With summer fast approaching, it’s a good idea to start stockpiling your gear for the beach. Whether you’re a regular beach bum, or it’s your first time heading to the ocean, bodyboarding is a great way to explore and have fun at the beach. We will explore the best bodyboards for the 2020 year so you can have fun at the beach.
While bodyboarding has been around for thousands of years, going back to the ancient Polynesians, the “boogieboard” went center stage in 1971 and has since grown into a world-wide phenomenon.
What is a Bodyboard?
Each bodyboard may vary in shape and size. A bodyboard is typically 3-4 feet long and 16-38 inches wide. It’s for riding waves while prone paddling or belly riding as opposed to standing when surfing. To the untrained eye, this may look like a kickboard but bodyboard designs have grown significantly in sophistication over the last 50 years as you’ll see in the list below.
Bodyboarding can be a great introduction to the ocean and a great way to build your surfing skills. Particularly, bodyboarding can help you feel confident in the ocean, raise your wave reading skills (an invaluable tool for surfing), and familiarize yourself with ocean currents.
Bodyboarders have found new and innovative ways to ride waves from drop-knee to stand-up bodyboarding. In general, each board has a nose (front of the board), and a tail (typically a bat or crescent shape).
While bodyboarding does have a traditional and conservative shape, the evolution of bodyboarding has started to borrow tips from nature, aerodynamics, surfing, and even snowboarding. Bodyboard designs are taking off in sophistication towards new and innovative bodyboards.
Learning to Bodyboard
Learning to bodyboard starts with studying the waves. You’ll want to understand and identify what direction the waves are traveling. Next, you’ll want to set yourself up for a good position. Everything from hand positioning to your body movement needs to be flawless. To learn more about bodyboarding, check out our article on how to bodyboard.
Which Bodyboard to Buy?
Now that you’ve brushed up on your history and gotten to know your board’s anatomy, you’re probably about ready to make your purchase, but don’t move too fast.
These boards have come a long way in almost 50 years as far as craft and sophistication. It can be tough to find a board for you and the conditions you hope to ride. Read on for expert advice on the top 10 bodyboards for this 2020 season.
10. RAYWER Body Board
The RAYWER Body Board, in eye-catching green, is designed for ultimate surfing fun for both kids and adults. With its lightweight EPS core and durable HDPE slick bottom, it ensures maneuverability, speed, and strength in any wave condition.
Features like channels, a crescent tail, and 60/40 rails enhance control and skills. It includes a high-quality leash with an adjustable wristband for convenience. This stylish board is perfect for hours of enjoyment at the beach, river, or water-park. RAYWER stands behind their product with a commitment to satisfaction, offering prompt replacements for any issues.
Product Details
- Available Colors: Green, Blue, Pink Hearts, Rainbow, Sky, and Yellow
- Brand: RAYWER
- Materials:
- Core: Lightweight EPS (Expanded Polystyrene)
- Bottom: HDPE (High Density Polyethylene) Slick Bottom
- Product Dimensions: 31″L x 2.2″W
- Size Options: 41-Inch and 33-Inch
9. Own the Wave ‘Wave Weapon’ Bodyboard
The Own the Wave ‘Wave Weapon’ Bodyboard combines style and performance in a lightweight, 33-inch, 37 Inch, and 41 Inch board available in eye-catching blue & orange. Made with high-density poly and EPS for buoyancy and speed, it’s designed for all wave conditions, featuring a slick bottom, rear channels, and a crescent tail for superior maneuverability.
It includes an adjustable Own the Wave coiled leash for convenience and safety. Built on 30 years of water sports expertise, this board is perfect for making memorable moments in the water, supported by a commitment to customer satisfaction and a startup guide for easy setup.
Product Details
- Size Options: 33 Inch, 37 Inch, and 41 Inch
- Color: Blue & Orange
- Brand: Own the Wave
- Material: High Density Polyethylene (HDPE), Expanded Polystyrene (EPS)
- Sport: Bodyboarding
8. Goplus Boogie Boards for Beach
The Goplus Boogie Boards, available in 37 inches and 41 inches and various vibrant colors, are perfect for surfers of all levels, from kids to adults and beginners to pros. Made with a durable EPS core, a non-slip XPE deck, and a slick HDPE bottom, these boards are designed for speed, buoyancy, and easy handling.
The included adjustable wrist leash ensures safety in the water, while the lightweight design makes it easy to carry to the beach or pool. Whether you’re looking for thrilling speed or stylish patterns, these boards promise both performance and fun, making them a great choice for any beach day or pool adventure.
Product Details
- Size Options: 37 Inch and 41 Inch
- Color Options: Blue, Green, Navy, Red, Rose, Yellow
- Brand: Goplus
- Material: XPE (deck), EPS (core), HEPE (bottom)
- Product Dimensions: 37″L x 19″W
7. Wavestorm 40″ Bodyboard 2-Pack
The Wavestorm 40″ Bodyboard 2-Pack offers a vibrant selection in blue red and blue yellow, perfect for enthusiasts and beginners alike. Weighing just 1.8 pounds each, these lightweight boards are constructed from durable foam with a strong EPS core for resilience and buoyancy.
Designed with an engineered contour deck for comfort and grip, and a speed slick bottom skin for optimal performance on the waves, each board promises ease of use and speed. The set comes complete with a pre-installed leash plug and a removable wrist leash, ensuring your board is always within reach. Ideal for anyone looking to hit the waves with a reliable and visually striking bodyboard, the Wavestorm 2-pack is a top choice for fun and performance on the water.
Product Details
- Size: 40 inches
- Color: Blue Red and Blue Yellow
- Brand: WAVESTORM
- Item Weight: 1.8 Pounds each
- Material: Foam
6. BPS Storm Bodyboard Premium
The BPS ‘Storm’ Bodyboard, a (33-inch, 37-inch, and 41-inch) lightweight board in a striking 09 Blue Purple color, is designed for bodyboarding enthusiasts of all levels. Made with High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) and featuring an EPS core, this board promises durability and buoyancy in any wave condition.
Its design includes a slick, high-speed bottom, bottom rear channels, and a crescent tail for optimal balance, maneuverability, and speed. The board comes with a premium coiled leash with a neoprene cuff to prevent loss and ensure comfort, minimizing the hassle of chasing after lost boards. BPS leverages over 30 years of water sports experience to deliver a product that is not only high in performance but also aims to create happy faces and lifelong memories.
With a commitment to customer satisfaction, BPS offers a ‘Right Choice Guarantee’ to ensure you’ve made the perfect choice for your bodyboarding adventures, backed by exemplary customer service from their team in NZ.
Product Details
- Size: 33 Inch
- Color: 09 Blue Purple
- Brand: BPS
- Material: High Density Polyethylene (HDPE)
- Sport: Bodyboarding
5. Morey Cruiser Bodyboard
The Morey Cruiser is your standard bodyboard with added contour for comfort and maneuverability. At 42.5” the Morey Cruiser is a bit on the larger side and is great for beginner to intermediate riders from youth to adults. The IXL topskin and rails is a softer and less abrasive foam than your traditional bodyboard and the polystrene core gives added density making it more buoyant and a bit easier to catch waves.
Product Details
- Full-size 42.5-inch bodyboard for beginners and intermediate riders.
- Eight-pound IXL top skin and eight-pound IXL rails.
- 25-millimeter HDPE bottom-skin.
- Crescent tail and wrist leash.
4. Morey Mach 7 Bodyboard
The Morey Mach 7 – 43″ Bodyboard, in a vibrant yellow color, is engineered for enthusiasts ranging from 84 to 196 months old. This board is built with a foam material and features a TC8 Deck, a polyethylene deck skin known for its durability and ability to handle powerful waves. At its core, the PE Core offers a lightweight yet ultra-strong construction, ideal for temperate to warm waters, though its stiffness may challenge beginners.
The HDPE Slick bottom ensures the board flexes with the wave for optimum control and performance. Additionally, its crescent tail design is optimized for all wave conditions, improving the board’s fluidity in tricky surf scenarios. Manufactured by Morey, a trusted name in the bodyboarding world, this board combines advanced materials and design for superior performance in the water.
Product Details
- HDPE High-Density Polyethylene slick bodyboard bottom with channels.
- Power Rod Stringer gives the board solid reinforced strength.
- Ideal for riders approximately 160 – 180 lbs and less and 5′-9″ – 6′-0″ tall.
- Measures 42″ and 41″ Long x 22-1/4″ Max Width.
3. Thurso Surf Lightning 42′
Thurso Surf 42 is designed with a focus on stability and glide for easy riding with maximum enjoyment. This bodyboard is made with a firm PE core and 2 FRP stringers to make it very light and buoyant. In addition, the Thurso Surf is made up of 4mm High-density durable IXPE deck which makes the board well cushioned and protected to reduce the risk of delamination.
One significant factor that separates this board from the rest is the bottom. The bottom is made up of high-density polyethylene which is a strong and responsive bottom skin that adds hardness and maximizes the board speed. You won’t be disappointed with this board. Thurso Surf is constructed with high-quality materials that will last for years to come.
Product Details
- Includes the board, double stainless steel swivels bodyboard leash, and a LUX bodyboard carry bag.
- Board length 42″ widest point 21.5″ tail width 17″ nose width 12″ thickness 2 1/8″.
- Rigid PE core with 2 FRP stringers.
- 4mm High-density durable IXPE deck.
- Bottom skin that adds stiffness and maximizes board speed.
2. Morey Mach 7-SS Body Board
The Morey Mach 7-SS Body Board is a top-tier choice for bodyboarding enthusiasts, featuring a 41.5-inch size and a sleek black color. Constructed with a FOAM material, this board is designed for the sport of bodyboarding, offering unparalleled durability and performance.
The TC8 deck provides a robust polyethylene skin capable of withstanding powerful waves, ensuring you can tackle big surf confidently. It includes X-FLEX MESH to add “spring” to the board while preventing over-flexing, and a premium polypropylene core known for its light weight, strength, and water resistance, ideal for warm waters but challenging for beginners due to its stiffness.
The Surlyn bottom offers incredible flexural stiffness for wave conformity, and the crescent tail design enhances fluidity in various wave conditions, making the Morey Mach 7-SS a versatile and advanced bodyboard for serious riders.
Product Details
- Size: 41.5 Inch
- Color: Black
- Brand: Morey
- Material: Foam
- Sport: Bodyboarding
1. Bo-Toys Body Board Lightweight with EPS Core (Best Seller!)
The Bo-Toys Body Board is a lightweight, 41-inch and 33-inch board designed for optimal surf fun, available in vibrant blue among other colors. Crafted with an EPS core and utilizing heat lamination technology, it ensures durability, rigidity, and lightweight for enhanced maneuverability, speed, and strength.
Its durable construction features a HDPE (High Density Polyethylene) super slick bottom with channels and a crescent tail, ideal for all wave conditions and providing a compact, water-resistant experience. The 60/40 rails enhance maneuverability and skill execution.
Each board comes with a leash and wristband to keep it close by during your water adventures. Bo-Toys promises total assurance with a commitment to replace any faulty items, ensuring hours of fun at the beach, river, or water park with its stylish design and performance features.
Product Details
- Sizes: 41-Inch and 33-inch
- Color: Blue
- Brand: Bo-Toys
- Material: High Density Polyethylene (HDPE)
- Product Dimensions: 33″L x 18.5″W
Bodyboarding Safety
If you’re new to riding waves, it’s easy to lose track of your limitations and find yourself in a dangerous situation. Before heading out in the ocean it’s always great to consider the following:
Ocean Factors
This refers to everything from tide and wave height to temperature. When assessing ocean factors, take a few moments to watch how waves are breaking. Do you notice any patterns?
At any typical beach break, you’re likely to find a mix of shorebreak, rip currents, and long shore currents, all which can cause surprisingly dangerous moments.
One great way to brush up on your ocean factor assessment is to paddle out with an experienced friend or relative. While experience is the best teacher, be sure to familiarize yourself with how to identify a rip current, and how to get out, before heading out past the breakers.
Terrain Factors
This referrs to everything on the shore and underneath the water. Do you see any rocks underwater? How steep is the shoreline? Do you expect to find the reef, or sharp shells underfoot? It’s great to have a basic idea of what’s under you before heading out in the ocean.
If you have the time, take a look at your local break under all tide conditions so you’ll be aware of what’s underneath you.
Weather Factors
Wind? Rain? Sun? Snow? Weather factors can influence ocean factors very quickly. While this may not present real and current danger, you can expect that weather factors may make or break your next beach day. Be sure to plan accordingly with hats, sunglasses, SUNSCREEN, and a wetsuit if need be.
Human Factors
How are you feeling? Happy? Sad? Excited? Annoyed? Human factors are potentially the most important from the list above because you can often find yourself in an unsafe situation if you’re distracted.
Bodyboarding should be fun! While you may be having an introspective moment, which is great! Human factors also relate to other humans in the water. Be aware of bodyboarding and surf etiquette so you don’t find yourself offending to the wrong dude.
2024 Best Bodyboards Summary
If you’ve found yourself at the bottom of this article, you’re probably starting to dry out and itching for your next session. So hurry up and choose your board!
Choosing a bodyboard can be a fun and exciting adventure. Altogether, there are so many styles and brands to choose from that it’s easy to get bogged down with too much information.
No matter the style of riding that you’re hoping to pursue, the most important part is making sure that you are having fun riding waves. So slap on some zinc, grab your fins, and head out the door! Waves are waiting for you right around the corner. Check out our huge collection of bodyboards ranging from all sizes suitable for beginners to advanced surfers.
