BestReviews is reader-supported and may earn an affiliate commission.Details
A fiberglass board that is durable enough to last for years.
Offers a design equipped for beginners or more advanced skimming. It's 48 inches long with durable fiberglass laminate construction. Features carbon layer in the front and tail and a PVC foam core. Soft-top surface.
While this is built to last, it is far more expensive than most wooden boards.
A lower-priced board available in different colors and sizes.
Lightweight option made of thick plywood. Tested in production. Features a high-gloss clear coat for durability and surface traction. Does not require wax. Comes in 30, 35, or 40 inches with different weight limits.
Top coat may not be durable.
A thick but lightweight and cushioned board.
48英寸板用蓝色上衣的设计和白色的bottom surface. Features a 4x Marine Ply Stringer System for durability. Base of board is designed to be stable and pick up speed. Surface is made of foam.
Better for beginners or for simple use.
A sturdy beginners’ choice that is designed to last and comes with a bag.
Made of wood with an EVA anti-slip surface. Does not require wax or a separate traction pad. Available in blue, black, and green. Includes a carrying bag. Quality-tested.
Board grip is not completely effective.
An anti-slip and durable board that does not need wax.
Tear drop-shaped model with multiple layers of durability. Made with resin-covered, marine-grade wood inside and clear epoxy resin protection. Features a textured surface. Available in multiple colors and sizes.
Some items arrived damaged.
我们建议这些产品based on an intensive research process that's designed to cut through the noise and find the top products in this space. Guided by experts, we spend hours looking into the factors that matter, to bring you these selections.
Skimboarding is a great sport that’s easy to get into but can take years to master. Whether you are looking to skim across the sand on wide, flat beaches or pull ollies on curling waves, skimboarding can be excellent exercise.
Board shapes vary widely, but there’s no “right” shape. A larger board offers more room for your feet and is better suited to beginners, while smaller boards offer more control for tricks. The longer the board is, the faster it will be, so beginners might enjoy a longer board for those precious extra seconds of skimming and learning to control the board. If you’re a veteran, most of your speed will come from your running start, and the waves do the rest of the work. Some boards have a rocker – the curved nose of the board that helps it stay on top of the water when approaching waves. Other important factors when choosing a skimboard are the material and coating.
Choosing the right skimboard means considering your skill level and the conditions.
Whether you’re just starting out or you’re looking for a skimboard for maneuvers, you need to consider the materials and size of each board to find one that suits your style.
The materials in a skimboard determine its weight, durability, and handling on the shore and in the waves.
Wood:These boards are well suited to beginners and work best on theshore. The extra weight of the wood gives you momentum, carrying you farther with each run. Cheaper boards also tend to be made of wood, making them the ideal material for most beginners. Though wood won’t last as long as a board made of fiberglass-laminated foam, it’s still a serviceable material at a low price.
Foam:These boards are lightweight and often covered in carbon fiber or fiberglass. They float more easily than wood boards and are perfect for catching waves and performing tricks, making them better boards for advanced skimmers. They’re also slightly thicker and more durable than wooden boards.
Resin:The resin is the protective layer that coats the board and allows it to glide over the water. The following are the most common types of resin:
Polyester:Long-lasting, inflexible, good for faster, longer runs
Vinyl ester:Highly flexible, somewhat slow
The size of a skimboard should correspond to your weight, experience level, and the type of skimming you want to do.
Length:Most skimboards range from 35 to 60 inches long. In general, a longer board is faster but harder to control. A shorter board is better suited to carving, but it might not work as well on the shore. Aheavierrider needs a longer board.
Once you know what materials you want and which size board is right for you, consider a few additional factors like the look of the board, traction pad, and rocker.
Most skimboards are brightly colored on the top with a plain, solid color on the bottom. You should choose a skimboard whose colors and patterns suit your style or complement your bathing suit. Bear in mind that you’ll also want to match the board’s color when repairing the resin.
A traction pad provides extra grip and control. Many skimboards have a traction pad either at the back of the board or down the length of the board. Tail pads are the most popular choice because they keep your back foot firmly planted. Beginners benefit from the control of a traction pad, and experienced skimmers find them useful for performing tricks. You can also apply a traction pad to a board that doesn’t come with one.
The rocker is the curved tip of the board. Some boards designed for skimming on the shore have little to no rocker, while boards designed for tackling waves have extreme rockers of up to three inches high. In general, the steeper the rocker, the slower the board, and it will also be less likely to dip under waves.
Entry-level skimboards that cost$30 to $50are typically made of wood and might be smaller than the average board. While they work well for getting the hang of skimming, the laminate could wear easily.
You’ll find a variety of high-quality wooden boards suited to beginner or intermediate skimmers for$50 to $100. Many of these boards have durable laminates and traction pads for more control.
In the$100 to $200range are foam boards designed to handle waves and tricks. These have durable and lightweight laminates that allow the board to flex slightly. If properly cared for, a board in this range is likely to last for many years.
Skimboards can suffer significant wear even after just a few days of skimming. This shouldn’t be surprising considering they often slide over sand, shells, and pebbles at high speed. To keep your board gliding smoothly, follow these steps:
Rinse sand, debris, and salt off your board with clean water.
Keep your board dry when you aren’t using it.If there are any splits in the laminate, the wood or foam could absorb water.
Check for scratches on the underside of your board, especially deep ones.划痕产生阻力。他们也可能会磨破sen over time, which can result in the laminate splitting.
Repair fiberglass damage.Sand down any splintered fiberglass and cover the damaged area with a fresh piece of fiberglass. Coat the repaired area in resin.
Store your board out of the sun.A cool, drylocationis ideal.
A.Quite a lot. While both boards can be used to ride waves, riders stand on skimboards rather than lie on them. Skimboards are propelled in part by your own momentum as you run and jump onto the board.
A.Any sport comes with risk. With skimboarding, the greatest danger to you is the board itself. Both foam and wood boards can be very hard and cause serious bruises. There is also the possibility of spraining a joint or breaking bones when you fall on the shore. However, no safety gear is required to skimboard.
A.The primary purpose of waxing the top of your board is to increase traction. If you aren’t struggling to stay on the board, you don’t need to wax it. Traction pads should never be waxed.
A.With a running start! Get as much speed as you can (or you’re comfortable with) running either along the shore or toward the waves. Drop your board on the water just as a wave pulls out and step onto it first with your front foot, then with your back foot. Jumping on the board is a good way to end your ride instantly. Keep your center of gravity low to stay on.