Best Soft Top Surfboard 2022: Reviews + Buying Guide

The modern era has blessed surfers worldwide with safer boards to enjoy their favorite activity – in the form of the best soft top surfboards.

Conventional surfboards, with hardtops, were the only boards many had access to in the past, which came with their set of limitations and risks. But that’s not the case with soft top surfboards. Instead, they are safer to use and make for a more versatile choice.

In this review, we discuss the best soft top surfboards the market has to offer; so you can take your pick.

Our Recommendation: South Bay Guppy Board

But don’t just go by what we’re saying. Go through our list and arrive at your own conclusion!

How We Picked The Best Soft Top Surfboard

We picked the soft top surfing boards based on different factors when making our product selection.

Firstly, we looked at the materials used. We went for boards made with wax-free foam and Polyurethane. Fiberglass coating as extra protection was also considered.

Secondly, we reviewed the length and only locked boards that are 7ft and above. The deck also got our attention as we picked the ones with good traction.

Please read our review to see the excellent soft top surfboards we picked.

A Spotlight On Some of The Best Soft Top Surfboard 2022:

 

South Bay Guppy Board for Beginners/Adults & Kids

If you’ve recently just started surfing as a regular pastime, South Bay soft surfboards are the board you will want to take with you to the sea. This surfboard is ideal not only for adults but for kids too. Simply because it is designed with fins and a leash.

South Bay is an ergonomic board that will keep you safe at sea while allowing you to enjoy the pleasure of the waves. It has an easy carry handle with which you can carry the board from shore to the sea, and an attractive striped design that will set your board apart from the multitude of surfboards used by other surfers.

The striped design also makes the board distinguishable, so when you are surfing in the waves, people standing shoreside can see you clearly, which is actually a safety mark just in case you need help.

This best soft top surfboard is one of the best surfboards for beginners because of how it was designed. It makes surfing easy, so even if you have never surfed before, you can quickly learn the skill in a few days with South Bay.

It has a custom design, and the shapes are beginner-friendly. Measuring 60x21x3 inches, rest assured that it will accommodate your weight perfectly and will not sink. It also has a weight capacity to support surfers who are up to 75 lbs.

As for the top has a 5 inch Guppy Foam that is soft and easy on the underfoot. Also important to notice is the round nose tip and nose rocker designed to prevent the board from diving. Rather, as you battle with the waves, it will glide through. The bottom decks are also structured to allow more speed through the waves. So if you like speed surfing, South Bay will do you no wrong.

South Bay is designed with durable materials and is custom-designed to help beginners, kids and adult surfers. The top deck has a soft IXPE foam and an EPS closed-cell foam core, including 1 Fiberglass Rod. 2 wooden stringers also come with the surfboard, so you get all that you need to go surfing once the package is delivered to you.

Wavestorm 8ft Foam Wax Free Classic Surfboard

Second, on our list of the best soft top surfboard is Wavestorm. This 8ft surfboard is one of the best of its kind when it comes to a surfboard for a good reason.

It has a durable top with foam that is wax-free. This durable feature is important to take note of because many soft top surfboards have wax foam that tends to wear and tear not too long after you start using them, but with Wavestorm, you get a board that will remain intact no matter the exposure to water.

Wavestorm is durable and can be used by surfers of all experiences. While other boards are suitable for beginners, intermediate or experienced surfers, Wavestorm is an all-in-one board for you. So as you graduate from one skill level to another, you won’t need to change the board for a new one since Wavestorm will serve you well all through.

This board offers you a complete surfing experience due to its meticulously crafted design. It is structured to make surfing easy even in strong currents, and surfers can easily maintain their balance when in motion due to the board’s width and 8ft length.

Furthermore, the board is suitable for different water bodies like oceans, lakes or even pools. As long as there are waves to surf, Wavestorm has got you covered. We say for a fact that with this board, technology definitely meets design. It has intricate detailing and a pointed tip that cuts through waves with minimal fuss.

If you are a professional surfer, you will enjoy surfing with Wavestorm because of the speed you can clock and the massive waves you can ride on this board. Wavestorm comes in different sizes depending on the deck features you want. There are 40-42.5 inch sizes, with the latter being the size for experienced adult surfers.

The bodyboard has a superior Grade EPS foam core and a durable high impact bottom for extra durability. As for the top deck, the manufacturer uses a patented graphic design that will set your board apart from the crowd. So should you choose to go for Wavestorm, bear in mind that you are buying a top brand that is widely used by professional surfers all over the world.

South Bay Premium Foam Wax-Free Soft Top Surfboard

Last but not least, on our review of the best soft top surfboard is another model by South Bay Co. This foam wax-free board comes in 7ft, 8f and 9ft surfboards.

This surfboard is specially designed for beginners who have little or no experience surfing the waves. South Bay had a heat damage prevention system to protect the board in your garage, basement or wherever you keep it from damage caused by heat.

This board will not peel or flake but will remain in shape and top form for a very long time. It has fins and leash included if you like to surf with both. The shape is beginner-friendly and allows the surfer to manipulate the waves effortlessly, whether they are going deep or moving towards the shore.

The foam texture is wax-free, and the body has a triple stinger and a Bamboo body armor system which is a common feature of highly durable boards. But despite being a soft-top board, South Bay Co is not a fragile baked by any stretch of her imagination. The bottom is as hard as a rock and will withstand water pressure and even hard objects.

As a beginner, the best length for you should be one with an 84x22x2.85 dimension with a weight capacity of 180lbs. When you include the ruccus foam to it, that places an extra 15lb weight on the total makeup. And just like other South Bay surfboards, this one has a round note and a rocker to stop the baked from diving instead of gliding.

It also has a double concave bottom deck for extra stability, control and speed. South Bay Wax free foam Surfboard is durable and represents value for money. With this board, you get the quality you pay for and nothing less. Just make sure you choose a size that’s right for you when making your selection.

Best Soft Top Surfboard Buying Guide

Now that you know about some of the best soft top surfboards available online, let us conclude this review by highlighting some of the features that a very good surfboard should have. If you know how to spot these features, you will not have a hard time identifying a good board. So let’s go:

Length

The first thing you want to look out for is the length. The maximum length for surfboards is 9ft, and the shortest is 4ft 10 inches which are mostly used by kids.

If the hard is too short, you will find riding difficult. If it is too long, you might find control difficult as well. So we recommend a 7ft-8ft board. If that will be too long for you, a 6ft board will do.

Width

Width differs from one board to another. When buying a surfboard, you should look for boards with enough width for better stability on the water. The last thing you want is a board that is too narrow.

Remember that you will constantly be at the mercy of the waves? Do you want a surfboard that makes it very easy for you to stand comfortably as you surf? If you want comfort, go for a board with extended width.

Fins

Not all surfers like surfing with fins, but if you do, consider a board with as many fins as you want. There are boards with as many as five fins, but if you are a beginner, a three-fin board will suffice. Fins provides stability and speed.

The Deck

The deck is another important part you should not overlook when selecting. Since you are going for a soft top surfboard, you want a model with a grippy pad on the deck and below the deck.

Decks with good grip allow your feet to latch into the board. If the traction is good, surfing will be much easier. Examine the foam to see what it is made of. As a general rule, we recommend wax-free foam because they are far more durable than foam.

Size

The bigger the board, the better. Bigger boards catch waves easily but are not as maneuverable as smaller boards. If you are experienced, go for smaller sizes, but if not, bigger boards are the best for beginners.

Materials

There are different materials used by manufacturers to make surfboards, but one base material they all use is wood. So make sure you review other materials like Polyurethane as a build material and stringers for extra strength. If it has fiberglass covering, that is an extra plus.

Final Thoughts

The best soft top surfboard is ideal for risk-free surfing. They are stable, fast and easy on the legs. However, when shopping for soft top surfboards, make sure you review the build materials and size, so you buy only the right fit for your frame and experience level.