If you’re looking to buy a new surfboard, then this article will help you explore options for every level of surfer. We feature the major surfboard categories and showcase some of the best brands and models.
In 2023 there are thousands of boards to choose from. You can select a board off the rack from your local surf shop, buy direct from a surfboard shaper, or order from an online surf shop. Alternatively, you can visit a local shaper and get a surfboard custom-designed and shaped for you.
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Selecting a surfboard
When choosing a surfboard, it is important to consider the types of waves you’ll be surfing, your level of skill and fitness. It is also a good time to step back and reflect on your surfing objectives. Do you want to:
- Improve your skills and elevate your performance.
- Maintain your current level of performance.
- Have more fun without the pressure to surf like a pro.
Or perhaps you want to diversify your quiver because:
- You’re heading on a surf trip to a destination where the waves differ from those at home.
- You want to experiment with different surfboards – for example, adding a small wave groveller to your collection.
- You’re bored and have some cash to burn.
Regardless of your unique situation, this article is for you. Below we provide a list of surfboard options based on our experience, research, and reviews from around the world.
Let us know if you think other models should be featured.
The best high-performance shortboard: The Ghost by Pyzel
If you’re looking for a high-performance shortboard designed for excellent waves then you should consider the Ghost by Pyzel. Made famous by John John Florence, who used it in a range of conditions en route to winning his second world title, the Ghost balances versatility with extremely high-performance characteristics. The rounded pin-tail and extra volume up front combine to offer excellent paddle power and serious agility, without compromise.
Be sure to select the right volume for your skill level and fitness. If you’re looking for an everyday version of this design be sure to check out The Phantom model by Pyzel.
| Suitable for | Advanced and professional surfers |
| Best conditions | 3 – 12 foot / clean, overhead, solid waves |
| More information | Discover videos and reviews of the Ghost |
| Manufacturer link | Visit Pyzel |
Other high-performance shortboards that are worth checking out:
- The DHD DX1
- The Slater Designs FRK
- Check out our best high-performance shortboards article for more options.
The best intermediate to advanced shortboard: Pukas Tasty Treat
As featured in Stab in the Dark, this is a ride for the masses that packs a punch. Ever daydreamed about elevating your surfing performance, but you’re averse to buying a wafer-like pro board?
For an experienced ripper, the Pukas Tasty Treat by Axel Lorentz is your dream turned into reality. This gem takes the concept of high-performance surfing and makes it accessible to us all. They’ve taken the original Pukas Tasty, given it some love, and turned out a friendlier, shorter, wider, and thicker version that is the gateway to FUN.
They’ve adjusted the tail rocker, too, lowering it to add some serious speed. It is an everyday board with a techy edge.
| Suitable for | Intermediate to advanced surfers |
| Best conditions | 2 – 4 foot / all-round conditions |
| Manufacturer link | Visit Pukas |
The best intermediate shortboard: DHD 3DV
A solid performer in a range of conditions and a versatile one board quiver, the 3DV features reliable performance characteristics that will be enjoyed by average to good surfers. The 3DV has medium rails, a single to double concave, and features a thruster setup with a squash tail. If you’re looking for quad flexibility or something a little more edgy then this may not be the board for you. However, if you’re looking for solid all-round performance then the DHD 3DV will definitely fit the bill.
One report from a 3DV tester was that this board may look boring but it does what it claims to do, which is enable rail-to-rail surfing in a range of conditions.
| Suitable for | Intermediate to Advanced |
| Best conditions | 1 – 6 ft / solid overhead waves |
| Manufacturer link | Visit Dhd |
Other intermediate shortboards that are worth checking out:
The best step-up/big wave board: Simon Anderson DSC
Simon Anderson changed surfing history when he paddled out at perfect Bells with three fins instead of two.
While Andreson’s DSC and DSC Vee bigger wave surfboards are not exactly revolutionary, they do exude classic style and are perfect additions to any big wave charger’s quiver. When paddling into solid waves you want reliability and performance – nothing too fancy or experimental unless you’re actively seeking to explore unconventional places on the face of a wave. For most of us, we want a gun / step-up that is fast, predictable and well-crafted.
The DSC features a moderate rocker, a slight single to double concave and low, soft rails. The DSCV variant is the same but has vee in the back half of the board. Testament to the boards efficacy, the DSC was invented in 1994 and has been subtly refined ever since.
“Designed to have speed and life, but balanced with control. In bigger surf DSC sets up the wave from the first bottom turn holding a pure line with no stutter or drift, a critically important element in timing your next move higher on the wave face, or setting up the next section for a possible barrel. Usually surfed an inch or two longer and similar width and thickness as your normal all-round short board. DSCV was developed to make a bigger board in a gun shape more user friendly. The vee makes it easier to go rail to rail and carve a shorter arc on a longer rail line.”
Simon Anderson
| Suitable for | Advanced and professional surfers |
| Best conditions | 3 – 12 foot / clean, overhead, solid waves |
| Manufacturer link | Visit DSC & DSC VEE |
Other boards that are worth checking out:
The best fish: The Lightning Matte Quad Fish
If you’re looking for a board that lets you have fun when the waves turn sloppy, then it’s time to add a fish to your quiver. Over the past couple of decades, there’s been a quiet fish revolution—new technologies have breathed life into classic designs, and almost every manufacturer now offers fun, experimental shapes.
We explored a variety of models, from the unbelievably good-looking Rusty 419 Fish to Rob Machado’s high-tech Too Fish by Firewire. But when it comes to combining retro fun with modern performance, we couldn’t look past Lightning Bolt’s Matte Quad Fish. Who wouldn’t want one of these sitting on their board rack at home?
Our top pick? The 5’8″ fish with a matte airbrush finish—a perfect blend of style and performance.
Explore the history of Lightning Bolt in this 17-minute documentary.
| Suitable for | Everyone |
| Best conditions | 1 – 3 foot / small waves |
| Manufacturer link | Visit Lightning Bolt |
Other fish surfboards that are worth checking out:
- The 419FISH
The best hybrid: The Lost Rocket Redux
The Lost Rocket was a game changer. Suddenly there was an option for surfers who didn’t want to emulate professionals by riding wafer-thin 5’11” thrusters. A bit more volume upfront gave us paddle power, yet some clever tucks and pinches meant that the board could turn. Even pro surfers took notice and started to ride hybrids when the waves weren’t perfect.
Like many hybrid boards, the Rocket Redux has a flat rocker and extended tail curve. This makes it easy to paddle and bouyant enough to get you across fat sections, yet responsive enough to smack those oncoming lips as if you were riding a high-performance shortboard. The rocket is energetic and precise. Some surfers might prefer the feel of a conventional shortboard but many will delight in the grip offered by that wide diamond tail and the flexibility to try out a quad configuration when the waves get more critical.
Available in Lost Surfboard’s carbon wrap technology, you can’t go wrong with a Rocket in your quiver.
| Suitable for | Intermediate to Advanced surfers |
| Best conditions | 2 – 6 foot, versatile across all conditions |
| Manufacturer link | Visit Lost Surfboards |
Other boards that are worth checking out:
- The DWART
The best small wave groveller: Machadocado
We all need something fat and freaky on our surfboard rack. If you’re not quite ready to buy a longboard then you should invest in a stubby little monster for small wave fun. You may even be surprised when you find yourself taking the groveller out in good surf – usually they are no slouch. The best thing about having a nugget-style board is that you’ll surf more often – and when you do surf in mush you’ll actually have fun. Taking a performance shortboard out in sloppy onshore conditions is often a mental health risk.
We chose to feature the Machadocado because it is ridiculously wide, ridden unbelievably short, and yet it offers some real performance potential, even in terrible surf. The width means you can paddle into anything and if you place your foot way back on the tail you’re able to smack the lip better than any of the regular shortboarders or fish-riders in sub-par conditions. In fact, you’ll be the only person surfing with finesse when the waves get bad.
Designed by the legendary Rob Machado, this board is inspired by an avocado’s shape, mixed with the DNA of a fish and the performance of a shortboard.
Rob Machado summed it up best: “Less boards in the van means more kids in the van.” With the Machadocado, he’s been rolling to the beach with just one board all summer—and that says a lot. If you’re after a one-board quiver killer for summer, this is it. From fast wraps and rail-to-rail transitions to easy paddle-ins and a forgiving ride, the Machadocado is built for pure, unfiltered fun in all kinds of conditions.
| Suitable for | Beginner to Advanced |
| Best conditions | 1 – 4 ft |
| Manufacturer link | Visit Firewire |
The best mid-length / mini-mal: The Scorpion by Donald Takayama
Mid-length boards are not everyone’s cup of tea. Longboard purists scorn them and shortboarders resent how fast mid-length boardriders paddle. However, there is a place in the lineup for mini-mals, especially such beautiful creations as the Scorpion by legendary shaper, Donald Takayama.
A real dark horse, the Scorpion handles both small surf and big, clean waves. This is no beginner board, although beginners can use it. This is a high-performance creation that enables superhuman paddling and the drawing of sleek lines on the face of good waves. Get barrelled, do a turn and paddle back out before anyone registers what just happened.
The ultimate mini-noserider! Surf the board from the nose or turn on a dime. Probably one of the fastest mid-length boards out there, now with controlled maneouverability. Donald first came up with this design in the mid 60’s. It has been slightly re-worked and now is basically a smaller version of the Erik Sommer Model. Coming in lengths from 6’8” to 8’, this board will absolutely fly when ridden on the nose. With a true “pin” tail and a 2 + 1 fin setup, this board will perform the tightest of turns when pushed to it’s limits. An excellent alternative for someone looking for a shorter ‘longboard’.
From Takayama
| Suitable for | Beginner to Advanced |
| Best conditions | 1 – 6 ft |
| Manufacturer link | Visit Surfboards by Donald Takayama |
Other mini-mal surfboards that are worth checking out:
- The Average Joe
The best longboard: The Sprout 2.0
The Sprout 2.0 is the latest evolution of CJ Nelson’s go-to modern noserider, refined for ultimate performance and control. This updated version features increased tail kick, a pinched rail for better wave connectivity, an edge in the tail for enhanced control, and a beveled Nuuhiwa-style concave—all designed to set a new benchmark in performance noseriding.
A board that has been a staple in CJ’s quiver throughout his career, the Sprout 2.0 has earned a reputation as one of the best noseriding surfboards of all time. Co-designed by CJ Nelson and Ryan Engle, this model is built for surfers who want to hang ten with confidence while still enjoying effortless speed and smooth transitions.
This is noseriding at its finest—timeless design, modern refinement, and the perfect balance of tradition and innovation.
| Suitable for | Intermediate to Advanced |
| Best conditions | 0 – 7 ft / solid overhead waves |
| More information | Discover videos and reviews of the Sprout |
| Manufacturer link | Visit CJ Nelson |
Other longboards that are worth checking out:
- The In The Pink
The best soft top: 54 Special X Jamie O’Brien Pro
A decade ago people would’ve laughed at soft top boards being featured in a list such as this. But companies like Catch Surf have thoroughly rewritten the books on what is possible with a soft board. Adapting features from pro surfer signature boards, they’ve created soft tops that are not only feasible alternatives to your normal surfboard but that actually ride incredibly well.
The 54 Special boasts a thruster setup with a single concave entry and vee through the tail. What differentiates it from the soft top boards you’ll find in your local toy shop is construction and materials. The board features a dual composite core and three maple stringers with a HDPE bottom and fully removable fins.
Feedback from a reviewer was: I purchased this board so that I could surf between the flags (in the swimming area) but ended up using it even when the points began to work. It is fast and fluid and fits on the back seat of my car.
The 54 Special has a deep entry concave and vee out the tail; creating a nicely rockered rail with a flat center line. This provides excellent speed down the line, but super-responsive turning once the rail is engaged. The 54 Special is a step forward in design and performance that pushes the boundaries of what is possible on a soft surfboard. Big things do come in small packages.
From Catch Surf
| Suitable for | Beginner to Advanced |
| Best conditions | 1 – 4 ft |
| Manufacturer link | Visit Catch Surf or Available on Backcountry.com |
Conclusion
So there you have it, a comprehensive guide to some of the best surfboards available in 2023.
Whether it’s an off-the-rack pick from your local surf store, a direct purchase from a high-end shaper, an online order at your convenience, or a bespoke design created by your local craftsman, you’re spoilt for choice. These options allow you to find a board that perfectly fits your style, skills, and wave preferences.
So, paddle out into the sea of possibilities. Remember, the best board for you is the one that makes you feel joy — or achieve flow state — where you match your skills to the challenge and find your way into the “zone.”
Let us know in the comments which board you chose!