Shopping For Cheap Surfboards

Quality surfboards are fairly expensive. So is it necessary to give up all quality when you’re looking for cheap surfboards?

You can find good sales at surf shops and online shops that will give you a bit of a discount, usually between $50 and $100 off, on a surfboard in good condition. But many more offer their surfboards at costs between USD $200 and USD $400 , which is very cheap for a new board!

You can opt for one of these boards if you’re starting out, and feel good about knowing that you’re not spending much to get started. And if you choose not to stick with the sport, you haven’t lost much money and can resell it for at least part of that amount.

You can also choose to buy a used surfboard, that while gently used, started out as a high quality board. The choice is a personal one and depends a lot on your budget.

A Very Cheap Surfboard = A Pop Out Surfboard

In the US, most new, very cheap surfboards are imported, made by companies that are very different from a hand shaped Hobie. These are usually foam surfboards with layers of epoxy resin and fiberglass wrapped around them, commonly referred to as Pop Out surfboards.

These pop out surfboards are made from preshaped molds allowing them to be mass produced in large factories in Third World countries, before they are imported into the US and Australia.

These are a very popular choice amongst parents looking to buy their kids their first surfboard.  As we know kids can be into one sport and then with in a few months have no interest in that sport anymore.  You don’t want to be stuck with a hardly used $600 USD kids surfboard…you would rather be stuck with a $300 USD cheap surfboard I’m sure!

You can usually find these surfboards in the sports section of many large department stores, such as Costco.

Just be warned that if you choose a pop out surfboard to save money that there are very many people in the surf industry that have a highly negative view towards these surfboards.  These surfboards are view by some as surfboards manufactured in “sweat shops” and it is believed that these boards are destroying the true essence of surfboard shaping.

Now I’m not saying that you will necessarily be scorned or that your son will be heckled for riding one of these cheap pop out surfboards. I’m just letting you know that some surfers may not argee with your choose of surfboard.

Regardless of this fact these are very cheap surfboards and can say you a couple hundred bucks!

Choosing Cheap Second Hand Surfboards

If you’re looking for cheap surfboards, and you don’t mind buying a used board, you can find many types of used surfboards in local shops and online. Auction sites such as eBay and online classifieds like Craigslist are excellent places to shop for cheap used surfing gear and equipment.

You will want to make sure you can examine the surfboard well before you purchase it. And if you’re new to surfboards, you should bring a friend along with you who knows what to look for to make sure you buy a good, cheap surfboard and don’t get burned.

Things To Check For When Buying A Cheap Surfboard

When looking for cheap surfboards, you need to make sure they are still perfectly usable. There is nothing worse than leaving with your new board only to discover a major problem when you try to surf it.

The first thing you should look for are dings and signs that there have been dings that were repaired. Even if none remain that haven’t been repaired, spotting several repaired dings is a sign that the board has been used roughly and could have problems with the glassing. You don’t want to end up with new dings every time you ride it.

Secondly look for cracks and signs that there have been cracks that were repaired. Really look closely around the tail and fins of the surfboard where there is more susceptibility to this type of damage. Whether they are removable fins or they are glassed as part of the board, any repairs or replacements in this area of the surfboard will be expensive. Cheap surfboards that cost you a lot of money to get in riding condition are no bargain.

Lastly check for soft spots by pressing around any ding repairs. If you feel softness, then the foam has been degraded, probably because of a leak.

Don’t be shy!…It is okay to squeeze around the edges of the board while you are examining it. If the owner of the board has a problem with this they are probably trying to hide something.

You can also pick the surfboard up and give it a shake or two to make sure you don’t hear water inside. All surfboards yellow with age, so don’t worry if it’s discolored a little. But avoid cheap surfboards that have cracks and soft spots, because those types of damage will shorten the life of the board considerably.

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