Unlike a wakeboard or snowboard that can be adapted to pretty much any terrain without an enormous disadvantage, windsurf boards are usually built to meet one riding objective. Available in different dimensions, materials, and skill levels, the best windsurfing boards make you a better windsurfer independent of the fact that you are just a beginner surfer or a professional one who has been doing flips and jumps for years.
With that said, we’ve compiled a list of the best windsurfing boards on the market as well as a comprehensive buying guide in case you have second thoughts about the criteria as to what makes a top-rated windsurfing board. Hopefully one of our recommendations is the right board for you whether you’re a pro or a novice.
OUR TOP PICK
Z-Ray Inflatable Windsurfing Board
- Stand Out Features - Why We Love It
- Best board for a beginner windsurfer and water sports explorers
- Accessories include backpack and hand pump
- Can be rolled up and put into the included backpack bag for easy storage and transport
- Combined with a large fin to provide both stability and maneuverability
- Delivers performance in light to moderate wind conditions
Experience Level: For All Skill Levels
Length: 10ft
Width: 30in
Capacity: 264 lbs.
Weight: 43 lbs.
EDITORS CHOICE
Aqua Marina Breeze Board
- Stand Out Features - Why We Love It
- Extra fins allow you to convert it from beginner windsurf board level to professional
- Foot straps secure you onto the board and assist with stability
- Inflatable, easy to carry and transport
- The anti-slip deck pad keeps you on your feet comfortably
- Includes a bungee to hold cargo
Experience Level: Intermediate
Length: 10ft
Width: 30in
Capacity: 265 lbs.
Weight: 23.6 lbs.
BEST VALUE
BIC Sport Techno 293 One Design DTT Board
- Stand Out Features - Why We Love It
- Professional board with an artistic touch
- Safe and stable with provided foot straps and a 60cm daggerboard
- Lightweight and fast
- A sailboard from beginners to avid sailors and racers
- Has a high volume and moderate outline
Experience Level: Professional
Length: 9.5ft
Width: 30in
Capacity: 240 lbs.
Weight: 26 lbs.
Aqua Marina Bt-S300 Champion Board
- Stand Out Features - Why We Love It
- Made of monofilm and has reinforcing panels of X-ply and Dacron
- Inflatable to the perfect firmness
- Double-wall drop stitch PVC fabric-maximizes durability
- Great choice for those pursuing compact and easy transport
- Universal joint for attaching windsurfing rig
Experience Level: Beginner
Length: 10ft
Width: 30in
Capacity: 240 lbs.
Weight: 36.8 lbs.
BIC Sport Ace-Tec Techno Windsurfing Board
- Stand Out Features - Why We Love It
- Great choice for mastering tricks and techniques
- Made with top quality materials
- Foot straps for additional security
- 3 sizes and models to choose from
- Perfect board to sail in light to medium wind
Experience Level: All
Length: 8.4ft
Width: 34in
Capacity: 200 lbs.
Weight: 24 lbs.
How To Choose A Windsurfing Board – Buying Guide
Performance
Performance is an important factor for any windsurfer. You need to take into consideration all of the information mentioned above when it comes to the size and weight of the windsurf boards. Plus, you should consider the volume. The volume is the amount of water that a board can displace, and thus the amount of weight it can hold. Generally, a larger board is able to displace more water, but this is not always the case. Boards made from higher quality materials are lightweight and able to displace more volume than larger boards.
The more water a board can displace, the more weight it can hold. If a board can displace 100 liters of water, then it can hold 100 kilos in weight. When you are looking at boards, make sure to find one which will hold your weight. You should also think about the extra weight on the board like the sail, mast, wetsuit, and boots. When calculating the total weight, take these into account and add some more as a safety buffer.
Ease of Use
A board with a low volume sinks easier in the water if there is a lot of weight on it. Therefore, you need a lot of wind and water power to propel it through the water. A free ride board is the type of board that a windsurf board beginner usually moves onto. They are long and slim boards, slimmer than windsurf board for beginners , but they displace the same amount of volume. They are pretty sturdy, as well but are more agile on the water.
Freestyle boards, on the other hand, are for those who want the agility to do tricks on the water. They are lightweight boards but have enough volume to keep them afloat. You will need lots of wind and water to keep this board moving, but either way, they are extremely agile and you will be able to get lots of air on them.
Fins & Bindings
There are many features that make a windsurfing board different from other water sports boards. Bigger and heavier windsurfing boards provide more stability but they are not as fast and zippy as lighter boards, which are generally more buoyant and are more maneuverable. A lot of boards have a fixed fin in the center of the board to give stability and a daggerboard is especially handy. It comes with a center fin and when you reach high speeds, the fin retracts automatically to give a smoother ride and helps you reach even higher speeds. The board skims the surface of the water, and the fin doesn’t cause any turbulence.
Bindings are another feature to keep an eye out for. If you are into doing a lot of tricks on your board, especially flips, then binding your feet to the board provides a more stable experience and you don’t come off the board when you rotate through the air.
You might also like: Windsurfing Equipment Guide For Beginners
Construction and Design
The size affects the stability of a board. Generally, a bigger board has more surface area with the water and provides a sturdier platform to stand on. A bigger board also means a heavier one. Windsurfer boards that are big and heavy are slower through the water, and you cannot do as sharp a turn with it the way you can with lighter ones.
Most windsurfing boards for beginners are large in size. As a beginner, you need the stability to find your balance when you are starting out. You may be swayed by a more performance-driven board, but that will only hinder your progress. Therefore, we recommend you start out with a sturdier board. Professional boards have less surface area. These boards are harder to balance on, but once you’re used to it, you can go through the water with ease. Smaller boards are less forgiving, and you need to have a good balance and technique before you move up to this size.
Price
Price is a very important thing when it comes to buying a windsurfing board. If you do not spend enough, then you are not getting a board with enough quality to match your enthusiasm. You can get a decent board for under $900, but they’ll be a windsurf boards for beginners. If you do buy one at this price, it will not be the one that lasts you, but the one that will help you fall in love with the sport. As you can guess, you will soon buy another to replace it. If you spend up to $1300, you can get a quality board that will serve you well in almost any situation. If you are really dedicated to the sport and want the best that money can buy, then you can spend even more to get a professional board. The more you are willing to spend, the more quality you will get.
FAQs
Q: How Do I Set Up A Windsurf Board?
There are three main parts to set up on your windsurf board. The three things to concentrate on are setting up your mast and sail, placing your fin on the board, and attaching your sail. Here is a step by step explanation:
- Take the pieces of your mast and attach them to each other. Make sure that you have them aligned correctly and that there is no friction when you push them together.
- Once you have the pieces of your mast attached, you can attach the sail.
- Take the mast and thread it through the holes or loops of the sail. Take your time as you push the mast through the fabric. There should be a bag or a cover at the top of the sail for the end to go into.
- Check out the owner’s manual to see how to tighten your sail. They differ from sail to sail, but you should be able to guide the sail rope through the sail and the mast extension.
- Pull the rope tight and tighten the rope. When the top of your sail begins to get floppy, secure the rope.
- Take your boom and attach the sail to it by using the large plastic clamp. Position your boom at around chest height. Feed the rope through the bottom of your boom and then use the instructions which should be printed on your sail to thread and attach the rope, making sure to attach the rope tightly.
- Your fin should easily attach to your board with a screwdriver. Go ahead and attach it. Once you have the fin on, move onto attaching the sail to the board.
- Clip the mast to the board and use a screwdriver to attach it.
- Once you have everything attached tightly, you are ready to go!
Q: What volume windsurf board do I need?
Windsurf boards vary in size. The volume of the wind surfboard that you should get depends on your need.
Beginner windsurf boards are 285cm in length and 72cm wide. This is the best windsurfing board size for someone who is 50kg. At the other end of the spectrum, if you weigh 120kgs or more, then you may find a board that is 330cm in length and 110cm wide more useful. Intermediate and professional boards are smaller in size. At the lower end of the spectrum, you can find boards that are 260cm in length and 70cm in width. At the higher end of the spectrum, however, boards can be 290cm in length and 85cm wide.
Q: Are inflatable windsurf boards any good?
A good advantage of having an inflatable windsurf is that it doesn’t require much space for storage. Nor do they weight that much, therefore they are easy to transport. Extremely lightweight, they make practical use in light and low wind.
Globo Surf Overview
A good windsurf board elevates you and heightens your enjoyment of windsurfing. It does not matter if you have never windsurfed before or you windsurf every day, there is nothing quite like getting a new board. Are you learning to windsurf or do you want speed? Do you want a board that is easy to store or are you looking for a sturdy board? Do you want to convert it or are you only passionate about windsurfing? We have you covered with our list of the best windsurfing boards.