The Complete Surf Trip Packing List
Surf trips are simply the best. You’ve got your trip all booked, have everything planned out, and it is time to start packing. If you’ve been on surf trips before, you probably know what you need to bring. If not, here’s a guide for you of what you may want to bring!
A couple tips… First, you don’t always need to bring your own boards. Traveling with a board can be a hassle and cause damage to your board, and a lot of surf spots have plenty of rentals. Second, this guide will cover a surf trip packing list mainly for tropical climates. If you’re headed somewhere super cold, some of these items may not be relevant!
If you are just in the process of considering a surf trip, make sure to check out our post How to Plan the Ideal Surf Trip.
Surfboards
First, and perhaps most obvious, is your boards! If you have a specialty board you really like, you may want to bring it. I often bring my 7’4” Moe midlength as it is only about $30 to carry on through local airlines here in Mexico. But if we’re going somewhere with bigger waves (or smaller), I will generally rent a board wherever we are going. If you’re relatively new to surfing, many popular surf spots will have many beginner surfboards, as well as shorter performance boards.
We know people who bring 2 or 3 boards on a trip. I’ve never brought more than one board on a trip personally. Travel can be dangerous fro boards, and I generally bring my one boards I love, and rent another if the conditions warrant it. Keep in mind more popular surf spots will have more board rental options. For example, you won’t have a problem finding the right board in Tamarindo, but El Paredón has less (but still enough) options.
Board Bag
Next, you’ll need a way to carry and transport your board! There are tons of board options. We personally use the Creatures of Leisure bags for our boards. They come in Longboard, Fish, and Shortboard sizes. They are super durable, have a handle, reinforced padding, and we’ve actually never had a board dinged inside one of their bags! If you’re bringing more than one board, people love the Dakine Recon Double bag.
Soft Racks
Soft racks like this one from HeyTrip are highly recommended for those traveling in smaller cars. Whether you’re taking a taxi, Uber, transport, or renting a small car, you may need to put your surfboards on the roof. Soft racks help prevent the board(s) from ever touching the roof of the car, and generally come in at under 100 USD. The set is easy to bring to your destination and set up on the car. Pro tip: a lot of rental car companies and taxis won’t take surfboards, so you may have to be patient or put your boards on top of the car around the corner :)
Extra Fins
Fins are expensive, and I realize every surfer doesn’t have multiple sets. But if you’re bringing your own board, it really is ideal to have extra fins on hand. This is especially true if you’re traveling to a more remote surf destination where surf shops won’t be nearby and stocked with new fins. In places like Sayulita or San Juan del Sur, you’ll probably have no trouble finding new or used fins. I’m not going to waste times recommending fins here, as it is a super personal choice and depends on the board and rider. I will say that if I bring extra fins for a board, I often bring a different setup. For example, I generally ride my Moe as a 2+1, and for an extra set I’ll bring some quads.
Extra Leashes
Leashes are often fairly reasonable, and you can find them in a lot of surf towns. But it’s always nice to have an extra one (or two), especially if you’re going somewhere remote. The big surf towns in Costa Rica will all have leashes available, but remote places like Punta Burica will leave you hours from the nearest leash. We like the Creatures of Leisure surf leash, but whatever you go with, make sure it’s the real deal!
Combs/Keys
Maybe not an absolute necessity, but small enough that it really is worth bringing. If you need to scrape wax or change fins on the go, a comb/key combination is needed. Other surfers and surf shops will likely have them available, but it is nice to have your own and be able to change fins on your own schedule.
Wax
Wax! Make sure to bring plenty of it. Also, make sure to bring the right wax for the climate and water temperature. Sex Wax Tropical is a good and popular one, and we like Sticky Bumps as well. Our recommendation is to bring more wax than you think you’ll need. A lot of rentals will have minimal wax, and the wax they throw on at the shop or on the beach is generally not enough in my experience.
Ding Repair
Sure, this may seem like bad luck, but you should always bring some sort of ding repair kit with you. We generally bring two things. First, a ding tape repair kit for the bigger dings. Ding tape isn’t necessarily a permanent solution, but it will keep your board watertight quite well. Second, we always bring a bit of Solarez. It’s a great quick fix, cures in UV light, and seals well enough to keep you in the water.
Sunscreen
If you’re a regular reader of our blog, you know we’re pretty picky when it comes to sunscreen. We’ve written about our favorite sunscreens for surfing, but you have to find what works for you. Find something with solid SPF protection, durability to last in the water, and of course reef-safe. Like wax, we recommend bringing more than you think you’ll need! Sunscreen is often expensive in surf destinations, with limited options.
Rash Guard or Wetsuit
If you’re going somewhere tropical, you probably won’t need a wetsuit. The rare exceptions we cover on our site are places like Cabo in the winter. Otherwise, you’ll want a few rash guards to protect you from both the board and the sun. When you buy a rashguard, make sure it has actual UPF protection! Many cheaper ones simply offer no protection from the sun.
Day Bag
We bring a backpack or day bag with us when going on a surf trip. It’s nice to throw your stuff in to take with you, and have everything in one place. This 33 liter Dakine Backpack is the one we use (different pattern), and has been solid for us. It’s machine-washable, has taken a beating, and holds up well. Great to put your wax, clothes, towels, and fins in as you hit the local surf spots!
Towel or Poncho
Many hotels and surf camps will provide towels or rent them, but it can be nice to have your own. We also full-on recommend a surf poncho. We got ours after our kids loved their hooded towels and I joked that I wanted one for myself. And it does not disappoint. It’s honestly the most comfortable thing to change into after surfing to stay warm, or to change your clothes underneath. It made our list of the best gifts for surfer girls, but they’re great for anyone.
Water Bottle
Duh? Duh. Bring a water bottle. We’re not dieticians, but water is good for you. Drink more of it! Fresh water, not salt water as you’re duck diving. Bring a water bottle for an easy way to keep yourself hydrated. The bigger, the better in our opinion.
Insect Repellent
In many tropical surf spots, you’ll find plenty of mosquitoes at dusk. We’ve had problems finding repellent while traveling at times, so always bring a bit of our own. We steer clear of aerosolized products, and find simple spray products to use when the bugs come out at night. This is especially important if you’re traveling to an area with mosquito-related diseases such as dengue fever or the zika virus. We’ve had both, and do not recommend!
First Aid
You don’t necessarily need to bring a full first aid kid, but a few things may be helpful. We bring some disinfectant for any cuts, some waterproof bandages, and something like ibuprofen or paracetamol. Bring enough to treat little cuts, and be mindful that cuts can get infected quite quickly in the heat and humidity you’ll find in many Latin American surf spots.
Wise Card
We live in Mexico, so spend a lot of money in Mexican Pesos. But we get paid in USD. We personally use the Wise card and account as it simply offers the best exchange rates and fees. We also recommend it to anyone who travels regularly, as you can use the card internationally and hold a ton of different currencies. Accounts are free, and exchange rate fees are less than the fees on our bank accounts from the US.
Clothing
Finally, just a word on clothing. We’ve found that we often end up bringing too much clothing. We wake up, surf all morning with offshore winds, have lunch, and take a nap. Sometimes we go back out in the afternoon to surf, and then hang out or get dinner in the town. All that’s needed that day is your surf gear and one outfit. We often only wear real clothing for a few hours a day, so re-use it the next day. Pack less clothes and make more room for your surf gear!