Top 15 Best Foam Surfboards in 2020

Surfing is an exciting watersport with several persons getting involved in it every day. The fun in riding waves, the cool breeze, the challenges, and other fascinating aspects can get someone glued.

How you choose to enjoy your surfing matters a lot. Your gears part of those things that significantly determine your surfing experience.

Ideally, you should consider using the best surf watch to track the tides and the right surfing wetsuit for insulation. For your surfboard, you may either go for a foam surfboard or a hard one.

In this article, I will be focusing on how you can pick the best foam surfboards. I have compiled the top 15 best foam surfboards to consider, as well as, other information which includes a buying guide.

What Is a Foam Surfboard?

Surfboards are made from different materials. Examples of such materials are polyethylene (PE or HDPE), expanded polystyrene (EPS), polypropylene (PP), ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA), and more.

The nature of these materials determines the characteristics of the surfboard. These include its durability, buoyancy, traction, and many more.

A foam surfboard is a surfboard that has its core made out of foam. Sometimes, the “foam” can also be attributed to the soft surface of a surfboard. Either way, foam surfboards are often lighter with a soft feel on the feet.

Foam surfboards are very buoyant that you might find it difficult to duck dive. The rails of foam surfboards are thicker and allow more grip while surfing.

If you are a beginner, you will find these surfboards very handy since they catch waves faster. Furthermore, they can offer a little protection in case of wipeouts. Their soft nature can help reduce the level of impact.

You May Like: 15 Best Board Shorts for Surfing

What Is the Best Foam Surfboard?

In surfing, you cannot do without surfboards. Everything about it is based on surfboards. Therefore, you need to choose wisely, i.e., the best foam surfboards. Below are some of the best foam surfboards available.

• Best Overall: South Bay Board Co 7' Ruccus Soft Top Foam Surfboard
  "Durable construction, sleek shape, smooth performance, comes with a GoPro mount, handle and leash."
• Best Budget: Giantex 6' Foam Surfboard
  "Budget-friendly, attractive, hydrodynamic, lightweight, high durability, large weight capacity."
• Best Beginner Foam Surfboard: Wavestorm 8' Sunburst Soft Top
  "30-day warranty, more value for money, good for beginners, durable construction."
• Best for Kids: 6' Guppy White Stripes Foam Surfboard by South Bay Board Co
  "Easy to carry and transport, colorful, foam core, hard, slick bottom, comes with a leash."
• Best Performance: Liquid Shredder FSE EPS-PE Soft Surfboard
  "90-day warranty, Polypropylene hard slick, anti-slip deck, heat-laminated construction."
• Best for River Surfing: Boardworks Froth! Soft Top Surfboard
  "Beginner-friendly, well-streamlined, one-year warranty, available in multiple sizes, colors and fin arrangement."
• Best Rated: South Bay Board Co 8'8 Heritage Soft Top Surfboards
  "Easy to store, extremely stable, spacious, soft deck, reinforced with three stringers."
• Best 7' Foam Surfboard: Rock It 7' SHORTBUS Soft Top
  "Nice outline, possess two stringers, excellent performance on all wave sizes."
• Best Value for the Money: 8' Verve South Bay Board Co Foam Surfboard
  "Attractive color options, reliable construction, high-traction, and textured deck, features a heat-release valve."
• Best 9' Foam Surfboard: Wavestorm 9ft Original New Modern
  "High stability, thruster fin setup, high volume, lightweight, features a traction pad."

Comparison of Top 15 Best Foam Surfboards 2020

There are many foam surfboards in the market. Therefore, without adequate knowledge about them, it will take you a long time to make a decision. To give you foreknowledge of the basic properties of the 15 best foam surfboard I compiled, see my table below.

Reviews of the Best Foam Surfboards

Foam surfboards are suitable for almost all experience levels, including extreme beginners. They offer more buoyancy, stability, and they are more forgiving.

To help you pick the best option for yourself, I have prepared the detailed reviews of the compiled 15 best foam surfboards below.

South Bay Board Co 7' Ruccus Soft Top Foam Surfboard

(Best Overall - Editor's Choice)

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One of those high-performance surfboards currently available is the South Bay Board CO 7’ Ruccus Soft top surfboard. With a textured deck, you may not need to wax at all.

It has a rugged construction comprising an HDPE slick, triple-stringer setup, and an EPS core. To improve its integrity, it has a heat-release system to avoid heat damage.

The Ruccus Soft top surfboard features a rubber bumper for vertical storage, carry handle, lengthy leash, and GoPro mount. The rounded nose, and concave bottom and deck allow smooth locomotion while its rocker prevents pearling.

The board is quite maneuverable and stable, which is backed up by its thruster fin setup. Furthermore, it is available in aqua, black, blue, and red colors.

See Also: 15 Best Inflatable Stand Up Paddle Boards

Wavestorm 8' Sunburst Soft Top Foam Surfboard

(Best Beginner Foam Surfboard)

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For individuals looking for a heavy-duty, lightweight surfboard, you might want to see the Wavestorm 8’ sunburst soft top foam surfboard. It’s an attractive choice that is even more forgiving for beginners.

It has a maximum weight limit of 200 pounds and a volume of 86 liters. Like many large surfboards, it is stable, buoyant and can catch waves with ease.

A three-stringer setup supports its EPS foam core, and its HDPE slick gives it a hard bottom. It uses a thruster fin setup, and the fins are included in the packaging alongside a leash.

The Wavestorm 8' sunburst soft top foam surfboard has a traction pad on its deck. Therefore, you may not require waxing. Besides, you get to enjoy a 30-day warranty.

See Also: 15 Best Surfboards for Beginners

6' Guppy White Stripes Foam Surfboard by South Bay Board Co

(Best for Kids)

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If there’s any way to encourage your young champ, the Guppy White Stripes foam surfboard would be a decent way. As an ideal option, it is just 6-foot long and 21-inch wide.

It's got a rounded nose and a squared tail, which all translates to high performance and stability. The construction, an EPS core, and HDPE slick, plus its heat lamination make it lightweight and long-lasting.

The Guppy White Stripes surfboard has a thruster set up and a weight limit of 150 pounds. On purchase, you get three fins, fin screws, a 6-foot long leash, a leash plug, and a 30-day warranty.

An EZ carry handle is embedded on the deck to allow more portability. There are two common colors, pink and blue, for its stripe design.

Liquid Shredder FSE EPS-PE Soft Surfboard

(Best Performance)

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The Liquid Shredder FSE EPS-PE soft surfboard will appeal more to expert riders. The 6-foot long surfboard is a durable, affordable, and lightweight option.

The core is made from EPS foam reinforced with two wooden stringers. With a polypropylene slick, the board is significantly more robust and less susceptible to wear. The entire board is heat-laminated to make it reliable, sleek, and water-resistant.

Overall, the Liquid Shredder FSE EPS-PE soft surfboard is rugged and lightweight. It has a thruster fin setup, which further enhances its already high speed and maneuverability. Also, the surfboard comes with a 90-day warranty.

Boardworks Froth! Soft Top Surfboard

(Best for River Surfing)

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The Boardworks Froth! Soft Top surfboard is another decent choice to checkout. It is available in various sizes for kids and adults – shortboards (5’ and 5’6”), funboard (8’), and longboard (9’).

The board has a soft outer skin made from EVA that wraps its completely glassed foam core (EPS). In terms of portability, the board is relatively lightweight, though relative to its dimensions.

The board is well rounded on the edges and its nose to give a smooth performance. There's just a single fin setup (removable) for its longboard, and a thruster set up its shorter lengths.

The stability is well above average, but it is most suitable for small-medium waves. The board may either be brown, purple, or blue. Also, the Boardworks Froth! Soft Top surfboard comes with a one-year warranty.

South Bay Board Co 8'8 Heritage Soft Top Surfboards

(Best Rated)

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The South Bay Board CO 8’8 Heritage soft-top surfboard is a decent choice for beginners, especially heavy individuals. With its length of 8’8”, it has a width of 23 inches, 86L volume, and can accommodate about 230lbs.

With an EPS core, tri-stringer arrangement, and HDPE bottom, you shouldn’t be shopping for a new board soon. It also built with a heat-release valve to maintain its quality and a tail bumper for vertical storage.

Beginners want boards that are more forgiving, which is what you have on this particular board. Owing to its large area and buoyancy, the board can help you catch waves effortlessly.

The 8’8 Heritage surfboard has a textured surface and a thruster fin setup (fins included in packaging). It also available in four color options and features a handle, GoPro mount, leash, and a 30-day warranty.

Rock It 7' SHORTBUS Soft Top Surfboard

(Best 7' Foam Surfboard)

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The Rock It SHORTBUS soft-top surfboard is a high-performance board with attractive color design. With a “funboard” shape, it is 7-foot long and possesses a volume of about 72 liters and a 200-pound weight limit.

Its core is constructed from recycled EPS foam and encased in epoxy resin and fiberglass cloth on its soft deck. Embedded in the core are two wooden stringers coated with water-repellent to keep its integrity intact.

The entire construction is heat-sealed, allowing it to withstand various conditions. It is easy to paddle and catches waves easily thanks to its size and moderate rocker.

The Rock It SHORTBUS soft-top surfboard uses a removable thruster fin setup with the fins included. To foster customer’s confidence, it also comes with a one-year warranty.

8' Verve South Bay Board Co Foam Surfboard

(Best Value for the Money)

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Ideally, beginners should start with large boards on smaller waves or whitewater to aid their development faster. One of those large boards to own as a beginner is the South Bay Board CO 8’ verve surfboard.

With a 74L volume and 200-pound weight limit, it can accommodate big or beginner surfers. For longevity, it has an EPS foam core and HDPE slick reinforced with three stringers.

With its thruster fins arrangement, the board is well-streamlined to allow better hydrodynamics (speed), control, and maneuverability. The deck is fingerprint-textured and may not need waxing before use.

With the 8’ verve surfboard, you can use a GoPro, store vertically on its rubber bumper and prevent heat damage. It comes in multiple color options and with a handle, leash, and 30-day warranty.

Wavestorm 9ft Original New Modern Foam Surfboard

(Best 9' Foam Surfboard)

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High volume boards offer a higher level of stability, and more volume implies more buoyancy. The Wavestorm 9ft original new modern foam surfboard has a volume of 102 liters and a weight limit of 225 pounds.

With an EPS foam core, the board weighs about 15 pounds and is lightweight compared to its length. With its rocker and rounded nose, the slick is made from HDPE for cutting through waves smoothly.

The surfboard is reinforced on the inside with three wooden stringers to improve its durability and strength.

The deck comes with a traction pad; however, you might still need to do some waxing. The Wavestorm 9ft original new modern foam surfboard comes with a leash and three removable fins.

Giantex 6' Foam Surfboard

(Best Budget)

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Adults and kids have got a right, affordable foam surfboard choice, the Giantex 6' foam surfboard. Starting with the obvious, the design, which is available in three themes, is exquisite.

It has a construction that is durable enough and would carry up to 200-pound surfers. It has an EPS core, a highly rigid propylene slick bottom, a soft deck, and a traction pad.

With a concave bottom, rounded nose, and blunt edges, it delivers high speed as it cuts through water smoothly. The packaging includes three fins (thruster), fins screws, and a free leash.

In terms of performance, the Giantex 6’ foam surfboard performs well beyond expectations. However, it’s just enough to satisfy the beginner and intermediate riders on moderate wave sizes.

Goplus 5'5" Soft Top Foam Surfboard

(Best Lightweight)

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The Goplus 5'5" soft top foam surfboard is one of the lightest surfboards available for adults and kids. Thanks to its lightweight, thruster fins and fishtail, it is one of the easiest to handle even in big waves.

The construction is exceptional. It comes with an XPE deck, which is impact-resistant, wood stripe, an EPS core, and a rigid HDPE bottom.

The Goplus 5’5” soft top foam surfboard has a maximum weight capacity of 200 pounds. There are multiple color options available – blue, green, and purple.

Catch Surf Odysea Foam Surfboard

(Best for Advanced Surfers)

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The Catch Surf Odysea foam surfboard is the smallest on this list with a length of 4'6". Quite small that it should only be used by kids or advanced surfers looking for more challenges. Although there are not many color options, it does offer excellent aesthetics.

It is a high-performing surfboard with sturdy construction that can tolerate various conditions. It has a slick made from HDPE and three stringers, among other features that ensure its ruggedness.

The Catch Surf Odysea foam surfboard should not cause any worry when it comes to portability. Its construction and sleek design allow riders to perform more tricks and enjoy a high level of maneuverability.

Surftech Learn2Surf Soft Top Surfboard

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Another suitable surfboard to learn surfing is the Surftech Learn2surf Soft Top surfboard. Depending on your requirements and preference, there are multiple colors and sizes (7'6" to 12') to pick.

The hard EPS core and reinforced, blunt rails give you the mix of durability and performance you'd like in your surfboard. Together with the fiberglass bottom, these, along with the fiberglass bottom, assures more performance on many wave sizes anytime.

The board is further reinforced with stringers to keep it stiff and rigid. It is equipped with a single fin and an FCS II fin box. The Surftech Learn2surf Soft Top surfboard catches waves with ease, thanks to its shape and rocker.

California Board Company 9' Foam Surfboard

(Best for Big Guys)

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Here is another long, spacious surfboard for beginners, the California Board Company 9’ foam surfboard. One striking characteristic is its stylish, wood-like appearance.

Beyond appearance, it offers a high-level of comfort with its soft deck, and it's well-shaped for beginners' comfort. The board, like many others, possesses an EPS core and an HDPE slick bottom.

The three stringers embedded in it provides more stiffness and make it able to withstand a weight capacity of 210lbs. Perhaps to ensure its water-resistance and more durability, it is heat-laminated.

The experience, especially the stability and ease of catching waves, is quite fantastic. However, you may have to use the board on whitewater or gentle waves alone since it has less control.

Driftsun Nymbus Foam Surfboard

(Best for Tricks)

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All experience levels will find delight in the DRIftsun Nymbus foam surfboard. This is basically because of its high buoyancy, shape, lightweight, and small size.

It has a rounded nose with a fishtail that allows high speed, better maneuverability, and smooth sharp turns. It is effortless to perform tricks with the surfboard.

An EPS core is used to allow buoyancy while it has an HDPE slick for smooth motion. There are three fins (thruster setup) and a high traction deck that may require no waxing.

It is quite thick, which explains its high buoyancy. It is available in three lengths - 4’9”, 5’8” and 6’. Due to the small sizes, the DRIftsun Nymbus foam surfboard is easy to carry on the beach and transport on the car rack.

See Also: 15 Best Surfboards for Intermediate Surfers

How to Choose the Best Foam Surfboard?

Foam boards have improved when it comes to performance, control, and design. Similar to when purchasing your surf bags and surf wax, you will meet many different products when shopping for a foam surfboard.

Every surfer wants to purchase the best foam surfboard that can meet their needs. However, it can be challenging if you don't have enough knowledge about them, especially if it's your first time.

The best foam surfboard for you is that one that has been well examined using some factors. These factors have listed and comprehensively discussed below.

Length and Width of the Board

The length of your board will determine how well you’ll perform. Ideally, you should go for a surfboard that is compatible with your skill level.

If you are a beginner, you should be looking to purchase a long surfboard. This will allow you to catch waves effortlessly, and you can subsequently improve your balance on the surfboard. This is because they are larger with more buoyancy and space.

Intermediate and advanced surfers will definitely love the performance of short foam boards. They allow more maneuverability, control, and speed. Surfers can perform flips, sharp turns, quick movements, and many tricks.

In general, surfboards can be as short as 4’5” and as long as 12’. Adult beginners should settle for anything about 7’5” while kids can go for anything above 5’5”.

The width of the surfboard also contributes to its stability. The wider, the better; hence, anything about 20 inches is good.

Notwithstanding, you should still compare your weight with the weight limit of the surfboard. Experts can use almost any surfboard length or width.

Board Shape and Type

Surfboards come in different shapes and types. The nose of a surfboard may be pointed, squared or rounded. The latter is more popular since it allows high speed without compromising maneuverability. The squared nose is best for tricks, and the pointed ones for speed.

The tail of surfboards comes in different shapes too. Popular tail shapes include square, squash, pin, round, swallow, fish, and wing tails. The square tails offer high responsiveness, hence, great for tricks.

The squash tail offers a balance between speed and maneuverability. The pin and round tails are ideal for large waves. The swallow, fish, and wing tails provide high performance in small waves.

Construction and Design

There are different materials used in the manufacture of surfboards. These materials often determine the performance and weight of the surfboard. Examples of such materials are polyethylene (PE or HDPE), expanded polystyrene (EPS), polypropylene (PP), etc.

Expanded polystyrene is the most common material used for the board's core. It is characterized by its lightweight and durability. It is more durable than polystyrene and polyurethane.

The bottom may either be made from polyethylene or polypropylene. The latter is quite more reliable and more durable than the former. Stringers are sometimes embedded in a surfboard to improve its strength. Also, they may have a textured or soft deck that provides more grip and comfort.

Volume

The volume of a surfboard determines the amount of space it occupies. It is calculated by multiplying the length, width, and thickness of a surfboard. The volume of a board is expressed in liters, and it, as well, determines the buoyancy of the board.

The higher the volume, the higher the stability, but the performance may be limited. Also, high volume boards are best used on small waves and vice versa.

Beginners should go for high volume boards that can accommodate their weight. In most boards, the volume and weight limit are written on their packaging.

Extra Features

There are some desirable extra features you may like to check out. Some products come with warranties to keep customers safe. Aesthetics might be another thing you want to consider.

Some products offer more value for money as they come with many features. Some boards can rubber bumper for vertical storage, GoPro mount for cameras, leash, removable fins, and many more.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

It's possible that you've skipped some cogent points in the article, or you've come here seeking answers. Therefore, I've compiled some frequently asked questions to help clear your mind.

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The best experience in surfing is only achieved when you use the best surfboard. If you want a foam surfboard, just go for the best. My buying guide should shed more light on how to pick the best foam surfboards for you.

Not every foam surfboard will meet your requirements. This is why I have compiled the best foam surfboards. The best overall is the South Bay Board Co. 7' Ruccus Soft Top Foam Surfboard with a durable construction, value for money, and smooth performance.

The best budget is the Giantex 6' Foam Surfboard that offers high performance despite its price tag. Beginners can start learning with the Wavestorm 8' Sunburst Soft Top Foam Surfboard.

Do you have any questions, suggestions, or comments concerning these surfboards or other sections of this article? Please share them with other readers in the comments section.

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