Beginners bodyboard equipment
This is the basic equipment you’ll need to get you out there.
- A bodyboard
- A leash
- A wetsuit
- A rash vest
- Some swim fins
- Surf Wax
Let’s tackle each one of these in order.
The board
There are a few considerations to be taken into account when buying your first bodyboard.
First you need the right size for you, bodyboard come in a range of sizes and you need the right size for you.
At its most basic level, when you put the board on the floor the nose of the board should be level with your belly button but you also have to take into account your weight and size of the waves you are mostly going to be riding.
Below is a sizing chart.
Board size (in inches) Your height (in feet and inches) Your Weight (in stone)
36 5’2 to 5’4 up to 7 ½ stone
38 5’4 to 5’6 up to 8 ½ stone
40 5’6 to 5’8 up to 9 ½ stone
40.5 5’7 to 5’9 up to 11 stone
41 5’8 to 5’9 up to 12 stone
41.5 5’9 to 5’10 up to 13 stone
42 5’10 to 6’0 up to 14 stone
42.5 6’0 to 6’2 up to 15 stone
43 6’2 to 6’4 up to 16 stone
44 6’2 to 6’4 up to 17 stone
45 6’4 to 6’6 up to 18 stone
46 6’6 and up 18 stone up
These boards will get you started, and won’t cost you the earth!
36″ vision razor board
40″ vision razor board
42″ vision razor board
As I mentioned above, if the waves you will normally been surfing are generally on the small size, I’d recommend a slightly larger board. At the other end of that spectrum, if your break serves up bigger waves than a smaller board would be better.
Next you need to take into account the water temperature. If you’re regularly going to be surfing in the cold waters around the UK, you’ll need a bodyboard with a PE core. If you’re lucky enough to live in a part of the world that has warm waters, look for a board with a PP core.
If you live in a cold water area, but are looking to travel to warmer climes with your board, and don’t want to buy more boards than you need to you’ll be needing a hybrid core, something like a paradox EFC core that you get in some Found boards.
The cores are important as each one reacts to the water temp and affects the stiffness of the board.
The leash
You really need a leash or you’ll be doing a lot of swimming and shelling out for new boards often!
There are two basic types of leash:
- Bicep leash
- Wrist leash
I prefer a bicep leash as it feels more comfortable than a wrist leash and not as restrictive. It’s worth spending a bit extra on a decent leash (I’d say in the £20 – 30 range) as it would last longer and won’t break as easily.
This is a decent leash!
The wetsuit
Unless you live in an area with lovely warm seas, you’re going to need a wetsuit – especially in the UK!
For the warmer months, you’ll need at least a 3mm suit. For the colder times a 5mm suit is a must.
There are loads of different configurations to wet suits and different makes have slightly different fits.
I would love to be able to tell you “if you’re this height and weight you’ll need this size suit” but that would be foolish of me! This is one occasion where you really need to go to a shop and try some on for size.
The rash vest
A rash vest is a piece of clothing you wear under your wet suit. As the name suggests, it prevents you from getting chaffed after a long session in the water. It will also keep you warmer!
Rash vest come in various types: Long sleeved, short sleeved, thermal vests – even battery powered heated vests.
An essential piece of equipment.
Swim fins
As most of the power you’ll be needing for paddling out, catching waves etc will be leg power, you need some extra thrust in that department. This is where fins come in. Unwieldy on the land, granted, but essential in the water. You’ll need them if you’re going to have any chance of catching a wave.
You’ll also need some fin tethers so you don’t lose your fins in the water, and some fin socks to A) keep your feet warm and b) Stop the dreaded “fin rub”.
Surf Wax
If you don’t wax your board, you’ll keep sliding off and have no fun at all. Wax only costs a couple of quid.
