Surfing can be expensive. The cost of surf gear may seem prohibitive for many people. Fortunately, there are many ways to save money surfing.
A full set of surf gear can easily cost over $500, depending on the type and quality of the gear. Lessons typically cost up to $200 per day and the cost of multiple lessons can add up over time. Gear rentals can cost up to $50 dollars a day. Learn more about how much surfing costs.
Fortunately, the cost of surfing is mostly up front, and if you’re careful, you can catch some waves for relatively cheap!
I have been surfing casually for 8 years, and as a college student for half of that time, I had to surf on a budget. These are my 5 tips on how to save money surfing.
Limit gear rentals
Renting surf gear can be expensive. When you are just getting into surfing, it’s not a bad idea to rent gear. In fact, it’s probably smart to rent gear the first few times you surf because you want to make sure you actually enjoy surfing before buying your own gear.
However, if you decide you want to surf more, you’ll want to buy your own gear. It is more cost effective, and overall a better experience, to own your own gear rather than rent. See the table below for typical gear rental costs.
| Item | Rental Cost (full day) |
| Surfboard | $25 |
| Wetsuit | $25 |
| Booties | $10 |
| Gloves | $10 |
| Package | $50 |
At a certain point, it is better to buy gear rather than rent. For example, a surfboard and wetsuit rental might cost $50 dollars each time you go, whereas a surfboard and wetsuit might cost $500 to own. If you rent 10 times, you equal the cost of the gear.
Once you know that you’ll want to continue surfing, you should try to buy gear as soon as possible. I recommend setting a goal to rent less than 5 times before buying. Also, you get more familiar with your gear if you own it, which is helpful when learning.
Buy used gear
The biggest way to save money surfing is to buy used gear rather than new gear.
Gear, meaning the surfboard, wetsuit, booties, and gloves, is the main cost associated with surfing and the price can vary significantly based on the type and quality of the gear you buy.
New surf gear is nice but typically quite expensive. Logically, used gear will always be cheaper than new gear. But the trade off is that the used gear is usually lower quality.
See the table below for an idea of the cost of new versus used gear.
| Item | Cost (New) | Cost (Used) |
| Surfboard | $400 – $1000 | $100 – $600 |
| Wetsuit | $250 – $300 | $50 – $150 |
| Gloves | $40 – $60 | $5 – $20 |
| Booties | $40 – $80 | $5 – $20 |
| Total | $730 – $1440 | $160 – $790 |
As you can see, you can save a lot of money buying used gear. Note that you might not need gloves and booties for warmer water temperatures.
Many surfers, including myself, buy some or all of their gear used. Some pieces of gear are usually fine to buy used, but others you’ll probably want to buy new.
A surfboard is usually okay to buy used. In fact, I recommend beginners and those on a budget buy used surfboards instead of new ones. The only exception to this would be if you’re searching for a foam board, as those can be fairly affordable (around $200 – $250) new. Read more here on how to buy a used surfboard.
A wetsuit is sometimes okay to get used, if you get a decent deal. But often used wetsuits have significant wear and won’t last nearly as long as new ones. Sometimes, it can be more costly, and more of a hassle, to buy multiple used wetsuits than one new one.
If you can afford it, I recommend buying a new wetsuit. It will probably fit you better than a used one, last longer, and be less hassle. If you decide to go for a used wetsuit, read more here on how to buy a used wetsuit.
Booties and gloves you should typically buy new, unless you can find them packaged with a used wetsuit for a good deal. It’s just usually not worth the effort to seek these out as individual items if they are used.
Reduce transportation costs
Most people need to drive to go surfing, and the fuel that is required for transportation is the main ongoing cost of surfing.
Like in any activity that involves driving, reducing the cost of gas will help you save money surfing. With surfing in particular, there are several ways to reduce the cost of fuel.
1. Surf close to home.
Depending on your location, you may be within driving distance of multiple surf spots or you may be more limited in your choices. If you have multiple options, choose the closer one as long as it is appropriate for your skill level.
2. Carpool with friends.
Split the cost of fuel with friends or family and ride to the beach together. Assuming you can fit all your gear in or on your car, carpooling is a great way to save on fuel costs. Also, surfing with friends is fun! If you don’t have any friends that surf read more on how to find people to surf with.
3. Plan multi-day trips.
To maximize your time at the beach, plan multi-day surf trips. Camp near a surf spot and surf two days in a row. This way, you’ll get twice as much surfing for the same amount of driving. Plus, camping is fun! Protip: look for free places to camp to avoid paying for a campsite. Freecampsites.net is a great resource. Don’t forget the beers and firewood!
Take care of your gear
Surf gear takes a beating in and out of the water. Taking care of your gear will increase its lifespan and make it last longer. That way, you won’t have to buy new gear as often. I think this is such an important point that I wrote a whole article about how to care for your surf gear.
It is worth it to take care of your gear. Even though it will be a little extra work, in the log run it will help you save money surfing. There are lots of ways that you can take care of your gear and make it last longer.
1. Be careful!
Surfboards can ding pretty easily, especially if you have a fiberglass board. Pay close attention to your board when you pick it up, put it down, and anytime you handle it.
Set your board on soft surfaces instead of hard surfaces when you can and be careful walking in tight spaces as the ends of your board can knock into things.
Trust me, it’s not a good feeling when you damage your board because you carelessly knocked it into something. Being overly careful is the best way to avoid unnecessary damage.
Many people prefer epoxy or foam boards just because they are more durable, but they generally have lower performance than fiberglass boards. As a beginner, the performance component doesn’t matter as much, so epoxy or foam boards are good options.
2. Do your own repairs.
No matter how careful you are with your surfboard, it will eventually get damaged. Fortunately, most damage to a surfboard can be repaired relatively easily. You can usually repair chips, dings, dents, and cracks without much expertise.
I have repaired dings on several of my boards and they have been watertight since. They don’t look the prettiest, but it’s the function that is important. Anyone can do simple repairs.
There are a number of products available to repair board damage. The type of board, type of damage, and location of the damage will dictate what is the best product for repair.
I won’t go into all the details of repair here but the main idea is you use a product to cover the ding and make the damaged area water tight.
3. Buy a board bag or board sock
While not essential pieces of equipment, a board bag or board sock will help protect your board from damage.
You only really need to consider a board bag or board sock if you have a fiberglass board. Epoxy and foam boards are much more durable and don’t really benefit from a board bag.
A board bag is a padded bag that fits around your board. It usually has enough padding to protect it from damage, or at least reduce the damage, if you knock it into something hard.
It’s also quite convenient to set it down on hard surfaces without worrying about damage.
A board sock is exactly what it sounds like. It’s a thin sock that slides over your board like a normal sock does your feet. For the most protection, use a board sock and board bag together. But this is pretty overkill in most cases.
Just like other surf gear, you can buy a board bag or board sock used. Often, used boards will come with a board bag for a little extra cash. It’s up to you to decide if it’s worth it to get one!
I personally have not invested in a board bag or board socks for any of my boards to date. This is only true because my boards are “beaters”, meaning they are already quite used and not super nice. If or when I buy a nice board, I will definitely buy a board bag to protect it.
4. Rinse your gear after each session
Salt water can be harsh on gear and it is best to rinse your surfboard and wetsuit off with fresh water each time after you surf. Rinsing with fresh water will also get the sand off, which makes putting on your wetsuit much more enjoyable next time you put it on.
You can lay your gear out in your front yard or driveway and hose it off. Make sure to flip the wetsuit over and inside out. Don’t forget about your booties and gloves too.
Also, don’t forget to spray down your surfboard, especially any parts that are metal like the fin screws or where the leash attaches.
You can also fill a bin or bucket with water, dunk your wetsuit in, and swish it around a bit. Still make sure to get your surfboard too. This is a good way to save water, but I find it’s not as thorough as a hose.
5. Store your gear out of the elements
Make sure you are storing your gear out of the elements, to keep it in good condition.
Don’t keep your board or wetsuit out in the sun for long periods of time. This is most important for fiberglass boards, as the foam inside will yellow if exposed to too much sun. Soft-top and epoxy boards are, again, more durable.
The sun is not your wetsuits friend. The UV harms the neoprene fibers. Try to dry your wetsuit in the shade and don’t leave it out in the sun.
It’s best to store all of your gear inside. It doesn’t have to be warm, just away from the sun and moisture.
You can store your surfboard upright or horizontal on a rack, but make sure there aren’t any sharp points of pressure. Again, this is most important for fiberglass boards.
Wetsuits can be stored in bins, bags, or just hanging somewhere. You don’t have to fold it all nice or anything, just throw it in. If you store it in a bag or bin like me, make sure it is mostly dry before you put it in. Without air circulation it won’t dry and it will be unpleasant to put on the next time you surf.
Share gear with friends or family
Sharing gear between two or more people is a great way to save money surfing.
After all, not everyone absolutely needs to have their own surfboard. It is totally feasible to switch off every hour or so and take turns using a surfboard. This is a great option for beginners, who won’t spend all day in the water, or people who will take breaks often.
Another option is to get one surfboard, and one boogie board. Boogie boards are much more affordable and still a super fun way to catch waves.
When I first started surfing, my sister and I shared one surfboard and one boogie board for a while before we got two surfboards. It was enough for us to trade off and we had a blast using either one!
Sharing wetsuits, on the other hand, is not recommended. It is a pain to put on and take off a wetsuit and even worse on a sandy beach.
Conclusion
Hopefully these points have been helpful in helping you save money surfing. I know surfing isn’t the cheapest activity out there, but it is relatively affordable compared with other outdoor sports.
Heads up! Surfing is awesome but it can be dangerous! Learn more about how to stay safe and avoid dangers while surfing. If you are a beginner surfer, check out my other articles about surfing and my ultimate guide to learning how to surf.
