Tomo is a well-respected brand in Australia. It offers products that allow you to customize your board’s fin box setup and branding. You can choose between FCS or Future, and new or original.
Almost all of its boards have EPS core construction that weighs 2.2 pounds with triple carbon reinforcing strips on top and bottom. Its products use 100 percent epoxy resin that makes them durable.
Table of Contents
Top 7 Best Tomo Surfboards Reviewed
- Hydronaut Tomo Surfboard
- Hydroshort Tomo Surfboard
- El Tomo Tomo Surfboard
- Revo Tomo Surfboard
- OB1 Tomo Surfboard
- Vanguard Tomo Surfboard
- SKX Tomo Surfboard
#1. Hydronaut
The Hydronaut is the best to use for beach breaks, down-the-line barrels, slaps, and point breaks. If you need a step up, this product is useful for riding powerful waves too.
It has an accelerated rocker that uses a quad-inside-single concave (QISC), a Tomo trademark. This feature improves the board’s responsiveness and grip.
This board has an elliptical template and broad point. It also has a torpedo round nose that gives lower swing and security,
This board is available in 5’6 to 6’8 sizes. With this board, you can ride the wave that is six feet and above because it is a step up.
#2. Hydroshort
The Hydroshort got its inspiration from the Hydronaut’s design. The Hydroshort is ideal for riding small to medium waves. It has a modern torpedo nose that gives a smooth rail-to-rail transition, low-weight swing, and responsiveness.
The Hydroshort is fast and versatile. It allows new riders to train because of its ability to ride small waves.
This board provides you with an option between a round tail and a squash tail.
If you choose the round tail, it will allow you to ride hollow to punchy waves. If you select the squash tail, it will be ideal for flat waves and weak waves.
This board has a length of 5’4 to 6’2. You can use it to ride three to six feet waves. The rocker is medium continuous, and the fins are available as quad or thruster.
#3. El Tomo
The El Tomo is a high-performance board that can ride small waves or flat wave faces. It was the update of the Tomo Raptor Dual Fin in 2009. It is a high-level fish with a jet fighter tail, which is another signature Tomo design.
It has a multi-concave planing hull, and quad or keel combo fin replacement to make it suitable for any wave condition.
This board provides a low drag, fast transition from rail to rail, and extra driving power.
It is 5’3 to 6’4 in length that is suitable for waves that are 3 to 4 feet high. It has a flat rocker, and you can buy it with a quad-fin setup.
#4. Revo
The Revo is an improvement of the Evo design, which results from the combination of features of other sports boards. It looks like a skateboard. When you ride it, it feels as if you are riding a snowboard. The bottom contour looks like a wakeboard.
The Revo focuses on functionality, and it is fast. Its flat section can surf tight to the pocket.
The Revo is ideal for beginner to advanced surfers because it can ride any wave conditions.
It is available in 5’1 to 6’0 in length that can ride waves that are one to five feet high. This board has a continuous rocker. You can choose between a thruster or quad-fin configuration.
#5. OB1
The OB1 features the latest planning hull technology. Its elegant but intelligent design is a combination of high performance and speed.
The OB1 has a parallel outline and a broad diamond tail. The drag is low because of the use of QISC, which makes this surfboard responsive. Its torpedo nose makes it maneuverable.
This board is available in 5’3 to 6’2 sizes that are ideal for riding waves that are 2 to 6 feet high.
It uses an intermediate to an advanced rocker. The fin setup is available as tri or quad.
#6. Vanguard
The Vanguard is one of the Tomo classics that inspired the modern planning hull generation which made riding the waves better and enabled the surfers to perform at their best. It was the board that made Mark Price a fan of Tomo’s creations.
The Vanguard’s outline became the foundation of innovative surfboards and had parallel lines that provide the board with its compact design. It has more volume because of the balanced foam distribution. It has reduced drag and increased planning lift and speed.
This product has a diamond nose, which is another unique feature of this board. It reduces swing weight and enhances safety.
Its construction encourages surfers to have fun because it is effortless to ride. The diamond tail provides excellent directional control and low drag.
It has a concave bottom that maximizes speed and control.
This board uses future-shape technology that provides better control.
It is available in 4’8 to 6’2 sizes.
#7. SKX
The SKX was Stuart Kennedy’s go-to all-rounder shortboard in 2017. It has a sci-fi foundation, squash tail, and compact outline that makes it responsive and ideal for choppy water conditions.
With this board, you can ride waves that are two to six feet high. It has a medium rocker that has a thruster fin setup. It has a balanced volume distribution and a rocker that slightly hints at the general wave spectrum. It also uses QISC.
This board is available in 5’2 to 6’6 sizes.
About Tomo Surfboards
The name came from the surfboard designer and surfer, Daniel ‘Tomo’ Thompson. Aside from being a surfboard creator, he has also been a mentor to legendary surfers.
By the age of 33, he has already been an expert and a guru in surfboard design, making his brand well-respected in Australia. He has been famous for his modern concepts backed by his surfing ability and mentoring.
Tomo’s mission is to have a leading surfboard design. This mission becomes possible by creating new trends in design and providing the best experience for functionality. It combines scientific analysis, vision, and testing to create a state of the art surfboards.
Tomo proved that it did not fail from abiding by its mission because its boards won several awards. It includes the SIME performance surfboard, surfboard of the year, and best-selling surfboard in 2017 for its Slater designs. In 2015, it won the best-selling surfboard for its Evo Tomo surfboards.
Tomo abides by its philosophy of continuous evolution and constant functionality evaluation. It does not end its search for the perfect performance board. That is why it uses the latest technology and materials, including the newest fluid dynamic analysis. It combines and challenges the theories and laws of physics.
Tomo has a partnership with Firewire. According to Firewire’s CEO Mark Price, he has been a fan of Tomo’s creations since he rode the Vanguard. In 2015, Kelly Slater invested and collaborated to brainstorm the invention of the award-winning Firewire Slater designs, which consist of Houdini, Cymatic, Gamma, No Brainer, and more.
Parts of a Surfboard
Before knowing how to buy a surfboard fin, you should know the different parts of a surfboard because you should take each of them into consideration when making a purchase.
Surfboards come in different varieties, and they come in different sizes and features. Its parts come in various construction, sizes, shapes, and types too. These differences have a purpose depending on the board’s ability to ride the waves and the surfer’s skill level and weight.
If you are a beginner who shops for a surfboard but has no idea about the words such as the nose, fins, and concaves, you are like a blind swimmer trying to find a lost penny in an ocean. That is why knowing these basics is a must.
Fins
Surfboards may or may not have fins, but having them can make a massive difference in your performance because they profoundly affect the board’s turnability, thrust, speed, etc.
Fins come in different setups from single to five.
Fin Plugs
The fin plugs are where you attach the removable fins. They come in three types, the single longboard fin box, FCS, and futures.
Rocker
It refers to the curvature of the board from nose to tail, which is either heavy or relaxed.
The heavy type refers to a steep curve, and the relaxed refers to a slight curvature.
Besides it, it has two states that describe the curvature. These states are continuous and staged.
The continuous describes the curve state from the tail to the nose, while the staged describes the flat section at the board’s center.
The nose rocker refers to the curves between the rocker and the nose, and some surfers call it a flip. The tail rocker refers to the space between the central flattest part of the board to the tail.
The rocker changes add to the board’s maneuverability, speed, drag, wave-riding ability, etc. There is no best or worst rocker; all you need to do is select the one that suits your riding style.
Tail
The tail comes in different shapes. The differences affect the board’s responsiveness, speed, control, and maneuverability.
Nose
The nose refers to the tip of the board, which is either rounded or pointed.
The rocker points to it and helps direction.
Rail
The rail is the board’s edge that divides the board from top and bottom. It is either soft or hard, which you can determine by its shape.
The round is soft, and the square is hard.
It affects the overall balance. The sharp one has a narrow rail and gives less volume, while the round one provides more of it.
Bottom
Comes in different contours.
The standard contours are concave, convex, and flat.
The bottom directs the water direction which affects the board’s speed, stability, drive, and responsiveness, except for the flat bottom.
The concave refers to the bottom that surpasses the rail line.
The convex describes the bottom that remains below the rail line.
The flat refers to the flat parts of the board’s bottom.
Stringer
This part is a reflection point, commonly a strip of wood or carbon fiber, running from nose to tail in the middle part of the board. Shapers often use it as a reference point.
Outline
The outline describes the overall shape of the board. It is a factor that defines the type of surfboard.
Leash Plug
It is part of the surfboard where you attach the leash to prevent the board from straying away.
Type of Fin Configuration to Consider When Buying a Surfboard in Tomo
There are several considerations when buying a surfboard. Now that you have learned the different parts of the surfboard, you should regard each of them when buying one. In this article, you will learn how to select the best type of fin to use.
There are several fin types that you might encounter when purchasing a surfboard from Tomo.
Fins can be removable or glassed-in. The former refers to the removable fins. Thus, it has fin boxes, as mentioned a while ago.
The glassed-in refers to the laminated fins, which are harder to repair. That is why it is advisable to go for the removable ones.
There are three fin boxes, as mentioned before. The two of them are the dual tab and the single tab.
The dual tab consists of FCS and FCS2. The FCS stands for the fin control system, which is the most common. Its most recent technology is keyless. That is why there is no need to use grub screws or keys to secure the fins, and you may also fit the old ones you have by using a compatibility kit.
The single tab uses screws and a truss base to connect the fin to the board.
Types of Fin Configuration
Single Fin
This type is common on longboards; that is why it is the most traditional among the other designs. It does not have good turnability, although it is excellent for straight and quick surfing. It provides control, predictability, and stability.
Twin
The twin is maneuverable, fun, and playful but not the best choice for riding enormous waves. It is the typical type that you can find on shortboards.
Thruster
The thruster refers to the board with three fins. The other term for it is tri-fin.
It has two outer fins closed to the middle part of the board and a center near the tail. This setup provides stability, maneuverability, and control, making it an ideal type for beginners to pro-level.
If you have the removable type, it gives you the option to enjoy the single and twin fin configurations.
Quad
The quad is the best for small days and if you want speed. It channels the water to the board’s tail and out, which is why its increases in acceleration.
This type has two fins near the tails that make it stable and the other two fins that make it usable for riding massive waves.
This type also provides good turnability.
Five
Having five fins does not necessarily mean that you should use them all. What it does is that it allows you to create a customized experience. If you want a twin, single, tri-fin, or quad, you can go for it.
2+1
The 2+1 has a single fin in the middle and side fins that resemble the ones in the thruster, although the middle is longer. It is common in logs, funboards, and eggs.
Conclusion
Because there are several brands and surfboards in the market, buying one can be overwhelming. It is helpful to determine the best brand first and search for a product from there. Reputable brands will never tarnish their name by selling subpar and mediocre products; that is why you can guarantee quality most of the time.
In this Tomo Surfboards review, you have learned about one of the leading surfboard brands in the surfing industry and its products. It is up to you to decide if its products are the best to use based on your skill level and riding style.
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
Q: Can I Order a Surfboard From Tomo Even If I Am Not From Australia?
A: Yes. However, Tomo wants you to contact them directly to tell them your location, get a quote, and agree to a shipping rate. After that, you can proceed to buy online and choose the international shipping option. You should know that you should pay for the shipping fee during the second transaction before Tomo sends out your product.
Q: What Is the Best Surfboard Volume for Me?
A: What you need to do is take your weight, skills, and height into consideration. You can use the volume calculator on the Firewire website to help you.
Q: Is It Possible to Buy an Older Model That Is Not Available on the Site?
A: It depends on the case-to-case basis. What you can do is contact Tomo to know if it is possible in your case. However, be aware that you might need to add some fees for design changes and completion.
Related Resources
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- McTavish Surfboards
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- Salt Gypsy Surfboards
- Chilli Surfboards
- Almond Surfboards
Torsten Bird is a talented and adventurous waterman from Western Australia, passionate about surfing, stand-up paddleboarding, hydrofoiling, skimboarding, snowboarding and skateboarding. Torsten has spent countless hours mastering his skills and his dream is to one day represent Australia as an Olympic athlete. Follow Torsten’s adventures on Instagram.
