Once you’ve caught the surfing bug, you can hardly wait to get yourself the equipment you need to hit the waves as often as possible…. But with so much surfing material to choose from, it’s sometimes hard to know which equipment is really important for surfing. Today we’re taking a look at the surfing equipment you need so that you’re well equipped for your next surf trip.
Surfing material- overview
Surfing material
What surfing material do I need?
When you first enter a surf store, you don’t know where to look. Surfboards, wetsuits, lycra, bikinis & swimsuits and all kinds of accessories for all eventualities vie for your attention. And of course, all of this is surfing material. Some of it you will need more often than others, some you will need more urgently than others and so you can buy your surfing equipment piece by piece.
Renting from friends or surf stores is sometimes more sensible than buying everything from the start, especially at the beginning of your surfing career. And renting also gives you the opportunity to test the equipment extensively before you decide to make an expensive purchase.
Material for surfing
The surf essentials
Are you hooked on surfing and want to finally buy your own surfing equipment? The big question is, of course, what you actually need for surfing. You will have noticed that you can rent the equipment you need for surfing in surf stores or surf schools. If you are now considering buying your own surfing equipment, you should start with the essentials. You can also use the equipment rented from the surf school as a guide.
The wetsuit
To stay warm in the water and protect you from the sun (and also from collisions with the surfboard), a wetsuit is one of the things you definitely need for surfing. Unless you plan to surf exclusively in tropical climes. There you would mainly need a rashguard, as the water there is warm enough to do without the neoprene layer.
If you want to find out more about proper wetsuit care, you can read more here.
The surfboard
Of course, the first essential thing for surfing is the surfboard. Along with the wetsuit, the board is one of the most expensive things you need for surfing. And just like the wetsuit, with the right care and the right choice you will be able to enjoy your own surfboard for a long time.
When buying your own surfboard, there are of course a few things to consider, such as your surfing level, the spot where you will mainly be surfing and, last but not least, your budget. It makes sense to buy a used surfboard, especially at the beginning. You can also read about everything else you need to consider when buying a surfboard here.
Fins, leash & board sock
With your own surfboard comes the necessary accessories: your surfboard needs matching fins and, of course, a leash so that it doesn’t get lost while you’re surfing.
Protect your board with a thin board sock on the way to the surf spot and a sturdy board bag when traveling. When choosing, you should make sure that the board sock or bag is big enough for your board to protect it sufficiently.
Wax
Another essential material for surfing is wax, which you can use to ensure the right grip on your surfboard. And even if you don’t have your own surfboard yet, it’s never a bad idea to have wax to hand.
There are different types of wax for different water temperatures, so find out beforehand which type is right for you.
Surfing material
Nice to have
With the surfing equipment already mentioned, you have all the basic surfing gear you need. But of course there are many other things that will make your surfing life easier. You can buy all these things bit by bit if you think it’s necessary.
Because a lot depends on your own assessment, the surf spot and of course the size of your luggage. The good thing is that surfing equipment is very durable if you look after it properly. This means you can enjoy your surfing equipment for several years and don’t have to buy everything new every year.
Surf poncho
Especially in cool and windy places, a surf poncho is a great way to get changed before and after a surf session and dry off at the same time. The surf poncho protects you from the wind, weather and the eyes of others & warms you up again quickly after a surf session.
You can find our favorite surf ponchos at Wiemeer. But with a little patience and a sewing machine, you can also sew the surf poncho of your dreams yourself.
Zinc sunscreen
Have you ever wondered why many surfers have such colorful “war paint” on their faces? Sun protection! The power of the sun should not be underestimated, even on windy and especially cloudy days.
Zinc sun creams (often in the form of sticks) help to protect against the sun, especially on the face. These are available in many different colors and remain firmly in place even after several hours in the water.
Earplugs
Wind, waves and salt water can be very hard on the ears and can lead to painful adhesions in the ear: the surfer’s ear! Ear plugs help to counteract this.
They keep the wind and water out of your ears, but let enough sound through so that you can communicate with your surf buddies in the line-up.
Especially in colder and windy places, these earplugs are worth their weight in gold!
Booties, hood & gloves
If you often surf over reefs and have to balance over sharp rocks, booties or neoprene socks make sense so that you can get in and out of the water without major or minor injuries.
In colder climes, on the other hand, you will need a hood and gloves in addition to the wetsuit to protect you from the cold ocean water. The rule is: the more neoprene (and if in doubt, a layer of Vaseline), the longer the surf session!
Roof rack for the car
To transport your board safely to the surf spot by car, there are mobile roof racks that you can stretch over the roof of your (rental) car.
This way, you can strap your surfboard to the roof and jet off to surf with your surf buddies in the car. Transporting several or larger boards and smaller cars can otherwise be difficult.
Waterproof watch
A waterproof watch should not be missing from the list of surfing material. When you’re surfing, it’s easy to forget the time and only concentrate on the next wave and can’t get enough.
To make sure you don’t miss an appointment or even get to work on time, a waterproof watch is an enormously useful thing. There are even special watches for surfers that not only tell you the time, but also the tide.
Repair kit
Did you miss a stone on your last wave and now have a small ding in your board? In such cases, it’s useful to have a small repair kit to hand. This way, you can give your board first aid and repair it before any major damage occurs. It is important to allow your board to dry thoroughly and clean it before repairing it.
Wax comb
After a few surfing sessions, when the layer of wax on the board gets thicker and thicker but no longer has any real grip, the wax comb comes into play. On the one hand, you can use it to comb the (ideally warmed up) wax and rub it down again to give it new grip. On the other hand, you can also use it to remove old wax from the board if you want to wax your board again.
Surfing material
Rent or buy?
As you can see, there is plenty of surfing material out there. Some of it is actually essential, some depends on the surf spot and the conditions, and others are useful gimmicks. Wetsuits and boards are of course easy to hire in many places, but many people prefer their own wetsuit after a few surf trips. You can then be sure that the wetsuit fits just right and is not worn out.
Boards, roof racks and other larger purchases can be rented at first, especially on (long) trips, before you buy your own board and all the necessary accessories. This makes surfing a sport for which you can easily buy surfing material piece by piece.
One of the greatest things about the sport of surfing is that you need only three things. your body, a surf-board, and a wave.
Naima Green