Our Top 6 Balance Board Picks for Every Type of Surfer
Why Do You Need a Balance Board?
Let’s face it, if we rely entirely on the ocean for progressing our surfing skills and staying fit for surf season, we’re not gonna make enough tangible progress. Even if you progress majorly during season at your homebreak, the time off before another worthy swell rolls through might send you back to square one all over again. That’s why we think everyone should have a balance board, no matter where in the world you are. Land training has been proven time and time again to majorly influence performance in the water. Being able to continue to train balance, core strength, and stability in a functional way outside of the water can make your time in the line up so much more worthwhile. Sadly we can not rely on mother nature to give us ideal conditions all the time, and most of us don’t have access to Kelly Slater’s wave pool.
If you’re looking to make some new additions to your land training routine check out our balance board picks below!
We’ve found a board for every type of surfer and we hope you see something here that gets you excited to train! There are so many balance boards out there, trying to make a choice and figure out what the main differences are in the options on the market can be overwhelming. We did all of the necessary research and testing so that you don’t have to!
Vew-Do Surf 33 Balance Board
Vew-Do is well known in the world of board-riding sports, they’ve been making balance boards since 1990. The company’s original focus was snowboarders but the Surf 33 is made particularly with surfers in mind. This board is not only extremely high quality but made with the intention to challenge surfers during land training via the extended beam design. Vew-Do claims this design allows for farther rail travel and more closely replicates larger weight shifts that we experience out on the water that make it ideal for anyone working on their skills for water-board sports. Overall, we agree. This board is a great pick for those of you looking to up your skills when the waves aren’t pumping. Vew-do makes multiple rollers for different levels but this particular setup comes with their advanced wooden roller. This makes for a challenging ride but it’s ideal for improving cutback, carve, and snap skills. If the included roller isn’t a good match for your current skill set they do have a ton of other roller options worth checking out.
On top of the high-quality craftsmanship and thoughtful design, this board is also handcrafted in Salt Lake City and made of sustainably sourced North American maple! Not only that but 93% of Vew-Do’s materials are sourced in the USA and they are constantly working towards reaching 100% – making this board local, ethical, and our top pick!
If you’re looking for a tool to truly level up your land training routine and challenge yourself, the Surf 33 is the board for you.
Blue Planet Balance Surfer
Blue Planet is a small company on a mission and we love the story of how they came to be. This board is a lot different than the other ones on this list. Its purpose is versatility. Created by a stand-up paddle surfer, this board packs a punch with 7 different levels of balance challenge. When Robert Stehlik first created the Balance Surfer he was struggling with posture issues and back pain from long days working at the computer. After realizing how much an old balance rocker helped minimize his pain he began designing the board of his dreams. We love the EVA soft foam deck that is ideal for training barefoot. We love that this board really meets you where you’re at. With its multitude of difficulties, you can rock away at your desk while working on using it for a more advanced land training routine.
As a small and somewhat new company, Blue Planet is doing a great job at protecting our environment in whatever ways they can. They do their best to conserve energy, recycle, and use sustainable materials whenever possible.
If you’re looking for a board that can give you a boost during work, but also function as a useful addition to your land training routine then the Balance Surfer is for you!
Driftsun Classic Balance Board
For us, the name says all you need to know when it comes to this Driftsun board. Classic. This board reminds us of the balance boards we grew up playing around on, it’s simple, but absolutely does what it came here to do. We appreciate that the foam roller included with this board is a bit more gentle on all floor types, making it ideal for those of you with hardwood floors who are nervous to use a wooden roller. The wide deck and non-slip surface make the Driftsun Classic ideal for novice and intermediate surfers, it’s a super stable board and a wonderful first buy if you’re new to the world of balance boards. Now as lovers of the environment and brand transparency, I do want to point out that there is no information about material sourcing, production location, or environmental efforts that we could find on their site. Regardless this is a quality board that will last you years of balancing.
If you’re looking for a board with great stability or if you’re new to the world of balance boards and want something on the easier side, the Driftsun is a great pick for you!
Yes4all Premium Surf Balance Trainer
This board is our most budget-friendly pick and it absolutely is not lacking in quality or functionality. The stoppers on this board are both adjustable and removable so it can progress with you, or be a useful tool for the whole family even if you are at different points in your surfing journey. The PEVA coating is a lot more forgiving on floors than grip tape/sandpaper grip which is common in the world of balance boards. Now we will say, the quality of this board is not up to par with some of the others on our list, and it may not last 15-20 years like a Vew-do board. However if you are on a budget, or unsure if you want to include balance boards in your training routine – this accessible price point makes this feel like less of an investment piece.
If you’re looking for a versatile board at an extremely affordable price point then the Yes4all Premium Surf Balance Trainer is for you!
Whirly Board Spinning Balance Board
The Whirly Board is truly one of the most unique balance boards that we have seen on the market and we love it! The interesting design was originally created on an old skateboard deck by cutting a bowling ball and a pool ball in half, and the rest is history. This unique board is stable but can still pack a punch and give you a challenge depending on how you use it. Handcrafted in Wisconsin using Canadian Maple these boards have a lifetime guarantee because their creators truly stand by the statement that they will last forever. The unique design allows the board to spin and makes for a unique balance board experience unlike anything else we’ve seen on the market.
If you’ve been in the balance board game for a while and you’re looking to try something unique with a different sensation then the Whirly Board is for you!
GoofBoard Classic Log
To our log-riding friends, don’t worry – we didn’t forget about you. As long borders sometimes the world of land training, or at least the popular things we see online, can feel like it’s entirely focused on learning to shred. However our longboarding friends are out in the water to dance with the waves and walk on water. This GoofBoard is ideal for that. Amazing for practicing cross-stepping and improving your style, we absolutely adore this unique addition to our lineup of the best balance boards on the market. GoofBoard also makes a super sustainable board with a roller made of high-density recycled material and bamboo end caps.
If you’re a longboarder looking for a way to work on your cross-stepping on land then the GoofBoard Classic Log is for you!