The research
How we picked and tested
If you’ve ever traveled to the beach and been at least partly responsible for gear, comfort, and fun, you know that relaxing in the sand takes hard work. We’ve spent almost a decade on beaches all over Hawaii, California, and South Carolina, digging in the sand and running out into the surf.
In 2025 three Wirecutter staffers and a group of eight testers, from kids to adults, ventured to several Hawaiian beaches over the course of three days to update our testing. We hauled and pitched sun shades and umbrellas. We packed beach totes, towed coolers, laid out (and on) beach towels, flew kites, paddled balls, and threw frisbees and … flungles.
But before all this fun in the sun, we spent a solid week on research to find the best-quality gear to test. For all of the items we recommend in this guide, there are hundreds that we decided weren’t worth our time (or your money).
Beach towels
Top pick
The Brooklinen Beach Towel measures 34 by 70 inches, and it has a velour face on one side, which has a soft and velvety feel, and an absorbent terry weave on the back. Made in Portugal, this heavy-weight towel is rated 550 grams per square meter — 100 GSM more than most medium-weight towels we tested. Most towels range from 300 to 900 GSM, and anything above 600 is considered premium. We could feel this heavier weight in our hands and when the towel was draped over our bodies — it’s a pleasure. That said, the Brooklinen Beach Towel is three times the price of the Turkish towel we recommend, and it’s an extra luxury that may not be that important to everyone. Ultimately, this remains a block of woven cotton that you spread out on the sand. But what a towel!
Budget pick
If the Brooklinen Beach Towel is out of stock, try the L.L.Bean Seaside Beach Towel. It’s a medium-weight towel, measuring 450 GSM (100 GSM less than our top pick), and our testers enjoyed the feel of its fluffy cotton. It absorbs water very well and remains soft even after multiple washes. Its sewn edge is resistant to fraying.
Budget pick
One downside to large towels like our picks from Brooklinen or L.L.Bean is they take up a lot of space in a bag. If you prefer a smaller, lightweight beach towel, the cotton Huckberry Mediterranean Turkish Towel is a terrific, inexpensive option (and it’s good for travel).
The Huckberry towels are Oeko-Tex–certified, which means they should be free of potentially harmful substances, such as heavy metals, formaldehyde, and plasticizers. One thing to be aware of: Staff members who’ve followed the slightly persnickety care instructions (wash on gentle cycle in cold water with very little detergent and no softener, and, if possible, air-dry) report no pilling. However, one staff member treats her Huckberry towels like regular towels (aka, she gives them no special treatment), and she says they pilled slightly after just a few washes.
However, if none of these towels works for you, we have other options in our full guide to beach towels.
Top pick
Made from 100% Turkish cotton, the Sand Cloud Terra Hooded Poncho Youth has a terry-cloth interior that improves absorption and drying. The slightly oversized hood is roomy enough to protect young faces from the sun, and the side pockets are great for securing knickknacks. It conveniently turns a towel into a wrap that you can put on young bodies determined to wriggle free of everything.
Infant sand barrier
Top pick
As great as it is to lie on a towel in the sand, it’s not the best when you’re trying to manage babies on the beach. The Sandy Bumz Outdoor Picnic Ground Cover is a simple, hexagonally shaped polyester sheet. It’s 7 feet across, with an 8-inch-high semirigid frame around the edge that acts as a small barrier for debris. (The frame’s wall is light enough that it won’t hurt if you fall on it, but it is strong enough to remain rigid in the wind.) When you’re packing up, the mat bends into a kind of origami shape, about 10 by 34 inches. Though nothing will keep sand completely at bay, the Sandy Bumz cover is a simple piece of gear that can quickly create a relatively clean space on the beach.
Sunshade and beach umbrella
Top pick
The Sun Ninja Beach Tent 4 Person is an expanse of sun-resistant (UPF 50+) spandex that stretches from its sand-ballasted corners across four vertical aluminum-tube poles, providing enough shade for four adults. Several other companies make shades similar to this model, but the Sun Ninja tent is our pick because it’s simple to set up, it works in calm and windy conditions, and it provides plenty of shade without blocking too much of your view.
The Sun Ninja tent will not last forever. Constant exposure to the sun will, over the years, break down the spandex cover. The Sun Ninja Tent has a one-year warranty — standard for shades of this type — but we’ve found some noticeable stretch in the material after three years of near-constant use in Hawaii. If you go to the beach only a few times each summer, you probably won’t notice too much. However, if you go to the beach frequently, you may prefer one of our more robust picks in our full guide to beach shelters and umbrellas.
Top pick
It seems that everyone I know has at least one story of a classic beach umbrella getting caught in the wind and flying down the beach. Thankfully, you can rest easy with the BeachBUB All-In-One Beach Umbrella System.
It can be a little fiddly to set up the small tarp and sand anchor system, but once in place, the BeachBUB umbrella is rated for winds up to 30 miles per hour. Under normal conditions, the umbrella feels more like a statue than a beach shade. It’s simply a very secure-feeling piece of equipment to settle under.
Beach chair
Top pick
If you want to soak up the rays while reclining with a cold one, get the Tommy Bahama Backpack Beach Chair. Its built-in padded backpack straps make it simple to carry down to the beach. You can easily adjust the chair between five seated positions while you’re sitting (just lift the handles, move them forward or back, and lock them back in place). Sturdy canvas backing makes the chair comfortable — and strong enough to hold 300 pounds. This chair also features a pillow, a large zippered pocket, a cupholder, and a cooler on the back (which fits up to six 12-ounce cans).
Tommy Bahama makes an alternate, less expensive version of the backpack beach chair, which has plastic, not wooden, arms — you can find it at Costco and other retailers. An ever-so-slightly larger, pricier deluxe version, which has an extra armrest pouch, is also available on the Tommy Bahama site. We recommend all three versions and suggest choosing whichever’s available and within your budget.
If you’re looking for something higher off the ground, or sturdier, see our full guide to beach chairs.
Beach totes
Top pick
The L.L.Bean Boat and Tote is best for lugging all your stuff to and from the beach. It’s made of heavyweight, 24-ounce canvas, which helps it weather the elements (though it’s not water-resistant) and allows it to stand up like a bucket — even when empty. In this bag, your valuables will be kept from prying eyes as well as protected from sand and water. The Boat and Tote features a reinforced bottom and overlapped, double-stitched seams made with nylon thread, which can resist rot better than cheap cotton.
It doesn’t have additional pockets or zippers, but that’s not a bad thing. Pockets fill with sand. And as Wirecutter founder Brian Lam discovered after casting aside six different zippered bags, zippers (unless specifically designed for salt-heavy environments) oxidize and seize up quickly in ocean air. (But if you still demand closure, the Boat and Tote is available with a zippered top.) This bag ships for free and is protected by L.L.Bean’s somewhat limited satisfaction guarantee for a year.
Top pick
The Yeti Camino 35 Carryall Tote Bag is constructed from the same material that made the Yeti Panga Waterproof Duffel such an obvious pick for a waterproof duffel bag. The trademarked ThickSkin shell is a high-density nylon coated in thick, waterproof materials that shed water and grime — it feels not dissimilar to a rain boot, except it’s more malleable. The bottom is made via EVA foam injection molding, which is a fancy way of saying this bag stands upright even while empty, so it’s easier to load and unload.
We’ve been somewhat skeptical about Yeti equipment over the years — not because it isn’t built well or doesn’t live up to the hype, but because it comes with a high price. That said, after years of testing Yeti gear, we can’t deny how long-lasting and tough it almost always is. If you’re hard on your gear or you lean toward more-adventurous outings, this may be a bag to consider.
If neither of these bags are quite right for you, check out our full guide to beach bags.
Beach cart
Top pick
The best beach carts should move well across most types of sand, be sturdy enough to carry a full cooler and other beach supplies, and ideally fold up so they can fit in the trunk of your car or bed of a pickup. The Mac Sports Heavy Duty Collapsible Folding All Terrain Utility Cart is that beach cart. The 4-inch-wide plastic wheels are large enough to displace and roll across most beaches and dirt trails. But they aren’t great in very loose sand, and they have poor traction across cement — think of a kid’s plastic bike skidding around on a sidewalk.
A fair warning: The Mac Sports cart is heavy. The whole thing, steel frame and all, weighs 24.5 pounds, and for some people it can be a little unwieldy (even when folded up). But the weight is what makes the cart so sturdy and able to carry an impressive amount across long distances, without straining you or the cart. “I haven’t tried a product in a long time that I was so stoked on immediately,” said Carl Olsen, the recently retired surfboard shaper and owner of Two Crows Surfboards in Hawaii. He noted that he liked how easily it moved over rough terrain. “With a normal wagon you have to watch the bumps and cracks and make sure to stay on the pavement.”
Coolers
Top pick
Many of the wheeled coolers we’ve tested over the years are let down by either their wheels or their handles. Most people do not need a bear-proof, roto-molded cooler, but if you want a cooler that rolls around on wheels, none of them are as well made as the Yeti Tundra Haul Hard Cooler. The arm is made from a thick-gauge welded aluminum, the quality of which you can feel immediately when you lift it. The wheels are a single-construction plastic and not hollow or feeble-feeling, like those of so many other coolers.
Remarkably, when we lifted this cooler up by the handle — fully loaded with cans, food, and many pounds of ice — it didn’t feel that different from wheeling around a high-end piece of luggage. We found the Tundra Haul Wheeled Cooler to be very nimble, especially considering that it weighs 37 pounds by itself.
Top pick
The Yeti Hopper M20 Backpack Soft Cooler is a good option if you need a backpack that can last longer than any other soft cooler available. Like all Yeti gear, the Hopper backpack verges on being overengineered for strength and durability. From the TPU-laminated nylon (which makes it waterproof and tough as nails) to the bar-tack stitching (the zigzag stitching reinforcing the shoulder straps, which increases the bag’s integrity under weight), everything on this bag is designed to last for years, through some of the toughest conditions you’ll encounter. The interior is insulated by closed-cell foam and secured with a magnetic roll-top lid. It’s not as tough as our hard-cooler picks, but it’s the toughest soft cooler we’ve tried.
If none of these coolers works for you, we have other options in our full guide to coolers.
Sunglasses
Top pick
The Goodr OG are versatile, unisex sunglasses that look good on almost any face, regardless of size or shape. They’re a riff on the classic design of the Ray-Ban Wayfarer, and they were the most widely liked of all the sunglasses we tested in this style. They’re comfortable and UV-protected and polarized, and they feel durable. For the price, the Goodr glasses are a solid value, with a simple shape that feels built to last. Goodr offers only a 30-day return window, but the glasses have a year-long warranty.
If the Goodr sunglasses aren’t quite right but you don’t want to splash out on shades, see our full guide to cheap sunglasses for more options.
Top pick
The Ombraz Classic Sunglasses have a regular frame that’s secured around your head by two strands of connected nylon cord rather than by two arms that go over your ears. They’re ideal for plenty of beach activities that require movement. The lenses are scratch-resistant, with UV protection.
We’ve used these sunglasses for a few years now, for everything from picking up trash to playing games on the beach, and we enjoy how secure they feel, even as we stoop to gather things. However, the Ombraz sunglasses are significantly more expensive than the Goodr OG sunglasses, and they’re something of a commitment. If, like some of us, you are prone to losing things, the cost may be prohibitive. A bit of anecdotal testing here, but every time I’ve pulled these out around very active people — paddle-boarding, canoe-surfing types — they almost immediately ask me where to find them.
Flip-flops
Top pick
There’s no reason to bring your best sandals to the beach. This is especially true if you’re going on vacation and you don’t want to pack heavy or bulky sandals. The men’s and women’s Indosole Essntls Flip Flops offer the best combination of quality, discreet looks, easy packability, and responsible manufacturing from recycled materials. Indosole is a Certified B Corporation, so everything about its impact — whether environmental or social or labor-related — is scored and monitored. Though the sandals can feel a little stiff for some people, we’ve found that they break in well enough after a few outings.
Top pick
If you’re looking for a sandal that will mold to your feet and look better and better with age, few options are as good as a classic pair of women’s or men’s Rainbow Sandals Single Layer Luxury Leather flip-flops. Close your eyes and imagine a classic leather sandal: a simple shape, with a single leather strap that won’t break free after you’ve walked a few miles. What you’re imagining is a pair of Rainbow Sandals. It has been that way since 1974. In Hawaii, I wear these year-round, year after year, and they only get more comfortable the more I wear them.
Straw and sun hats
Top pick
The Sunday Afternoons Sun Guardian Hat provides more protection than most straw hats, thanks to the dark fabric underside of its brim, which stops UV rays from reflecting into your face, and the strip of cloth lining the hat’s crown, which blocks sun from your scalp. The Sun Guardian Hat falls short of the UV protection of our sun hat picks, but those styles aren’t for everyone, and ultimately wearing a hat with flaws is better than no hat at all.
Best for…
The Sunday Afternoons Ultra Adventure Hat is made of a nylon and polyester blend rated UPF 50+, the highest possible protection level. Its 3.25-inch clamshell brim (the longest brim of our sun hat picks) and flowing neck skirt provide generous coverage of the face, ears, neck, and upper shoulders. In windy conditions, the stiff brim stays put and continues to provide protection, and a chin strap ensures that the hat doesn’t fly off your head.
Sunscreen
Top pick
If you’re headed on a reef-themed scuba or snorkel excursion — or even just to a beach in a region that’s home to coral habitats — you should consider using a reef-safe sunscreen. By skipping ingredients known to be harmful to reefs in large quantities, this sunscreen will lessen your environmental impact.
We like Thrive Bodyshield SPF 50. The main active ingredient is non-nano zinc oxide (23.5%), the most coral-friendly option available in the US. Zinc oxide sunscreen might conjure images of lifeguards with white noses, but of those we tested, this one was the most clear and rubbed in with minimal effort. Once on skin, Thrive’s Bodyshield SPF 50 feels less greasy than many other sunscreens. (You can read more about our research on what “reef-safe” means, and find a few more good options, in our full guide to reef-safe sunscreens.)
I’ve used Raw Elements Face + Body Cream SPF 30 almost exclusively while living in Hawaii, where reef-safe sunscreen is required by law. Similar to our reef-safe top pick, Raw Elements sunscreen uses non-nano zinc as its active ingredient (23%) and a variety of tea leaf extracts and seed butter as binders. However, it is rated to only 30 SPF.
I’ve been impressed that it stays on my skin even during long surfing sessions — especially in high summer, when the water around Honolulu feels like a plate glass mirror reflecting the sun onto my skin. If you’re concerned about wasteful packaging, most Raw Elements products come in aluminum containers, bio-resin tubes, or compostable sticks.
Beach games and toys
Lightweight beach bocce
Top pick
Flungle: ridiculous name, fun game. To play the Waboba Flungle Ball Toss Game, you throw the target ball with the tail, which gives you a little extra leverage for the toss. There are six color-matched balls that you toss towards the target; you use the tail of the target ball to measure the distance to those balls and calculate your points. The set weighs under 2 pounds, is easy to pack, and comes with a travel bag that’s about 8 inches tall (easy to stow inside a beach bag). It’s exactly what you want at the beach: simple and fun.
Flying disc
Top pick
Aerobie Pro Ring famously set the Guinness World Record in 2003 for the world’s longest throw: 1,333 feet. Chances are you don’t need it to fly that far. But the same attributes that make it such an effective flyer make it a great beach toy for kids. It’s lightweight, and the ring shape is both pliable and soft enough that small hands (or a whole arm, if you’re nimble) can catch the disc out of the air.
Sandcastle toys
Top pick
We looked for an alternative to the multitude of cheap plastic toys that fill up beaches in the summer. The Green Toys Sand Play Set is made of recycled plastic and feels more durable than your typical dollar-store sets. We also looked at biodegradable sets, which we’d love to recommend but are often out of stock. But if you can find either the Rogue Wave Compostable Beach Toy Set or the Lovelotte Eco Beach Toy Set, they’re good sets as well.
Top pick
As another alternative, the Pottery Barn Kids Beach Sand Mold Toys are made from recycled silicone. Some people prefer using silicone items to plastic, and the material tends to last longer without degrading, but it’s not something you want to discard on the beach all the same. The flexible mold of this set was something of an asset for building castle walls: It helped release the shape more easily than traditional, stiff plastic molds.
Sand sifter
Top pick
We like the Sand Dipper Treasure Digger Sifter. It’s an excellent toy for sifting through shore break and looking for shells. But it really shines at the end of the day for digging and sifting through the kids’ area, looking for lost Matchbox cars and other little toys that so often disappear in the sand.
Paddleball set
Top pick
If you’ve been to the beach in the last four decades, there’s a good chance you’ve seen the Pro Kadima Paddle Set in action. There’s not much to explain: It’s a well-made paddle set with a nice ball for whacking. Draw out a court in the sand, if you like, or simply volley away through the afternoon. The choice is yours. We did compare the Pro Kadima set with the more expensive Frescobol Paddle Set, but the handle of the latter started coming apart right out of the box.
Spikeball set
Top pick
Spikeball is an odd little game. It’s so simple and yet compulsive. Bounce a ball against a stretched nylon net on a frame and pass that ball to the next person who bounces it. We tested a competitor against the The Original Spikeball Kit, and its nylon lacked the right kind of stretch to create a satisfying bounce pass.
Water-friendly football
Top pick
I was never a football player. I was never really a sports fan, either. But few pleasures are as good and as instinctive as diving for a football into a body of water. The HydroSport Water Football won over our testers for its grip and heft without feeling too firm. We dismissed the classic Nerf Pool Beach Water Football for exactly those reasons: It was too firm and not grippy enough, especially when wet.
Kite
Top pick
Prism’s history with kite design started over 30 years ago. The company builds kites of all types and designs, including some powerful kites and foil kites. We picked two hobby kites that manage to distill all that design knowledge into little packages. The Prism Pocket Flyer Kite is a miniature foil kite that fits in your pocket, while the Prism Vertex is more of a classic kite design and only takes a few seconds to set up. We took the kites out on a beautiful day at the beach, and to be honest, we’d forgotten how much fun a kite can be.
Beach accessories
Top pick
The OM System Tough TG-7 captured the best-looking images of the cameras we tested, and its 4x zoom lens provides a wide view but zooms in far enough for portraits or architectural details. (OM System is the new name of the camera brand formerly known as Olympus.) The lens also has a wide-enough aperture to capture portraits that make your subject stand out from the background.
As for its tough-cam bona fides: It works underwater as deep as 50 feet below the surface, it can tolerate falls as far as 7 feet, and it can withstand cold down to 14 degrees Fahrenheit. For additional options, take a look at our full guide to underwater cameras.
Surf shirts, board shorts, and other surf clothing
Tops
Top pick
Sport fabrics have come a long way in the past decade. To shelter your skin from the sun, you no longer need to squeeze into a thin, skin-tight rash guard. We’ve tested shirts from five companies over seven years, and nothing comes close to the quality, construction, or material design offered by Bluesmiths. The hydrophobic material repels water, so the shirts dry incredibly quickly, even when you’re sitting on a surfboard or stand-up paddle board. The drier you are, the more comfortable you’ll be in the elements.
Unlike most surf shirts, the Bluesmiths Kanaha Hydrophobic Shirts (women’s and men’s) are fitted with a pocket, key leash, and front loop for lacing through your board shorts (it keeps everything in place, even if you take a tumble). The shirts offer a UPF protection of 35 (wet or dry). They are also available in a short-sleeve design. In our testing, the Kanaha shirts have been far more durable and less prone to stretching out than other shirts, which were made from looser polyester and elastane blends.
Top pick
If you want a shirt that provides optimal sun protection, with silky-smooth, quick-drying fabric and an extra back pocket, consider the Patagonia Rø Surf Hoody (currently available only in men’s sizes). If you expect to surf in scorching heat, you might want to get a lighter color. Like our other picks, this shirt provides 50+ UPF under intense sun. Patagonia’s Rø series is lightweight, feels virtually seamless, and offers surfers the most upper-body sun protection without compromising mobility (or vision).
The hood has a stiff built-in visor (which provides enough shade to give your eyes an appreciable break from the sun’s glare), and it holds steady during duck dives (when you’re diving underneath a breaking wave with your surfboard). It stays out of your way, even when you have it pushed back around your neck (at which point it offers excellent sun protection for your neck). The back has a zippered pouch, which is big enough to store wax, sunscreen, reef booties, or even a small hydration pack (perfect for surf spots that require long paddles). Even with all of these bells and whistles, the Rø Surf Hoody is skintight, with a connector that loops into the tie string on your board shorts and thumb loops to keep your shirttail and sleeves from riding up. It’s these little touches that set this shirt apart from O’Neill’s similar model (although we do very much like the waist-level drawstring on the O’Neill model).
Shorts
Top pick
There are few things worse when you’re surfing than trying to move or pop up on your board and having your legs restricted by your shorts, either as they catch on your leg or somehow refuse to move with you. The O’Neill Hyperfreak Boardshorts bypass that issue. They’re pliable in every direction, incredibly comfortable, and long-lasting. I’ve worn several pairs for over two years of very regular surfing — at least a couple of sessions a week — and only recently had to retire a pair when the side pocket zipper broke. The Hyperfreak shorts are held in place with a sturdy drawstring that passes through four gusseted holes, and they stay on securely as long as they’re tied tightly.
A surfer’s guide to bikini shopping
Anyone who’s searched for a bikini knows there are innumerable swimwear brands in the world, all focused on various activities and styles and body shapes. It’s difficult to recommend a specific bikini shape or cut for most people, since the variety of choices and styles and fits are too individual for any single pick to be useful. That said, after years of trying out some 14 swimwear brands while surfing and swimming — and looking for bikini sets that will withstand the ravages of the sun and stay in place comfortably — my wife (the primary tester of these suits) keeps the following companies at the top of her list.
For a balance of high activity and style: Dos Gardenias
Dos Gardenias uses “100% regenerated nylon fiber made from pre- and postconsumer waste, like fishing nets, industrial plastic waste, and fabric scraps.” The look is defined by simple yet fashionable cuts and sturdy materials. Although its offerings are not specifically designed around sport, we’ve found the shapes and materials to be remarkably secure while surfing, swimming, and diving.
For more-casual days at the beach: Maaji and OneOne Swimwear
Maaji offers many more cuts and patterns than Dos Gardenias. Though not all of Maaji’s cuts are suited for strenuous activity, they’re made to similarly high standards and will last over time without stretching out in the sun. Maaji is also a registered B Corp.
OneOne Swimwear is a Colombian company, and its style leans toward offering a bit less coverage, which may or may not be to everyone’s taste. A couple of things stand out: One is this company’s choice of materials, the sturdiest of all the materials from brands we’ve tested. Also, OneOne suits feature deep hem cuts — most of the tops, for instance, have inch-wide straps and banding, so they feel secure without biting. My wife reaches for OneOne suits the most, and they still hold up after almost daily use. OneOne isn’t as sustainably focused as the other companies we’ve mentioned, but it makes all its suits on demand, which reduces waste, and it reports that 50% of the bikinis are made from recycled material.
Surfboards
Among the thousands of boards, models, and brands to choose from, we recommend two somewhat universal soft-top models for families and casual beachgoers: the Wavestorm and the Lost RNF from Catch Surf. These are legitimate boards that are used everywhere from 1-inch-high whitewater to well above Jaws in Maui. Yet both boards are still, at their core, family-friendly beach toys — best for throwing in the car with everything else and not having to worry too much about them.
Top pick
If you’re looking for an inexpensive surfboard, there’s one obvious and incredibly popular choice: the Wavestorm. To determine how tough the Wavestorm is, we’ve spent years riding it in all kinds of conditions, including a perfect overhead day at South Carolina’s Folly Beach (courtesy of Tropical Storm Colin) and several winters on the North Shore of Hawaii. The boards flex considerably more than fiberglass, and their soft fins slide out in steep surf, which translates to less speed and maneuverability. But that’s noticeable only if you’ve been surfing for a while.
A foam board is a sure bet for kids and adults who want to play in the water. “The bottom line is you want to make sure that a beginner can get up on their feet during their first time surfing, and the Wavestorm will do that,” said Jenny Brown, owner of Charleston’s Shaka Surf School. “It’s safe, cheap, and effective.”
Top pick
If you’re just starting to learn to surf as an adult, the Lost RNF from Catch Surf isn’t the right board, unless you’re committed to a long, albeit potentially rewarding, struggle. However, this soft-top version of the legendary RNF (Round Nose Fish) is great for younger children to learn on (since they don’t need as much volume in a board) or for those who want to challenge themselves as they move toward smaller boards.
The soft-top RNF is looser and plenty of fun in the water, if you know a bit about what you’re doing. It’s also smaller than the 8-foot Wavestorm. You can pick from three sizes — 5 feet 5 inches, 5 feet 11 inches, and 6 feet 5 inches — though we recommend the 5-foot-11-inch model for most adults. Incidentally, if you live near high-traffic beaches or beaches that are frequently blackballed, taking the fins out of the RNF or bringing Catch Surf’s Beater would allow you to get out in the water on a board without running afoul of the rules.
Surf accessories
Top pick
If you’re a beginner surfer, here’s a basic truth: Wax is wax. So buy what you can get your hands on and apply it correctly, using a wax comb as needed (here’s a good video primer). And match it to the temperature of the water you’ll be surfing in, base coat first (this part is crucial because waxes designed for colder water will melt off in hot water, and hot-water waxes can get too hard and slippery in cold water). The local surf report — or even a local — can tell you what the water temperature is, so you’ll know which wax to buy. As your surfing progresses, you may find that you prefer one brand over another, but that’s entirely subjective and respective to your style of surfing.
We’ve spent years trying most brands, and Sticky Bumps remains our go-to bar of wax for any board. It’s reliable and comes in a variety of temperature grades, and the block shape is easy to split in half and applies evenly. Though perhaps not as iconic as Sex Wax and not as sticky as the chest-hair-pulling, aerial-enabling Fu Wax, Sticky Bumps remains the most reliable and well-balanced paraffin wax available for any surfer, no matter their ability.
But if you want an alternative wax that’s not made with petroleum-based paraffin, try Matunas Organic Surf Wax. It’s among the cheapest and most environmentally friendly waxes available in the US — made from jasmine and leftover plant-based material from the company’s farm in Santa Cruz, California. A handful of Wirecutter testers tried it while surfing juicy waves in Hawaii and at Folly Beach in South Carolina. We all agree it applies just as evenly and solidly as artificial waxes we’ve used in the past, and it smells nice.
This article was edited by Ria Misra and Christine Ryan.
The research
How we picked and tested
If you’ve ever traveled to the beach and been at least partly responsible for gear, comfort, and fun, you know that relaxing in the sand takes hard work. We’ve spent almost a decade on beaches all over Hawaii, California, and South Carolina, digging in the sand and running out into the surf.
In 2025 three Wirecutter staffers and a group of eight testers, from kids to adults, ventured to several Hawaiian beaches over the course of three days to update our testing. We hauled and pitched sun shades and umbrellas. We packed beach totes, towed coolers, laid out (and on) beach towels, flew kites, paddled balls, and threw frisbees and … flungles.
But before all this fun in the sun, we spent a solid week on research to find the best-quality gear to test. For all of the items we recommend in this guide, there are hundreds that we decided weren’t worth our time (or your money).
Beach towels
Top pick
The Brooklinen Beach Towel measures 34 by 70 inches, and it has a velour face on one side, which has a soft and velvety feel, and an absorbent terry weave on the back. Made in Portugal, this heavy-weight towel is rated 550 grams per square meter — 100 GSM more than most medium-weight towels we tested. Most towels range from 300 to 900 GSM, and anything above 600 is considered premium. We could feel this heavier weight in our hands and when the towel was draped over our bodies — it’s a pleasure. That said, the Brooklinen Beach Towel is three times the price of the Turkish towel we recommend, and it’s an extra luxury that may not be that important to everyone. Ultimately, this remains a block of woven cotton that you spread out on the sand. But what a towel!
Budget pick
If the Brooklinen Beach Towel is out of stock, try the L.L.Bean Seaside Beach Towel. It’s a medium-weight towel, measuring 450 GSM (100 GSM less than our top pick), and our testers enjoyed the feel of its fluffy cotton. It absorbs water very well and remains soft even after multiple washes. Its sewn edge is resistant to fraying.
Budget pick
One downside to large towels like our picks from Brooklinen or L.L.Bean is they take up a lot of space in a bag. If you prefer a smaller, lightweight beach towel, the cotton Huckberry Mediterranean Turkish Towel is a terrific, inexpensive option (and it’s good for travel).
The Huckberry towels are Oeko-Tex–certified, which means they should be free of potentially harmful substances, such as heavy metals, formaldehyde, and plasticizers. One thing to be aware of: Staff members who’ve followed the slightly persnickety care instructions (wash on gentle cycle in cold water with very little detergent and no softener, and, if possible, air-dry) report no pilling. However, one staff member treats her Huckberry towels like regular towels (aka, she gives them no special treatment), and she says they pilled slightly after just a few washes.
However, if none of these towels works for you, we have other options in our full guide to beach towels.
Top pick
Made from 100% Turkish cotton, the Sand Cloud Terra Hooded Poncho Youth has a terry-cloth interior that improves absorption and drying. The slightly oversized hood is roomy enough to protect young faces from the sun, and the side pockets are great for securing knickknacks. It conveniently turns a towel into a wrap that you can put on young bodies determined to wriggle free of everything.
Infant sand barrier
Top pick
As great as it is to lie on a towel in the sand, it’s not the best when you’re trying to manage babies on the beach. The Sandy Bumz Outdoor Picnic Ground Cover is a simple, hexagonally shaped polyester sheet. It’s 7 feet across, with an 8-inch-high semirigid frame around the edge that acts as a small barrier for debris. (The frame’s wall is light enough that it won’t hurt if you fall on it, but it is strong enough to remain rigid in the wind.) When you’re packing up, the mat bends into a kind of origami shape, about 10 by 34 inches. Though nothing will keep sand completely at bay, the Sandy Bumz cover is a simple piece of gear that can quickly create a relatively clean space on the beach.
Sunshade and beach umbrella
Top pick
The Sun Ninja Beach Tent 4 Person is an expanse of sun-resistant (UPF 50+) spandex that stretches from its sand-ballasted corners across four vertical aluminum-tube poles, providing enough shade for four adults. Several other companies make shades similar to this model, but the Sun Ninja tent is our pick because it’s simple to set up, it works in calm and windy conditions, and it provides plenty of shade without blocking too much of your view.
The Sun Ninja tent will not last forever. Constant exposure to the sun will, over the years, break down the spandex cover. The Sun Ninja Tent has a one-year warranty — standard for shades of this type — but we’ve found some noticeable stretch in the material after three years of near-constant use in Hawaii. If you go to the beach only a few times each summer, you probably won’t notice too much. However, if you go to the beach frequently, you may prefer one of our more robust picks in our full guide to beach shelters and umbrellas.
Top pick
It seems that everyone I know has at least one story of a classic beach umbrella getting caught in the wind and flying down the beach. Thankfully, you can rest easy with the BeachBUB All-In-One Beach Umbrella System.
It can be a little fiddly to set up the small tarp and sand anchor system, but once in place, the BeachBUB umbrella is rated for winds up to 30 miles per hour. Under normal conditions, the umbrella feels more like a statue than a beach shade. It’s simply a very secure-feeling piece of equipment to settle under.
Beach chair
Top pick
If you want to soak up the rays while reclining with a cold one, get the Tommy Bahama Backpack Beach Chair. Its built-in padded backpack straps make it simple to carry down to the beach. You can easily adjust the chair between five seated positions while you’re sitting (just lift the handles, move them forward or back, and lock them back in place). Sturdy canvas backing makes the chair comfortable — and strong enough to hold 300 pounds. This chair also features a pillow, a large zippered pocket, a cupholder, and a cooler on the back (which fits up to six 12-ounce cans).
Tommy Bahama makes an alternate, less expensive version of the backpack beach chair, which has plastic, not wooden, arms — you can find it at Costco and other retailers. An ever-so-slightly larger, pricier deluxe version, which has an extra armrest pouch, is also available on the Tommy Bahama site. We recommend all three versions and suggest choosing whichever’s available and within your budget.
If you’re looking for something higher off the ground, or sturdier, see our full guide to beach chairs.
Beach totes
Top pick
The L.L.Bean Boat and Tote is best for lugging all your stuff to and from the beach. It’s made of heavyweight, 24-ounce canvas, which helps it weather the elements (though it’s not water-resistant) and allows it to stand up like a bucket — even when empty. In this bag, your valuables will be kept from prying eyes as well as protected from sand and water. The Boat and Tote features a reinforced bottom and overlapped, double-stitched seams made with nylon thread, which can resist rot better than cheap cotton.
It doesn’t have additional pockets or zippers, but that’s not a bad thing. Pockets fill with sand. And as Wirecutter founder Brian Lam discovered after casting aside six different zippered bags, zippers (unless specifically designed for salt-heavy environments) oxidize and seize up quickly in ocean air. (But if you still demand closure, the Boat and Tote is available with a zippered top.) This bag ships for free and is protected by L.L.Bean’s somewhat limited satisfaction guarantee for a year.
Top pick
The Yeti Camino 35 Carryall Tote Bag is constructed from the same material that made the Yeti Panga Waterproof Duffel such an obvious pick for a waterproof duffel bag. The trademarked ThickSkin shell is a high-density nylon coated in thick, waterproof materials that shed water and grime — it feels not dissimilar to a rain boot, except it’s more malleable. The bottom is made via EVA foam injection molding, which is a fancy way of saying this bag stands upright even while empty, so it’s easier to load and unload.
We’ve been somewhat skeptical about Yeti equipment over the years — not because it isn’t built well or doesn’t live up to the hype, but because it comes with a high price. That said, after years of testing Yeti gear, we can’t deny how long-lasting and tough it almost always is. If you’re hard on your gear or you lean toward more-adventurous outings, this may be a bag to consider.
If neither of these bags are quite right for you, check out our full guide to beach bags.
Beach cart
Top pick
The best beach carts should move well across most types of sand, be sturdy enough to carry a full cooler and other beach supplies, and ideally fold up so they can fit in the trunk of your car or bed of a pickup. The Mac Sports Heavy Duty Collapsible Folding All Terrain Utility Cart is that beach cart. The 4-inch-wide plastic wheels are large enough to displace and roll across most beaches and dirt trails. But they aren’t great in very loose sand, and they have poor traction across cement — think of a kid’s plastic bike skidding around on a sidewalk.
A fair warning: The Mac Sports cart is heavy. The whole thing, steel frame and all, weighs 24.5 pounds, and for some people it can be a little unwieldy (even when folded up). But the weight is what makes the cart so sturdy and able to carry an impressive amount across long distances, without straining you or the cart. “I haven’t tried a product in a long time that I was so stoked on immediately,” said Carl Olsen, the recently retired surfboard shaper and owner of Two Crows Surfboards in Hawaii. He noted that he liked how easily it moved over rough terrain. “With a normal wagon you have to watch the bumps and cracks and make sure to stay on the pavement.”
Coolers
Top pick
Many of the wheeled coolers we’ve tested over the years are let down by either their wheels or their handles. Most people do not need a bear-proof, roto-molded cooler, but if you want a cooler that rolls around on wheels, none of them are as well made as the Yeti Tundra Haul Hard Cooler. The arm is made from a thick-gauge welded aluminum, the quality of which you can feel immediately when you lift it. The wheels are a single-construction plastic and not hollow or feeble-feeling, like those of so many other coolers.
Remarkably, when we lifted this cooler up by the handle — fully loaded with cans, food, and many pounds of ice — it didn’t feel that different from wheeling around a high-end piece of luggage. We found the Tundra Haul Wheeled Cooler to be very nimble, especially considering that it weighs 37 pounds by itself.
Top pick
The Yeti Hopper M20 Backpack Soft Cooler is a good option if you need a backpack that can last longer than any other soft cooler available. Like all Yeti gear, the Hopper backpack verges on being overengineered for strength and durability. From the TPU-laminated nylon (which makes it waterproof and tough as nails) to the bar-tack stitching (the zigzag stitching reinforcing the shoulder straps, which increases the bag’s integrity under weight), everything on this bag is designed to last for years, through some of the toughest conditions you’ll encounter. The interior is insulated by closed-cell foam and secured with a magnetic roll-top lid. It’s not as tough as our hard-cooler picks, but it’s the toughest soft cooler we’ve tried.
If none of these coolers works for you, we have other options in our full guide to coolers.
Sunglasses
Top pick
The Goodr OG are versatile, unisex sunglasses that look good on almost any face, regardless of size or shape. They’re a riff on the classic design of the Ray-Ban Wayfarer, and they were the most widely liked of all the sunglasses we tested in this style. They’re comfortable and UV-protected and polarized, and they feel durable. For the price, the Goodr glasses are a solid value, with a simple shape that feels built to last. Goodr offers only a 30-day return window, but the glasses have a year-long warranty.
If the Goodr sunglasses aren’t quite right but you don’t want to splash out on shades, see our full guide to cheap sunglasses for more options.
Top pick
The Ombraz Classic Sunglasses have a regular frame that’s secured around your head by two strands of connected nylon cord rather than by two arms that go over your ears. They’re ideal for plenty of beach activities that require movement. The lenses are scratch-resistant, with UV protection.
We’ve used these sunglasses for a few years now, for everything from picking up trash to playing games on the beach, and we enjoy how secure they feel, even as we stoop to gather things. However, the Ombraz sunglasses are significantly more expensive than the Goodr OG sunglasses, and they’re something of a commitment. If, like some of us, you are prone to losing things, the cost may be prohibitive. A bit of anecdotal testing here, but every time I’ve pulled these out around very active people — paddle-boarding, canoe-surfing types — they almost immediately ask me where to find them.
Flip-flops
Top pick
There’s no reason to bring your best sandals to the beach. This is especially true if you’re going on vacation and you don’t want to pack heavy or bulky sandals. The men’s and women’s Indosole Essntls Flip Flops offer the best combination of quality, discreet looks, easy packability, and responsible manufacturing from recycled materials. Indosole is a Certified B Corporation, so everything about its impact — whether environmental or social or labor-related — is scored and monitored. Though the sandals can feel a little stiff for some people, we’ve found that they break in well enough after a few outings.
Top pick
If you’re looking for a sandal that will mold to your feet and look better and better with age, few options are as good as a classic pair of women’s or men’s Rainbow Sandals Single Layer Luxury Leather flip-flops. Close your eyes and imagine a classic leather sandal: a simple shape, with a single leather strap that won’t break free after you’ve walked a few miles. What you’re imagining is a pair of Rainbow Sandals. It has been that way since 1974. In Hawaii, I wear these year-round, year after year, and they only get more comfortable the more I wear them.
Straw and sun hats
Top pick
The Sunday Afternoons Sun Guardian Hat provides more protection than most straw hats, thanks to the dark fabric underside of its brim, which stops UV rays from reflecting into your face, and the strip of cloth lining the hat’s crown, which blocks sun from your scalp. The Sun Guardian Hat falls short of the UV protection of our sun hat picks, but those styles aren’t for everyone, and ultimately wearing a hat with flaws is better than no hat at all.
Best for…
The Sunday Afternoons Ultra Adventure Hat is made of a nylon and polyester blend rated UPF 50+, the highest possible protection level. Its 3.25-inch clamshell brim (the longest brim of our sun hat picks) and flowing neck skirt provide generous coverage of the face, ears, neck, and upper shoulders. In windy conditions, the stiff brim stays put and continues to provide protection, and a chin strap ensures that the hat doesn’t fly off your head.
Sunscreen
Top pick
If you’re headed on a reef-themed scuba or snorkel excursion — or even just to a beach in a region that’s home to coral habitats — you should consider using a reef-safe sunscreen. By skipping ingredients known to be harmful to reefs in large quantities, this sunscreen will lessen your environmental impact.
We like Thrive Bodyshield SPF 50. The main active ingredient is non-nano zinc oxide (23.5%), the most coral-friendly option available in the US. Zinc oxide sunscreen might conjure images of lifeguards with white noses, but of those we tested, this one was the most clear and rubbed in with minimal effort. Once on skin, Thrive’s Bodyshield SPF 50 feels less greasy than many other sunscreens. (You can read more about our research on what “reef-safe” means, and find a few more good options, in our full guide to reef-safe sunscreens.)
I’ve used Raw Elements Face + Body Cream SPF 30 almost exclusively while living in Hawaii, where reef-safe sunscreen is required by law. Similar to our reef-safe top pick, Raw Elements sunscreen uses non-nano zinc as its active ingredient (23%) and a variety of tea leaf extracts and seed butter as binders. However, it is rated to only 30 SPF.
I’ve been impressed that it stays on my skin even during long surfing sessions — especially in high summer, when the water around Honolulu feels like a plate glass mirror reflecting the sun onto my skin. If you’re concerned about wasteful packaging, most Raw Elements products come in aluminum containers, bio-resin tubes, or compostable sticks.
Beach games and toys
Lightweight beach bocce
Top pick
Flungle: ridiculous name, fun game. To play the Waboba Flungle Ball Toss Game, you throw the target ball with the tail, which gives you a little extra leverage for the toss. There are six color-matched balls that you toss towards the target; you use the tail of the target ball to measure the distance to those balls and calculate your points. The set weighs under 2 pounds, is easy to pack, and comes with a travel bag that’s about 8 inches tall (easy to stow inside a beach bag). It’s exactly what you want at the beach: simple and fun.
Flying disc
Top pick
Aerobie Pro Ring famously set the Guinness World Record in 2003 for the world’s longest throw: 1,333 feet. Chances are you don’t need it to fly that far. But the same attributes that make it such an effective flyer make it a great beach toy for kids. It’s lightweight, and the ring shape is both pliable and soft enough that small hands (or a whole arm, if you’re nimble) can catch the disc out of the air.
Sandcastle toys
Top pick
We looked for an alternative to the multitude of cheap plastic toys that fill up beaches in the summer. The Green Toys Sand Play Set is made of recycled plastic and feels more durable than your typical dollar-store sets. We also looked at biodegradable sets, which we’d love to recommend but are often out of stock. But if you can find either the Rogue Wave Compostable Beach Toy Set or the Lovelotte Eco Beach Toy Set, they’re good sets as well.
Top pick
As another alternative, the Pottery Barn Kids Beach Sand Mold Toys are made from recycled silicone. Some people prefer using silicone items to plastic, and the material tends to last longer without degrading, but it’s not something you want to discard on the beach all the same. The flexible mold of this set was something of an asset for building castle walls: It helped release the shape more easily than traditional, stiff plastic molds.
Sand sifter
Top pick
We like the Sand Dipper Treasure Digger Sifter. It’s an excellent toy for sifting through shore break and looking for shells. But it really shines at the end of the day for digging and sifting through the kids’ area, looking for lost Matchbox cars and other little toys that so often disappear in the sand.
Paddleball set
Top pick
If you’ve been to the beach in the last four decades, there’s a good chance you’ve seen the Pro Kadima Paddle Set in action. There’s not much to explain: It’s a well-made paddle set with a nice ball for whacking. Draw out a court in the sand, if you like, or simply volley away through the afternoon. The choice is yours. We did compare the Pro Kadima set with the more expensive Frescobol Paddle Set, but the handle of the latter started coming apart right out of the box.
Spikeball set
Top pick
Spikeball is an odd little game. It’s so simple and yet compulsive. Bounce a ball against a stretched nylon net on a frame and pass that ball to the next person who bounces it. We tested a competitor against the The Original Spikeball Kit, and its nylon lacked the right kind of stretch to create a satisfying bounce pass.
Water-friendly football
Top pick
I was never a football player. I was never really a sports fan, either. But few pleasures are as good and as instinctive as diving for a football into a body of water. The HydroSport Water Football won over our testers for its grip and heft without feeling too firm. We dismissed the classic Nerf Pool Beach Water Football for exactly those reasons: It was too firm and not grippy enough, especially when wet.
Kite
Top pick
Prism’s history with kite design started over 30 years ago. The company builds kites of all types and designs, including some powerful kites and foil kites. We picked two hobby kites that manage to distill all that design knowledge into little packages. The Prism Pocket Flyer Kite is a miniature foil kite that fits in your pocket, while the Prism Vertex is more of a classic kite design and only takes a few seconds to set up. We took the kites out on a beautiful day at the beach, and to be honest, we’d forgotten how much fun a kite can be.
Beach accessories
Top pick
The OM System Tough TG-7 captured the best-looking images of the cameras we tested, and its 4x zoom lens provides a wide view but zooms in far enough for portraits or architectural details. (OM System is the new name of the camera brand formerly known as Olympus.) The lens also has a wide-enough aperture to capture portraits that make your subject stand out from the background.
As for its tough-cam bona fides: It works underwater as deep as 50 feet below the surface, it can tolerate falls as far as 7 feet, and it can withstand cold down to 14 degrees Fahrenheit. For additional options, take a look at our full guide to underwater cameras.
Surf shirts, board shorts, and other surf clothing
Tops
Top pick
Sport fabrics have come a long way in the past decade. To shelter your skin from the sun, you no longer need to squeeze into a thin, skin-tight rash guard. We’ve tested shirts from five companies over seven years, and nothing comes close to the quality, construction, or material design offered by Bluesmiths. The hydrophobic material repels water, so the shirts dry incredibly quickly, even when you’re sitting on a surfboard or stand-up paddle board. The drier you are, the more comfortable you’ll be in the elements.
Unlike most surf shirts, the Bluesmiths Kanaha Hydrophobic Shirts (women’s and men’s) are fitted with a pocket, key leash, and front loop for lacing through your board shorts (it keeps everything in place, even if you take a tumble). The shirts offer a UPF protection of 35 (wet or dry). They are also available in a short-sleeve design. In our testing, the Kanaha shirts have been far more durable and less prone to stretching out than other shirts, which were made from looser polyester and elastane blends.
Top pick
If you want a shirt that provides optimal sun protection, with silky-smooth, quick-drying fabric and an extra back pocket, consider the Patagonia Rø Surf Hoody (currently available only in men’s sizes). If you expect to surf in scorching heat, you might want to get a lighter color. Like our other picks, this shirt provides 50+ UPF under intense sun. Patagonia’s Rø series is lightweight, feels virtually seamless, and offers surfers the most upper-body sun protection without compromising mobility (or vision).
The hood has a stiff built-in visor (which provides enough shade to give your eyes an appreciable break from the sun’s glare), and it holds steady during duck dives (when you’re diving underneath a breaking wave with your surfboard). It stays out of your way, even when you have it pushed back around your neck (at which point it offers excellent sun protection for your neck). The back has a zippered pouch, which is big enough to store wax, sunscreen, reef booties, or even a small hydration pack (perfect for surf spots that require long paddles). Even with all of these bells and whistles, the Rø Surf Hoody is skintight, with a connector that loops into the tie string on your board shorts and thumb loops to keep your shirttail and sleeves from riding up. It’s these little touches that set this shirt apart from O’Neill’s similar model (although we do very much like the waist-level drawstring on the O’Neill model).
Shorts
Top pick
There are few things worse when you’re surfing than trying to move or pop up on your board and having your legs restricted by your shorts, either as they catch on your leg or somehow refuse to move with you. The O’Neill Hyperfreak Boardshorts bypass that issue. They’re pliable in every direction, incredibly comfortable, and long-lasting. I’ve worn several pairs for over two years of very regular surfing — at least a couple of sessions a week — and only recently had to retire a pair when the side pocket zipper broke. The Hyperfreak shorts are held in place with a sturdy drawstring that passes through four gusseted holes, and they stay on securely as long as they’re tied tightly.
A surfer’s guide to bikini shopping
Anyone who’s searched for a bikini knows there are innumerable swimwear brands in the world, all focused on various activities and styles and body shapes. It’s difficult to recommend a specific bikini shape or cut for most people, since the variety of choices and styles and fits are too individual for any single pick to be useful. That said, after years of trying out some 14 swimwear brands while surfing and swimming — and looking for bikini sets that will withstand the ravages of the sun and stay in place comfortably — my wife (the primary tester of these suits) keeps the following companies at the top of her list.
For a balance of high activity and style: Dos Gardenias
Dos Gardenias uses “100% regenerated nylon fiber made from pre- and postconsumer waste, like fishing nets, industrial plastic waste, and fabric scraps.” The look is defined by simple yet fashionable cuts and sturdy materials. Although its offerings are not specifically designed around sport, we’ve found the shapes and materials to be remarkably secure while surfing, swimming, and diving.
For more-casual days at the beach: Maaji and OneOne Swimwear
Maaji offers many more cuts and patterns than Dos Gardenias. Though not all of Maaji’s cuts are suited for strenuous activity, they’re made to similarly high standards and will last over time without stretching out in the sun. Maaji is also a registered B Corp.
OneOne Swimwear is a Colombian company, and its style leans toward offering a bit less coverage, which may or may not be to everyone’s taste. A couple of things stand out: One is this company’s choice of materials, the sturdiest of all the materials from brands we’ve tested. Also, OneOne suits feature deep hem cuts — most of the tops, for instance, have inch-wide straps and banding, so they feel secure without biting. My wife reaches for OneOne suits the most, and they still hold up after almost daily use. OneOne isn’t as sustainably focused as the other companies we’ve mentioned, but it makes all its suits on demand, which reduces waste, and it reports that 50% of the bikinis are made from recycled material.
Surfboards
Among the thousands of boards, models, and brands to choose from, we recommend two somewhat universal soft-top models for families and casual beachgoers: the Wavestorm and the Lost RNF from Catch Surf. These are legitimate boards that are used everywhere from 1-inch-high whitewater to well above Jaws in Maui. Yet both boards are still, at their core, family-friendly beach toys — best for throwing in the car with everything else and not having to worry too much about them.
Top pick
If you’re looking for an inexpensive surfboard, there’s one obvious and incredibly popular choice: the Wavestorm. To determine how tough the Wavestorm is, we’ve spent years riding it in all kinds of conditions, including a perfect overhead day at South Carolina’s Folly Beach (courtesy of Tropical Storm Colin) and several winters on the North Shore of Hawaii. The boards flex considerably more than fiberglass, and their soft fins slide out in steep surf, which translates to less speed and maneuverability. But that’s noticeable only if you’ve been surfing for a while.
A foam board is a sure bet for kids and adults who want to play in the water. “The bottom line is you want to make sure that a beginner can get up on their feet during their first time surfing, and the Wavestorm will do that,” said Jenny Brown, owner of Charleston’s Shaka Surf School. “It’s safe, cheap, and effective.”
Top pick
If you’re just starting to learn to surf as an adult, the Lost RNF from Catch Surf isn’t the right board, unless you’re committed to a long, albeit potentially rewarding, struggle. However, this soft-top version of the legendary RNF (Round Nose Fish) is great for younger children to learn on (since they don’t need as much volume in a board) or for those who want to challenge themselves as they move toward smaller boards.
The soft-top RNF is looser and plenty of fun in the water, if you know a bit about what you’re doing. It’s also smaller than the 8-foot Wavestorm. You can pick from three sizes — 5 feet 5 inches, 5 feet 11 inches, and 6 feet 5 inches — though we recommend the 5-foot-11-inch model for most adults. Incidentally, if you live near high-traffic beaches or beaches that are frequently blackballed, taking the fins out of the RNF or bringing Catch Surf’s Beater would allow you to get out in the water on a board without running afoul of the rules.
Surf accessories
Top pick
If you’re a beginner surfer, here’s a basic truth: Wax is wax. So buy what you can get your hands on and apply it correctly, using a wax comb as needed (here’s a good video primer). And match it to the temperature of the water you’ll be surfing in, base coat first (this part is crucial because waxes designed for colder water will melt off in hot water, and hot-water waxes can get too hard and slippery in cold water). The local surf report — or even a local — can tell you what the water temperature is, so you’ll know which wax to buy. As your surfing progresses, you may find that you prefer one brand over another, but that’s entirely subjective and respective to your style of surfing.
We’ve spent years trying most brands, and Sticky Bumps remains our go-to bar of wax for any board. It’s reliable and comes in a variety of temperature grades, and the block shape is easy to split in half and applies evenly. Though perhaps not as iconic as Sex Wax and not as sticky as the chest-hair-pulling, aerial-enabling Fu Wax, Sticky Bumps remains the most reliable and well-balanced paraffin wax available for any surfer, no matter their ability.
But if you want an alternative wax that’s not made with petroleum-based paraffin, try Matunas Organic Surf Wax. It’s among the cheapest and most environmentally friendly waxes available in the US — made from jasmine and leftover plant-based material from the company’s farm in Santa Cruz, California. A handful of Wirecutter testers tried it while surfing juicy waves in Hawaii and at Folly Beach in South Carolina. We all agree it applies just as evenly and solidly as artificial waxes we’ve used in the past, and it smells nice.
This article was edited by Ria Misra and Christine Ryan.
