a year.
How to Choose the Best Surfing Accessories
There are a lot of the best surfing accessories that you can get, which makes choosing the best gift for a surfer often tricky. But whatever kind of things you’d like to given an avid surfer, here are some of the essential things you need to consider.
Use
There are very functional accessories that can complete a surfing kit. However, if you want to but something, you’d want to make sure that you will most likely be going to use it. So, check out what surfing accessories you still don’t have and start from there. Also, if you need a particular item upgraded, like an exchange for the already tattered board bag you are using, that can be a good option too.
You’ll also need to consider their skills as a surfer. This way, you can make sure that your gift will be truly appreciated and used based on their surfing capabilities.
Durability
Surfing can be a very extreme sport, so if you are choosing the best surfing accessories, you have to make sure that it comes with qualities to withstand the common outdoor conditions that surfers face. Durability in surfing gears is non-negotiable.
How Often do They Surf?
Aside from their surfing skills, it is also essential to consider how often you surf when getting gear. If you only go to the water once or twice a year, then you don’t have to bother getting the most functional surfing accessory. However, if you go surfing once a month or more frequently than that, some efficient gadgets would make excellent gifts. For those who go into the water every week, there’s a considerable chance that a gear upgrade is necessary.
Budget
There are a lot of excellent surfing accessories, and they come in various price ranges. You don’t have to spend more than you can for a useful and handy surfing gadget. There is something that fits whatever budget you have.
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions):
Q: What is the surfing backpack size should I get?
Q: When should I add more wax to my surfboard?
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G’day, my name is Rach Taylor and I’m the proud Founder of Surf Hungry. I am a former Australian Olympic athlete and Australian representative surf sports athlete. I’ve worked in the surf industry and lived at many of Australia’s best surf spots, sparking a life-long love of the ocean and a passion for surf sports which also rubbed off on my two young sons! I am also lucky to spend a lot of ocean-time in my favorite second home, Indonesia. In addition to SurfHungry I have founded several other websites in my areas of passion, namely coffee and rock climbing, and am also a regular rowing content contributor.