Funboard surfboards are one of the best types of surfboards for people who are just getting into surfing!
A surfer will always remember their first surfboard. It’s the tool that helps kick start an adventure for years to come.
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The first board you get will dictate how quickly you learn and how easy your transition will be to other boards.
That being said, you’ll want a board that has an ample amount length, thickness, and width that will keep you on your feet out in the waves.
Funboards have the perfect balance of these attributes and that is why we love them so much! They truly live up to their name in being, well, fun!
So whether you’re brand new to surfing or want to add a little something different to your quiver, you should definitely look into getting a funboard. That’s why we’re here to tell you all about them!
What is a Funboard?
Here are the general spec's of a funboard:
Best Funboards
Our #1 Pick - BIC Sport DURA-TEC
- Best Funboard for Performance!
- Bulletproof DURA-TEC Construction
- Polyurethane Foam Inner Core
#2 - ALPENFLOW
- Best Funboard for Intermediate to Advanced!
- High-Density Lightweight IXPE Deck
- Polyurethane Foam Inner Core
#3 - RAYSTREAK
- Best Funboard for Beginners!
- Soft IXPE Skin Deck
- Fiber-Glassed Internal Epoxy Core
The 5 Best Funboard Surfboards
#1 Pick - BIC Sport DURA-TEC Funboard - 7" & 7"6'
You might be surprised to know that BIC sports an awesome line of surfboards that have actually become fairly popular over the past few years.
Their DURA-TEC funboard is an excellent choice for beginners and intermediate surfers! Instead of getting a foam top, you can pick up one of these polyethylene outer shell board.
At a solid mid-level price, you can get a closed-cell polyurethane foam core board with a unique double concave to vee bottom contour.
The design on this board helps you catch waves more easily and get up to speed, yet also remain more in control than if you were on a shortboard. The board comes in either a 7’ or 7’6” setup and can hold thruster or quad sets.
If you want a board that can surf easily and will hold up for years to come with its DURA-TEC construction, The BIC Sport DURA-TEC Funboard is a great choice!
#2 Raystreak Crocodile Groove Soft Funboard - 7'2"
Raystreak has really impressed a lot of us surfers with their foam tops and SUPs.
The Crocodile Groove Soft Funboard is a quality and rigorous board and we honestly could not ask for much more.
The best part about it being a soft board is that it’s safer in the water in terms of wipeouts and can take a good beating.
The board features a 6-ounce fiberglass internal epoxy core wrapped in 100% waterproof EPS foam that is extremely durable and surprisingly comfortable.
It is 7’2” meaning that it pretty much sits at the threshold for a great mix of portability, balance, and buoyancy.
It rides well even in smaller, mushier waves.
It comes complete with the unique crocodile groove anti-slip performance deck that doesn’t need to be waxed. That’s pretty great new, as the less you find yourself slipping and wiping out, the faster your confidence will grow in the water!
#3 Alpenflow Foam Funboard - 7'
The people over at Alpenflow took a minimalistic approach to manufacturing this foam-top funboard.
It is probably one of the best funboards for beginners on this list, as it gives you that high-performance feel without the high-performance quirks.
Gliding on this thing is as easy as pie with the pointed nose / pin tail design and unique double concave bottom.
It doesn’t only offer stability, but durability as well.
With double reinforced poplar stringers, an HDPE heavy-duty bottom, and a high-density reinforced deck, you don’t have to worry about constantly repairing dings after harsher sessions.
This board is built for a thruster set and gives you the ability to cut into deeper turns with great speed.
At 7’ long and only 13lbs heavy, taking it out won’t even make you break a sweat.
#4 Levitate Soft Funboard - 7’
Crafted by the team over at Levitate, this soft funboard represents the best quality combination in terms of durability and affordability.
It is just bigger than your average shortboard and has a wider nose for added stability.
That isn’t to say that it can’t maneuver well though.
The surface area on the board makes it easier to pop up for beginners.
Paddling is a cinch too with the lightweight and incredibly buoyant EPS core.
Flex fins are included and are actually fairly versatile, though you probably won’t be doing any intense riding with this board.
The board is certainly better for smaller riders up to 120lbs, so if you’re looking for a soft top fun board for the young one, this board might be the one you’re after.
#5 NSP Elements Hybrid Funboard - 6'0
This board runs more in the vein of intermediate to advanced surfboards and is great in giving surfers the feel of a pro hybrid board.
On the outside, we have top tier full epoxy construction and vacuum molded high definition technology to increase durability.
Inside you have an EPS SecureCell core that is extremely lightweight and will help in keeping water out.
The board has a nose similar to a fish board and a tail of a shortboard, which makes it an excellent board to transition to and from if you want to start riding those types of boards or do ride those often.
The matte finish looks great and the simple, solid color design will give you that sleek look out in the waves.
If you want a beautifully constructed 6’ board that will keep you having fun in the waves for a long time, look no further than NSP Elements!
Pros
Cons
Fun board Surfboard Size Chart
Surfer Weight (Lbs.) | Surfboard Length | Surfboard Width | Surfboard Thickness |
|---|---|---|---|
100-140 | 7'0"-7'4" | 20 ¼” - 21” | 2 ½”-2 ¾” |
140-160 | 7’2”-7’8” | 20 ½”- 21 ½” | 2 ¾”-3” |
160-180 | 7’6”-8’ | 21”-21 ¾” | 2 ¾”-3” |
180-200 | 7’10”-8’4” | 21 ½”-22 ¼” | 3”-3 ¼” |
200+ | 8’2” + | 22”-22 ¾” | 3 ¼” + |
FUNBOARD VS LONGBOARD
I realize the guy in this picture is riding neither a funboard or a longboard, basically irrelevant to this section, but man it is an amazing image!
People love funboards because they actually share quite a few qualities with the classic longboard, though they are in their own vein for many reasons.
Longboards are typically classified as boards longer than 8’ while funboards are typically anywhere from 6’ – 8’2”.
Because it is shorter in length, it is better at making sharper turns than a longboard is.
Beginner surfers may feel that the length of a longboard is difficult to deal with in the water.
In terms of width, funboards tend to have more of an egg shape in the middle, which makes paddling and popping up easier. Longboards are narrower and don’t offer as much maneuverability. Thickness is different for these as well. Longboards are typically thicker and go up to about 3’ ¼” while funboards average out between 2-3” unless you need the extra thickness for your weight.
Speaking of weight, you’ll find that funboards are much lighter too. That means that carrying it down to the water will be much easier than a longboard. Keep in mind though that the egg shape might make it difficult to carry with one arm because it is so wide, so you may need to test some out at your local shop to find what suits you best.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I just buy a shortboard as a beginner instead?
Shortboards are great if that’s what you were forced to learn on as a child. The problem is, if you’re reading this, you’re probably older. That means your learning curve for certain things is larger. Adding a shortboard to the equation when you’re a beginner will only make it more difficult to learn. They might look the coolest out in the water, but what looks even cooler is being able to catch waves. We are far too often watching beginners out on the water with shortboards desperately trying to get up. The problem is they are not as thick and do not have the proper length and width that is best for someone who is just trying to get used to balancing.
Should I get a foamie or a hard top funboard?
There are pros and cons to each of these types of boards. Foamies haven’t been around that long, but with the ever-increasing popularity, you can find them just about anywhere now for a much cheaper price. While foam boards are considered beginner boards, we are even starting to see some of the major players riding them. They have much better stability because of the added volume and a far more buoyant quality because of the foam construction. Lastly, it decreases the risk of injury in the water for you and other surfers.
If you know you will be surfing a ton, this is when you should consider a hard top, as you will probably want to move on from your foam top after a month of surfing. Hard tops are far more versatile and are better for high-performance surfing.
What other things will I need to buy with my funboard?
Lots of funboards come with all the necessary accessories, though if they don’t, you’ll want to make sure you have them before rolling out to the beach. Having a good leash for your board will keep you from losing it in the water so make sure the one you get is quality, especially if conditions are bigger. For funboards, a set of thruster fins should do you just fine, as they have a good combination of stability and maneuverability. Some of the boards we mentioned on here come with their own fins, which helps take a lot of the questioning out. Lastly, get a board bag if you don’t already have one! This can protect your board when you’re travelling with it. You’d be surprised of all the stupid ways you can ding up your board even when you’re not in the water.
What are some good surfing etiquette tips I should know before I get out in the water?
If you want to be ostracized from a surf spot, the only thing you need to do is drop in on someone. Actually, please don’t ever do that, unless you want the locals to run you off the beach. Dropping in is essentially stealing the wave from someone who has priority. Priority is given to the person who is closest to the peak of the wave. Just make sure that you look to both sides before taking off on a wave. You’d probably be pretty mad if you’d been waiting around all day for the perfect wave for some newbie to swipe in and steal it from you. All in all, just respect the locals and if someone gives you a hard time, don’t fight back. Most surfers are fun and light-hearted and getting mixed up with someone who has a major temper or is super territorial is just not worth it.
>> View the #1 Funboard & Current Pricing <<
