Standard surfboards without foam tops are fashioned using a foam blank before being coated with fiberglass. Simply speaking, surfboards without a fiberglass shell are referred to as surfboard foam boards. Foam surfboards go by many different names, including soft top surfboards, softboards, and foamies, to mention a few.
There are several foam surfboard construction styles available today. The design of the boards has changed as foam surfboards have gained popularity among surfers of all ages and skill levels. For instance, there are now foamies made for performance surfing, foam surfboards for youngsters, and foam surfboards for beginners. Most are constructed from a unique kind of EPS foam that is water resistant
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Types of surfboard foam board
They frequently have amazing prices and are made with learning in mind. To prevent youngsters from being cut by their fins while learning, you may get them in smaller sizes with softer plastic fins. Alternately, you may choose a size between 6-7 feet, which would let both an adult and a youngster try it out and begin learning. Many fathers purchase foam surfboards so they may utilize them and their children can learn from them.
Beginner Foam Surfboard
These are great options for someone just getting into surfing. For their basic surf instruction, the majority of surf schools use them. These typically range in size from 7 to 9 feet, have lots of foam for easy paddling and catching waves, and have a complete outline for added stability while learning to stand up and ride waves.
The length is important to consider since it is tougher to go with your board and control it in the surf the farther you go. For instance, paddling out on a 9-foot longboard at a beach break with breaking waves might be challenging. A 7-foot alternative could be a little easier for you to handle.
Performance Foam Surfboard
These are the soft surfboard product line’s contemporary iterations. Many of the greatest surfboard shapers in the world are now able to manufacture their best-performing hard surfboard models and transform them into high-performance foam surfboards thanks to developments in soft board surfboard construction over the years.
These are made for surfers that are intermediate to advanced and are wanting to add a fun, speedy, and enjoyable board to their quiver. Make sure to ask our team of gear specialists any questions you may have regarding the finest performance soft board construction currently available because there are several different styles of construction.
Foam longboards
These are typically 9 feet or longer—cross over with your starter boards. For use on smaller days and as a choice for surfing with family and friends, many surfers keep a foam longboard in their quiver. Many surfers ride these foam boards finless for added enjoyment sliding down the line.
You may find these as conventional nose riders in foam boards with longboard single fin boxes.
Surfboard Foam Pros
You are guaranteed stability, lightweight, durability, and ease of paddling, to name a few. Compared to a typical hardtop surfboard, a foam top surfboard is far more difficult to damage. These surfboards are a great option for an experienced surfer looking for close-out barrels (think JOB at pipe) or diving into shallow breaks like the Wedge because of their resilience.
Extremely buoyant is a foam surfboard. These surfboards’ thickness and volume encourage easy paddling for novice surfers learning the fundamentals on small waves and keep devoted shortboard maniacs occupied on knee-high summer days. Additionally, they are very stable, which aids in learning the fundamentals of board control and starting your first turns.
A bonk on the head from a foam board surfboard is far better than one from a hardtop, and it is advantageous to encourage other surfers’ safety since the surfboard is soft to the touch. This is a great benefit for decreasing intimidation levels in novice surfers. Consider a foam surfboard as the pinnacle of self-assurance.
Surfboard Foam Cons
The performance of a foam top surfboard is its sole drawback. High-performance surfing is not supported by foamy if you want to hurl buckets and airs. However, if you’re at this level of surfing already, chances are good that you already know this and are aware that foamy is only used for the easier aspects of surfing.
Having said that, there are foamie designs that are more focused on performance, such as a foam fish surfboard or a foam shortboard, which do allow for slightly more advanced movements on tiny waves. Many surfers carry a foamy in their quiver so they can surf more frequently in normal circumstances or so they can offer their friends and family a simple surfing choice.
Repairing foam surfboards
Even while epoxy or polyester repairs are simpler and more effective than foam surfboard repairs, you may still patch up small dings to prolong the life of the foamy. To begin with, even though it would seem like a smart idea, we advise against using a body board repair kit because they have a history of harming the EPS foam.
On a foam surfboard, you can patch dings with regular epoxy, but once it cures, the surface will be hard and may feel strange beneath your feet or on your chest as you paddle. For regions like the bottom of the surfboard where you wouldn’t normally put your hands or feet, epoxy foam repair works best.
Use a wetsuit repair kit (hardens like rubber) or even hot glue to plug any holes in a foam surfboard repair so that it cures to a soft substance that matches the material of the foamy.
To do this, first gently sand the area (you don’t need to sand it as much as a hardtop, just enough to smooth it out), and then thoroughly clean the area. After being well cleaned and dried, fill the ding with the proper material, allow it to set in the sun, and presto! Your foam board is now waterproof.
Your foam surfboard may be soaked if it feels a touch heavy after a dent. Before paddling out again, fix the ding and let the board out in the sun to let the water drain. Remember that leaving your board in full sunlight for an extended period of time can cause it to melt or bubble, severely harming it.
Clean your surfboard with fresh water after each use to avoid damage, and keep it somewhere secure and out of the sun—ideally on a surfboard rack and in a foam surfboard bag. All varieties of surfboards may use the same racks and bags.
Buy a Foam Surfboard Guide
There are certain foam surfboards that are quite affordable and won’t break the bank. To discover the greatest quality, always remember to conduct your research. The higher-quality brands will also sell for more money should you decide to upgrade and utilize the proceeds to buy a new foam board or fiberglass surfboard.