The Best Soft-Top Foam Surfboards of 2024 | The Inertia (2024)

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. They also make incredible beginner surfboards.

Through months of testing in all types of wave conditions, and having some friends/family who are new to surfing also test, we took each board through the paces, finding out what rides well, what holds up, and what is worth your hard-earned cash. The result is the following list of the best soft-top surfboards around. Each one has a few different aspects that will suit different people better than others, but we are confident that one of them will speak to you the most.

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 the Buyer’s Guide for a breakdown on the differences), as well as pointing out the types of fins each board uses.

For more detailed info, check out our Comparison Table and Buyer’s Guide, below. And if you’re looking for a list of soft-top boards specifically geared towards beginner surfers, click here.

Long(er) Boards (7 ft. plus):

Best All-Around: Isle Coronado
Classic Foamy Fun: Catch Surf Odysea Plank
Best Price: Wavestorm Classic Surfboard
Top-Tier Performance: Degree33 Ultimate Longboard Hybrid
Tons of Options: Boardworks Froth! Surfboard

Shortboards:

Best Performance: Haydenshapes Hypto Crypto Softboard
Best Price: Wavestorm Swallowtail Surfboard
Easily-Removed Fins: Softech Eric Geiselman Flash
Best for Kids: South Bay Board Co. Guppy

Best All-Around

Isle Coronado ($595)

Length(s): 7’6″, 8′
Construction: Softtop Epoxy
Fin Setup: 2+1
Pros:Epoxy construction, great all-around shape for beginners to advanced surfers
Cons:Only comes in two sizes

The Coronado from Isle is a definite step up in the softboard category. With a strong epoxy-construction core, no-wax-necessary soft top, and 2+1 fin system, this is a board anyone can rip on. In comparison to a true hard-top surfboard, the rails lose a bit of performance due to their being covered in a layer of foam, but the fins are solid, and the shape of the board is perfect for beginners, cruising on smaller days, and more. We’ve even gotten barreled on this thing. Best of all, it’s a board you’ll be stoked to have in your quiver for years to come. Read our full review here.

Classic Foamy Fun

Catch Surf Odysea Plank ($399)

Length(s): 8′, 9′
Construction: True Foamie
Fin Setup: Single Fin
Pros: Multiple sizes to match progression. Impeccable SoCal vibes
Cons:You pay a bit more for those “SoCal vibes”

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 longboard glide. The 8′ version is great for an average-sized beginner, or anyone looking for fun on a smaller day. With a single fin setup, you’ll have fun gliding down the line and making big soul carves, and the high volume makes it easy to catch waves in smaller surf, perfect for summer beach fun for those new to the sport.

You also can’t go wrong with the Log – a thruster version available in several sizes if you want a bit more maneuverability in the ride.

Best Price

Wavestorm Classic Pinline ($235)

Length(s): 7′, 8′, 9′
Construction: True Foamie
Fin Setup: Thruster, screw-through
Pros: Tried and tested model
Cons: You might get some hate in the lineup at bigger breaks

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. Although not the “Costco Special” (a title now held by Gerry Lopez’s 8ft soft top), it’s available elsewhere, including Amazon. 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.

Top-Tier Performance

Degree33 Ultimate Longboard Hybrid ($1,033)

Length: 7′-10′
Construction: Hybrid Epoxy + Soft Top
Fin Setup: FCS 2 + 1 (Fin Box)
Pros: Great all-around longboard shape, lots of size options
Cons: Costs as much as a regular surfboard

If you want a board that will last well beyond the beginner stages, Degree33’s Ultimate Longboard Aquadip hybrid might be the one for you. At 9′ long, it’ll catch most anything that comes your way. But with its enhanced rocker and all-rounder boardshape you can still whip a few turns and have some fun as the wave height increases.

Since it has an epoxy base, it still rides really well and will be durable enough to withstand a good number of beat-downs. It’s pricey, but it’ll last much longer than a true foamie, so it’s worth getting if you like to push the boundaries and don’t want to buy a new board every time you get a little too radical.

Tons of Options

Boardworks Froth! ($499)

Length(s): 5’0, 5’6″, 7′, 8′, 9′
Construction: Soft-Top Epoxy
Fin Setup: Single Fin/Thruster, Futures
Pros:Solid price and a great range of options
Cons:Can be hard to find – in and out of stock online

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.

Best Performance

Haydenshapes Hypto Crypto Softboard ($379)

Length(s): 5’8″, 6′, 6’4″, 6’8″
Construction: EPS Foam
Fin Setup: Thruster
Pros:Excellent paddle power and all-around design for a wide range of conditions
Cons:While high-performance for a soft-top, foam-covered rails will never measure up to the performance of a hard surfboard

One of the most popular shortboard designs the world over, the Hypto Krypto has gained widespread appeal thanks to its user-friendly design, easy paddle power, and ability to tackle a wide range of conditions. Gutless waves? The extra foam throughout the board will help you generate the speed you need. Punchy and powerful? The rounded pin tail and extra nose rocker will help you stick the drop and get moving down the line before the section clamps on your head.

The Hypto Krypto Softboard packs all of the user-friendly design elements of the regular Hypto into a ding-resistant epoxy/foam soft-top construction. The epoxy core provides stiffness and rigidity while the soft foam covering provides ding-resistance and user-friendliness. If you’re looking for a foam shortboard that will be a blast in all conditions, look no further.

Best Price

Wavestorm Swallowtail Surfboard ($192)

Length(s): 5’6″
Construction: True Foamie
Fin Setup: Thruster, screw-through
Pros: Low cost, big volume for a shortboard
Cons:Lowest-performance shortboard on this list

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.

Easily-Removable Fins

Softech Eric Geiselman Flash ($370)

Length(s): 5’0″
Construction: True Foamie
Fin Setup: Thruster, FCS2
Pros: Interchangeable fins
Cons:Full foam board construction isn’t as rigid as a soft-top epoxy

As you might have guessed from the name, this foam board leans a little more towards the shreddy side of things. 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.

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.

Best for Groms

South Bay Board Co. Guppy ($279)

Length(s): 6′, 7′, 8′
Construction: True Foamie
Fin Setup: Thruster, screw-through
Pros: Built with groms in mind
Cons:Soft everything means lower performance

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 flexible fins (best for avoiding injury) 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.

When choosing a soft-top surfboard, there are a few key things to consider that will help you narrow down the search to better suit one’s individual needs. Here are some of the main points to think about before buying the best soft-top for you.

Size: The height of the surfboard plays a crucial role in your surfing experience. For novices, we recommend a board that is approximately 1-2 feet taller than you. Larger boards offer increased stability which is fundamental for beginners. As your proficiency develops, you may opt for a shorter board for enhanced control.

Shape: The form of the nose, tail, and rails (edges) significantly influence your board’s performance. A board with a broader nose and tail can offer added stability, whereas thinner rails can increase responsiveness.

Volume and Thickness: Volume is an amalgamation of the board’s length, width, and thickness, measured in liters. A higher volume indicates better buoyancy – a desirable trait for beginners. On the other hand, seasoned surfers might lean towards boards with less volume for better maneuverability.

Fins: The fin setup directly impacts the board’s behavior in the water. A single fin is ideal for extensive, smooth turns, while a three-fin configuration (thruster) provides improved control and steadiness.

Price: A high cost will not make you surf better. Assess your financial capacity and requirements before making a decision.

Traditional Methods vs. Environmentally-Friendly Alternatives

Traditional surfboard manufacturing methods, using polyester resins, polyurethane foam, and fiberglass, are not only non-renewable but can also pose health risks to workers involved in the process.

In contrast, environmentally-friendly surfboards use green alternatives. Bio-based epoxy resins and natural fibers like hemp or flax are employed instead of fiberglass, while plant-based or recycled foams are used as substitutes for conventional foam cores. As this is a relatively new development in the industry, not many companies are doing this yet and we were unable to get our hands on a sample to test. Stay tuned as we will hopefully demo some more eco-friendly boards down the line.

Which is Better? A Soft-Top Epoxy or a True Foamy?

Not all soft-top surfboards 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 that seek to bridge the gap, but the distinction is worth considering in your buying decision.

Do Fins Matter on a Foamie?

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.

Why Choose a Soft Top Over a Hard Surfboard?

Soft tops have a few advantages for those who can’t make it in the water every day. For one, the extra buoyancy means it’s easier to catch waves. That means less frustration out in the lineup and more time riding waves, presumably. Surfing is a hard sport, no one will tell you otherwise, and so if you can start out with more fun, chances are you’ll stick at it longer.

Soft tops also hurt way less when coming in contact with others. Not that we are advocating aiming for others, but mistakes do happen – especially when you’re learning. So if you are in a crowded break, a soft top is a safer option for if/when you lose control of the board.

Last, but not least, soft tops are generally cheaper than hard boards, so if you break them, it’s not as much of a tragedy. Plus, there are many a times we’ve duct taped a foamie back to life (assuming it isn’t a clean break) to prolong its use.

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Editor’s Note: Just starting out? Check out our full guide to The Best Beginner Surfboards. We also have guides for Surfboard Leashes, Wetsuits for both men and women, wetsuit jackets for men and women, and boardshorts for men and women. For even more gear reviews and features on The Inertia, click here.