Hard to go wrong with the classic Wavestorm. Photo: AGIT Global
When you get down to it, surfing is all about one thing: having fun. And while all surfboards are technically made for having a blast, soft-top surfboards are particularly devoted to it. They remove the stress of damaging your delicate fiberglass boards, and let you try new things risk-free like leashless surfing, finless surfing, or charging some pounding shorebreak that would snap a “real” board in seconds. So, in the never-ending effort to increase the amount of fun people are having, here’s a list of soft-top surfboards that will increase both your wave count and your smile count.
We’ve divided this guide according to shortboards and longer-boards (7′ and above) to cover the wide range of soft-tops available on the market today, and have done our best to categorize each board as a soft-top epoxy or a true foamie (see below), as well as pointing out the fins each board uses.
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If you’re looking for a list of soft-top boards specifically geared towards beginner surfers, click here, and for more awesome gear reviews on The Inertia, click here.
JJF by Pyzel Log 7′-8′($700)
Catch Surf Odysea Log 7’0 Thruster ($374)
Odysea Catch Surf Skipper Quad J.O.B. Pro 5’6″-6’6″ ($349)
Softech Eric Geiselman Flash FCS II Surfboard 5′-7′ ($380)
South Bay Board Co. Guppy ($269)
Not all soft-tops are the same. There’s actually a pretty big difference between epoxy soft-tops and true “foam” surfboards. Epoxy soft-tops are constructed from a durable epoxy board with a soft foam layer covering the deck and rails. They are higher “performance” due to the solid construction, but that comes with a higher risk of board-inflicted injury. The foam padding can only do so much. True foam boards are made of foam through and through, resulting in a decent bit more flex, which is great when colliding with the board, but not quite as helpful when laying down a deep bottom turn. That being said, it’s not truly one-or-the-other, as there are plenty of boards on the market (like Almond’s R-series boards) that seek to bridge the gap, but the distinction is worth considering in your buying decision.
In short, yes. A crucial aspect in a board’s performance is how the fins are constructed. Some true foam boards, like the Wavestorm, use screw-through fins for simplicity, while the rest (and all soft-top epoxies) make use of Futures or FCS fin boxes. This is where soft-top epoxy boards truly shine, with superior rigidity due to their solid construction providing noticeably better hold on the face of a wave, especially when it gets steeper. Even with real fin boxes, a true foam board’s fins will just have a bit of give to them.
Length(s): 7′, 8′ Construction: Soft-Top Epoxy Fins: Thruster, Futures
JJF by Pyzel brings you the best of master-shaper John Pyzel’s designs in a more user-friendly, and fun, package. The line ranges from shortboard shapes you can find on the rack at almost any surfshop around the world, like the Gremlin, to fishes, funboards, and longboards. The Log packs a classic cruiser longboard shape into an eight-foot frame, perfect for beginners who aren’t worried about the board’s underlying hardness. It’s also an incredible shape for smaller days, with the 7′ version being quite rip-able.
Length(s): 7′, 8′, 9′ Construction: True Foamie Fin Setup: Thruster, Futures
Ah, the easy summer fun of the Log. These boards have been around for a while, and with good reason as they’re loved by everyone from beginner to pro. With foam construction through and through, it’s ready to charge shorebreak or let the kids romp around on. The 9′ version is great for larger riders and those wanting more longboad glide. The 8′ version is great for an average-sized beginner, or anyone looking for fun on a smaller day. The 7′ Log is long enough to be a wave catching machine, but short enough to fit in the trunk, and makes a great step down from the 8’0 as one progresses to smaller boards.
Check Price for the Catch Surf Log on Evo.
Length(s): 7′, 8′, 9′ Construction: True Foamie Fin Setup: Thruster, screw-through
Ah, the original soft-top. Ridden first by beginners, then later by absolute rippers and now by basically everyone, Costco’s iconic blue and white (and yes, Rasta colors, too) will always be the Grandaddy of foamies. While the 8-foot version is likely the most popular, Wavestorm has shapes and sizes all over the map. From a 5-foot swallow tail to a 10-foot SUP, this foamboard manufacturer has a stranglehold on the foamboard market.
Length(s): 5’0, 5’6″, 7′, 8′, 9′ Construction: Soft-Top Epoxy Fin Setup: Single Fin/Thruster, Futures
Like most soft-tops, Boardworks made the Froth to help people catch more waves. It’s your classic soft-top epoxy, with true performance characteristics and a bit more foam for ease of paddling. If you’re into more of the classic longboard feel, the single fin you see above might be your style, but if you’re not, Boardworks also makes a 7′-8′ funboard and a 5′-5’6″ shortboard.
Check price for the longboard, here.
Check price for the shortboard, here.
Length(s): 7′, 8′, 9′ Construction: True Foamie Fin Setup: Thruster, screw-through and FCS1
Recently, Foamy realized there were a bunch of people (ie., you) who want what’s dope about surfing, yet don’t know how to do it, and need a board to learn on that can take you past the beginner stage. Thus, Foamy boards were born, with a commitment to maximize wavecount without sacrificing mobility, and produce a high-quality soft-top. Designed in San Clemente, CA they’ve attracted the likes of Nique Miller and Kirra Seale, longboard champs in need of a board that can make any conditions fun.
JOB’s soft-top is a guaranteed good time. Buy here.
Length(s): 5’6″, 6’6″ Construction: True Foamie Fin Setup: Thruster, Futures
If fitting in with the crowd isn’t your style, Jamie’s Quad with Catch Surf is a hoot, and performs very similarly. It’s made with a dual-composite core with Triple Maple-Wood Stringers and a bat tail. It’s 5′ 8″ and 42 liters, which gives it plenty of float for a wide range of surfers, and the nod to JOB gives it a few extra style points.
Length(s): 5’0″, 5’7″, 6’0″, 6’6″ and 7’0″ Construction: True Foamie Fin Setup: Thruster, FCS2
As you might have guessed from the name, this foam board leans a little more towards the shreddy side of things. The Eric Geiselman Flash comes in 5’0″, 5’7″, 6’0″, 6’6″ and 7’0″. It has an FCSII fin setup and a 100 percent waterproof EPS foam core, which is nice if you’re the type of person who dings boards. This is a great option for someone looking to still paddle into waves easily, but doesn’t want to sacrifice too much performance. It also comes in a whole bunch of colors. If grey ain’t your thing, Softech has a pretty well-rounded selection that’s worth a closer look.
Check price on Backcountry and Evo.
Mason Ho and Filipe Toledo also have their own, very similar, Softech designs. Check out Filipe’s Wildfire here, and Mason Ho’s Mason Twin here.
Length(s): 5’3″ Construction: True Foamie/Hybrid Fin Setup: Thruster, Futures
As a person who likes to surf in the natural environment, you’d be right if you were concerned with what surfboards were made of. Foamboards snap often — as you’ve probably seen in garbage cans near the beach — and the stuff they’re made from wreaks havoc on the environment. Formula Fun does it differently. Made entirely from recyclable materials, these boards aren’t thrown in the trash. Once it’s well and truly dead, you can mail it in or drop it off at the brand’s Irvine, Calif. headquarters for a $50 credit towards your next board. And just because they’re recyclable doesn’t mean they’re not fun, either. They have, as the name implies, the formula for fun.
Alternatively, as Amazon has had some stock issues with Formula Fun, check out Thread, who offers a very similar alternative.
Length(s): 5’6″ Construction: True Foamie Fin Setup: Thruster, screw-through
Like we said before, Wavestorm has a whole lot of shapes and sizes to choose from. While the O.G. Wavestorm is generally thought of as the classic blue and white 8-footer, they’ve branched into the modern day with this little swallowtail. Coming in at 5’6” x 21” x 2.75”, it’s got 42 liters of volume, which should be enough to float just about anyone.
Length(s): 5’4″ Construction: True Foamie/Hybrid Fin Setup: Thruster, Futures
Want a soft-top that performs like a real surfboard? look no further. Almond’s R-series boards (also featuring the 8′ Joy and the 6’4″ Pleasant Pheasant) are as real as a soft board gets. To sweeten the deal, the boards are 100% recyclable and come with Futures fin boxes so you can make use of your favorite set of quads.
Length(s): 6′, 7′, 8′ Construction: True Foamie Fin Setup: Thruster, screw-through
Guppies gotta learn, too. And that’s what South Bay Board Co. created this six-foot wave-catching machine for: learning, especially for groms who don’t get around the ocean every single day. The Guppy comes in kid-friendly blue jail stripes and is standard with fins and a leash. The price point means you won’t lose your you-know-what if it gets beat to a pulp. Which it probably will.
Length(s): 4’10” Construction: True Foamie Fin Setup: Thruster, screw-through
You want something tiny? This is for you. A mini twin that packs 35 liters into 4’10”, the Performer has dual wood stringers so it feels a lot stiffer than the average floppy soft-top. You know those times you pull into a wave with some chop and your soft-top is literally bending under your feet? Yeah, not going to happen with the Wave Bandit.
Need insight on how to get this lug of foam to the beach? Check out our reviews on the best surfboard bike racks and best surfboard car racks.
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