In surfing the right board decides your learning success, more than any brand. The most common wrong decision: buying too small, because the pros ride short boards too, after all. Here you will read honestly which surfboard beginners really need, which size suits you and what belongs with it. A buying guide, not a paid test.
Start with a softboard
For the first months there is no way around a softboard (foam board). It has a lot of volume, carries well, paddles easily and does not hurt when you fall, neither you nor others. It is also cheap and sturdy. Shorter, thinner hard-foam or epoxy boards come later, once you reliably paddle into waves and stand.
First purchases with examples based on body weight
The more volume, the more easily you catch the wave and the earlier you stand. Better a little larger, which is an advantage especially in the short, steep Baltic Sea wave. Guide values for a beginner softboard:
| Body weight | Board length | Volume (beginner) |
|---|---|---|
| approx. 45 kg | approx. 7’0–7’6 | approx. 55–65 L |
| approx. 65 kg | approx. 7’6–8’2 | approx. 75–90 L |
| approx. 85 kg | approx. 8’2–9’0 | approx. 95–110 L |
| approx. 100 kg | approx. 9’0–9’6 | approx. 110–130 L |
What else belongs with it
- Leash , connects you to the board so it does not shoot away from you after a fall. Length roughly like the board.
- Fins , usually included with the softboard, give tracking and hold.
- Wax or pad , for grip on the deck (often not needed with a pure soft top).
- Warm wetsuit , a must on the Baltic Sea: 5/4 mm or thicker with hood, boots and gloves, because the wave season is autumn and winter.
What it costs
| Variant | Price | For whom |
|---|---|---|
| Softboard used | approx. 150 to 300 € | The cheapest start, completely fine |
| Softboard new (with fins & leash) | approx. 300 to 500 € | The uncomplicated start with everything included |
| Warm winter wetsuit (5/4 mm) | approx. 200 to 450 € | On the Baltic Sea the most important investment |
Do not save on the wetsuit, on the cold Baltic Sea it decides whether you stay half an hour or two hours in the water. On the board you can buy used, a softboard takes a lot. Before you buy: rent first or take a course, then you know which size feels good.
How getting started works step by step is in Learning to surf: the first steps.
Note: As soon as our shop and partner links are in place, you will find direct recommendations here for boards, wetsuits and accessories. Until then: the content stands on its own, even without a click.