A good surfboard bag is one of the simplest and most worthwhile investments you can make after buying a surfboard. Whether you are carrying your board down to the beach at Scarborough, Cayton Bay, Whitby or Saltburn, storing it at home, or taking it abroad, a decent board bag helps protect your board from dings, scratches, sunlight and accidental knocks.
Surfboards are surprisingly fragile. A board can be damaged by being dropped, knocked against a car, hit by another board or simply left in direct sunlight. A good-quality bag provides an extra layer of protection and makes transporting your board much easier.
There are several different types of surfboard bags available, from lightweight board socks costing relatively little to heavily padded travel bags designed for taking several boards on an aeroplane.
Why Do You Need a Surfboard Bag?
Even if you normally surf locally, a board bag is useful for several reasons.
Protection when travelling
Carrying a surfboard from your house to the car, from the car park to the beach and back again creates plenty of opportunities for damage.
A padded bag helps protect the rails, nose and tail from knocks.
Protection from UV
Leaving a surfboard exposed to strong sunlight for long periods isn’t ideal. A bag provides additional protection when the board is being transported or stored.
Protecting the board from scratches
Boards can easily become scratched when they are placed in the back of a van, on roof racks or alongside other equipment.
Keeping wax and sand under control
A bag also helps contain wax, sand and water rather than spreading them throughout your vehicle.
Easier transport
Most quality board bags have handles and shoulder straps, making it much easier to carry a board to and from the beach.
Types of Surfboard Bags
There isn’t one board bag that is perfect for every surfer. The best choice depends on your board, how often you travel and how much protection you need.
1. Board Sock / Stretch Cover
A board sock is the simplest type of surfboard protection.
It is normally made from a stretchy fabric that fits over the board.
Advantages
- Lightweight
- Relatively inexpensive
- Easy to store
- Good for protecting against scratches
- Useful for everyday storage
- Helps stop wax getting everywhere
Disadvantages
- Very little impact protection
- Not ideal for air travel
- Limited protection against knocks
A board sock is a good option if you mainly want something to protect your board while it is stored at home or transported short distances.
For example, Decathlon currently sells surfboard socks from around £19.99.
2. Day Bag
For most surfers, a padded day bag is probably the best all-round choice.
A day bag usually has padding around the board and protection around the nose, tail and rails.
A good day bag can be used for:
- Going surfing locally
- Transporting your board in the car
- Roof-rack journeys
- Storing your board
- Travelling around the UK
A quality day bag is much more protective than a simple board sock without being excessively bulky.
My recommendation
For everyday surfing around Yorkshire, I would generally recommend a good 5mm padded day bag.
It gives you a good balance between:
Protection + weight + price + practicality.
3. Travel Bag
If you are taking your surfboard on an aeroplane, you need substantially more protection.
Travel bags are normally more heavily padded than ordinary day bags and are often designed to carry more than one board.
Look for:
- Around 10mm padding
- Strong zips
- Reinforced nose and tail
- Good rail protection
- Strong handles
- Shoulder straps
- Internal board straps
- Space between multiple boards
- Ventilation
- Strong stitching
A good travel bag is worth paying extra for when you consider how expensive a surfboard can be.
Some specialist surf retailers recommend around 10mm padding for air travel compared with approximately 5mm for a day bag.
4. Multi-Board Travel Bags
If you are going on a surf trip and want to take several boards, a multi-board travel bag can be a better option than buying individual bags.
These are available for:
- Two boards
- Three boards
- Four boards
- Five or more boards
They are particularly useful for surf trips where you want different boards for different conditions.
For example, you might take:
- A shortboard
- A fish
- A step-up
- A small wave board
The downside is that these bags are considerably heavier and more expensive.
Choosing the Correct Size
One of the most common mistakes when buying a board bag is simply buying a bag based on the board’s length.
Length is important, but width and thickness are just as important.
A 6’8″ fish can have very different dimensions from a 6’8″ performance shortboard.
Check these measurements:
Board length
For example:
6’0″, 6’6″, 7’0″, 7’6″, 8’0″, etc.
Board width
A wide fish or funboard needs a wider bag.
Board thickness
This becomes particularly important with:
- Foam boards
- Fish boards
- Funboards
- Mini mals
- Mid-lengths
Don’t Buy a Bag That Is Too Small
Your surfboard should fit comfortably inside the bag.
Don’t try to squeeze a wide board into a narrow performance shortboard bag just because the length is correct.
A tight-fitting bag can put unnecessary pressure on the rails and make the board difficult to put in and remove.
Don’t Go Too Large Either
Buying a bag several feet longer than your board isn’t necessarily better.
Too much spare room can allow the board to move around inside the bag.
Ideally, choose a bag designed for your board type and close to its actual dimensions.
Some bags are deliberately designed with a little extra length to accommodate boards with wider noses or tails.
Board Shape Matters
Shortboard
Look for:
Shortboard / Thruster bag
These are designed around narrower performance boards.
Fish
Look for:
Fish / Hybrid bag
Fish boards are normally wider than conventional shortboards.
Funboard / Mini Mal
Look for:
Funboard / Mini Mal bag
These are wider and have more room around the board.
Mid-Length
Look for:
Mid-length bag
Mid-lengths can be particularly difficult to fit into standard shortboard bags because of their length and width.
Longboard
Look for:
Longboard / Noserider bag
These bags are designed for boards commonly around 9′ and longer.
How Much Padding Do You Need?
2–3mm
Suitable for:
- Lightweight protection
- Storage
- Short journeys
- Board socks with some additional padding
Around 5mm
A great choice for:
- Everyday surfing
- UK surfing
- Car journeys
- Roof-rack transport
- Regular trips to the beach
For most Yorkshire surfers, 5mm is a very good compromise.
Around 10mm
Better for:
- Air travel
- Long-distance travel
- Carrying expensive boards
- Multi-board travel
Remember that padding isn’t the only thing that matters.
The quality of the fabric, stitching, zip, nose protection, rail protection and construction all make a difference.
Features Worth Looking For
When comparing board bags, don’t just look at the price.
Padding
Look for good-quality padding rather than simply the thickest padding advertised.
Nose protection
The nose is particularly vulnerable when putting the board into a vehicle or placing it on the ground.
Tail protection
A reinforced tail section is useful, particularly for boards with exposed fins.
Rail protection
A good bag should protect the rails rather than leaving them exposed.
Strong zip
A poor-quality zip can quickly become the weakest part of a board bag.
Ventilation
Ventilation helps reduce heat build-up and allows moisture to escape.
Internal straps
Useful for keeping the board secure inside a travel bag.
External pockets
Very useful for storing:
- Fins
- Fin keys
- Leashes
- Wax
- Wax combs
- Repair equipment
Shoulder strap
A surprisingly useful feature when walking from the car park to the beach.
What About Fins?
Check how the bag deals with your fins.
Some bags have enough room for the board with the fins still installed, while others are designed to have the fins removed.
If you use a large single fin, longboard fin or large twin-fin setup, make sure there is sufficient room.
For travel, removing the fins is normally the safer option.
Keep your fins and fin screws somewhere secure inside the bag.
Surfboard Bags for Yorkshire Surfing
Yorkshire is a particularly good place to own a quality board bag.
The coastline includes a mixture of beaches and surf spots around:
- Scarborough
- Cayton Bay
- Filey
- Whitby
- Saltburn
- Sandsend
- Runswick Bay
- Staithes
The North Sea coastline also means you are likely to be transporting your board in wet and windy conditions.
A decent waterproof or water-resistant bag is therefore particularly useful.
Where to Buy Surfboard Bags in Yorkshire
There are several surf shops worth checking if you want to see bags in person before buying.
Saltburn Surf Shop – Saltburn-by-the-Sea
Saltburn Surf Shop
The Pier Car Park / Lower Promenade
Saltburn-by-the-Sea
TS12 1HQ
Saltburn Surf Shop has been established since 1986 and stocks surfboards, wetsuits and surfing accessories. It is a good local option for surfers around Saltburn and the North Yorkshire / North East coast.
It is particularly useful if you want local advice and want to compare equipment before buying.
Secret Spot – Scarborough
Secret Spot
4 Pavilion Terrace
Scarborough
YO11 2JU
Secret Spot is one of the specialist surf shops in Scarborough and stocks surf equipment including board bags.
They currently list FCS board bags including day bags, stretch socks and travel bags.
Secret Spot also has a larger HQ at:
Unit 8, Farfield Business Park
Wykeham
Scarborough
YO13 9QB
and a shop at Cayton Bay.
Secret Spot – Cayton Bay
Cayton Bay Surf Shop and Scarborough Surf School
Killerby Cliff
Cayton Bay
Scarborough
YO11 3NR
This is a particularly convenient option if you surf Cayton Bay regularly.
Secret Spot’s Cayton Bay shop stocks surf equipment and is located right by the beach.
Opening hours can change, particularly outside the main season, so it is worth checking before travelling.
Secret Spot HQ – Wykeham
Secret Spot Ltd
Unit 8, Farfield Business Park
Wykeham
Scarborough
YO13 9QB
This is another option for buying surf equipment and getting advice from a specialist surf retailer.
Dexters Surf Shop – Scarborough
Dexters Surf Shop
Unit 5, Kepwick House
Peasholm Gap
North Bay Promenade
Scarborough
YO12 7TN
Dexters stocks a range of surfing equipment, surfboards, wetsuits and surfing hardware.
It’s another shop worth checking if you are in Scarborough and want to compare equipment locally.
Juice Boardsports – Huddersfield
Juice Boardsports
Unit 3, Linfit Court
Clayton West
Huddersfield
HD8 9WL
This is an option for surfers based further inland around Huddersfield and West Yorkshire.
Buying Surfboard Bags Online
There is a much larger selection online, particularly if you are looking for a particular size or board shape.
FCS
FCS makes a wide range of board bags covering:
- Shortboards
- Fish
- Funboards
- Mid-lengths
- Longboards
- Travel bags
FCS is one of the brands I would consider if you want a quality bag that is going to get regular use.
Ocean & Earth
Ocean & Earth makes a large range of surfboard covers and bags.
They offer everything from relatively simple board covers to more heavily padded travel bags.
The Barry Basic range is worth considering if you want a straightforward everyday bag without spending a fortune.
Dakine
Dakine produces a wide range of surfboard bags, including day bags, hybrid bags and travel bags.
Dakine’s Daylight range is particularly useful for everyday surfing.
Tiki Surf
Tiki has a good selection of board bags covering shortboards, mini mals, fish and longboards.
Current examples include:
- Tiki Economy Surf Board Bag – from around £49.95
- Tiki Tripper Shortboard Bag – from around £69.95
- Tiki Tripper Mini Mal Bag – from around £77.95
- Tiki Tripper Longboard Bag – around £92.95
Decathlon
Decathlon is worth considering if you are looking for an affordable board bag.
Their current range includes adjustable bags covering boards from approximately 5’4″ through to 9’4″, as well as travel covers.
For example, their Adjustable Surfbag 500 range currently starts at around £44.99, while some smaller bags are around £34.99.
This can be a good option for beginners who don’t want to spend a fortune.
Some Good Bags to Consider
Here are examples of different price levels and styles.
Prices change regularly, so treat these as examples rather than fixed prices.
My Advice for Yorkshire Surfers
If you are mainly surfing the Yorkshire and North East coast, I wouldn’t automatically buy the most expensive travel bag.
For a normal everyday surfboard, I’d choose:
Shortboard
5mm padded shortboard/day bag
Fish
5mm fish or hybrid bag
Funboard / Mini Mal
5mm funboard or mini-mal bag
Mid-Length
Dedicated mid-length bag
Longboard
Padded longboard bag
Flying abroad
10mm or heavily padded travel bag
Don’t Buy the Cheapest Bag You Can Find
It can be tempting to buy a £20–£30 bag simply because it looks similar to a more expensive model.
Remember that your board could be worth hundreds or even thousands of pounds.
A cheap bag with poor padding, weak stitching and a poor-quality zip may not offer much protection.
I’d rather spend a little more on a decent bag from an established surf brand such as:
- FCS
- Ocean & Earth
- Dakine
- Creatures of Leisure
- Tiki
- Northcore
A good-quality bag should last for years if it is looked after.
Look After Your Surfboard Bag
Even a good board bag needs looking after.
After surfing:
- Take the board out of the bag.
- Allow the bag to dry.
- Shake out sand and grit.
- Check the zip.
- Check the stitching.
- Don’t leave a wet board sealed inside the bag for long periods.
- Don’t leave the bag containing the board in a hot car for hours.
Saltwater and sand can be particularly hard on zips and stitching.
Surfboard Bag Buying Checklist
Before buying, check:
- Correct board length
- Correct board width
- Correct thickness
- Correct board shape
- Suitable padding
- Nose protection
- Tail protection
- Rail protection
- Strong zip
- Comfortable handle
- Shoulder strap
- Fin clearance
- Ventilation
- Internal storage
- Suitable for car/roof-rack use
- Suitable for air travel if required
Final Advice
For most surfers in Yorkshire, a good 5mm padded day bag is the sweet spot.
It offers much better protection than a simple board sock without the weight and cost of a full travel bag.
If you are regularly flying with your board, step up to a properly padded travel bag rather than trying to save money with a lightweight day bag.
Most importantly, buy the bag for the shape and dimensions of your board rather than just its length.
A correctly fitted quality bag will protect your board, make transporting it easier and ultimately save you money by reducing the chances of expensive dings and repairs.
If you’re buying locally, specialist surf shops such as Saltburn Surf Shop, Secret Spot, Cayton Bay Surf Shop and Dexters are good places to start because you can get advice and check the fit before buying.
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