Finding the right surfboards for bigger people can be a challenge. It can be hard to find a suitable surfboard for your skill level and local waves. Surfboards are often made for lighter people and usually don’t provide the buoyancy needed for larger people.
Heavier people should look for surfboards with more volume because they are more buoyant and usually easier to ride. However, the shape of the surfboard is still important for performance.
In this article, I suggest surfboards for bigger people for a variety of styles and skill levels. I hope you find this information useful in helping you choose out your next surfboard!
Best longboards for bigger surfers
Longboards are great for beginners and larger surfers alike. The high volume of a longboard is great for the buoyancy needed to support bigger surfers and help catch waves easier. Longboards are best for slow, small, or mushy waves two through six feet high.
Beginner longboard length and volume by surfer weight
The chart below shows roughly which length and minimum volume is suitable for longboards for beginner surfers. Specifically, this table is made for bigger surfers. Use this as a rough guide and not the final determination. Length and volume are only two, albeit important, components of a surfboard. Also consider the width, thickness, material, and cost.
| Weight (lbs) | Length (ft, in) | Minimum Volume (liters) |
| 170 | 9’0” | 70 |
| 190 | 9’3” | 78 |
| 210 | 9’6” | 86 |
| 230 | 9’9” | 92 |
| 240 | 10’ | 100 |
| 260+ | 10’ | 108 |
Best beginner longboards for bigger people
The table below shows three longboards that are suitable for larger beginner surfers. Recognize that these are just three options. There are many surfboards out there similar to these ones that you can buy at your local surf shop.
| Surfboard | Wavestorm | Tahe Paint Easy | Degree 33 Ultimate Longboard 10′ Epoxy |
| Features | Soft-top EPS core Traction pad 3 fin setups | Soft-top EPS core Carry handle 3 fin setup | EPS core Epoxy resin 3 fin boxes |
| Dimension | 9’0” x 24” x 3.5” | 8’6” x 27” x 4.5” | 10’0” x 23.5” x 3.25” |
| Volume | 102 L | 140 L | 89 L |
| Weight | 16.4 lbs | 14.8 lbs | 14 lbs |
| Pros | Super durable Affordable High volume Very Wide Fins included | Super Durable Super high volume Super wide Fins included | Durable Wide and long Good maneuverability Fins included |
| Cons | Poor maneuverability | Poor maneuverability | |
| Skill Level | True Beginner to Beginner | True Beginner to beginner | Beginner to Advanced |
| Best for | True beginners on a budget | True beginners and beginners over 250 lbs | Beginners looking for their first hard top |
Wavestorm
The 9 foot wavestorm is one foot longer than the most popular model, which is a well-known option for beginner surfers. It has a relatively high volume at 102 liters and is plenty wide at 24 inches. The soft-foam makes it easier to manage for beginners than a hard top (collisions with your own board are common).
As a result, the Wavestorm is ideal for true beginners. In particular, surfers on a budget will find this surfboard one of the most affordable on the market. Bigger surfers could opt for the 8 foot version, but the 9 foot option is really the better option even for lighter surfers who are true beginners.
Tahe Paint Easy
The 8-foot 6-inch Tahe Paint Easy is a great option for beginning heavier surfers. This surfboard has super high volume (140 liters) and is crazy wide (27 inches) and thick (4.5 inches). This means that it is really stable and catches waves with ease. In addition, the Tahe Paint Easy has a good build quality and is super durable.
As a result, the Tahe Paint Easy is ideal for true beginners. Bigger surfers will appreciate the support provided by the high volume. This board is perfect for learning the fundamentals of surfing.
Degree 33 10-foot Longboard 10′ Epoxy
The Degree 33 Ultimate Longboard 10′ Epoxy a high-performance epoxy longboard. At 10 feet long and 23.5 inches wide, it has a large profile and lots of surface area on the water. The volume is smaller than the others on this list at 89 liters, but that is still plenty for larger beginner surfers, and makes the board more responsive. It is made out of a durable epoxy resin and lightweight EPS foam core.
The Degree 33 Ultimate Longboard 10′ Epoxy strikes a good balance between stability, durability, and maneuverability. Surfers of all skill levels will have a blast on this board. The Degree 33 10-foot longboard is a great option for larger beginners who are looking for their first hard-top surfboard.
Best intermediate and advanced longboards for bigger people
Intermediate and advanced surfers often want more performance, responsiveness, and maneuverability in a longboard. Higher performance usually correlates with a lower volume. For larger surfers, don’t go down in volume too much without understanding your skill level.
| Surfboard | Modern Retro PU | Walden Surflight Magic Model | Degree 33 Ultimate Longboard 9’6″ Poly |
| Features | PU construction Wide nose and tail Medium rocker Double stringer Single fin box | EPS foam core Epoxy resin Full rocker 3 fin boxes | PU construction Medium rocker Squash tail 3 fin boxes |
| Dimension | 9’6” x 23 ⅝” x 3 ⅜” | 9’6” x 23 ¼” x 3 ¼” | 9’6” x 23 ¼” x 3 ⅛” |
| Volume | 86.5 L | 86.3 L | 80.4 L |
| Weight | NA | 16 lbs | 14 lbs |
| Pros | Good flex Good speed Fin included | Durable Good maneuverability | Good maneuverability Good flex |
| Cons | Fragile | Fins not included | Fins not included Fragile |
| Skill Level | Intermediate to Advanced | Beginner to Advanced | Intermediate to Advanced |
| Best for | Balance between performance and volume | Durable high performance epoxy longboard | Most responsiveness and maneuverability |
Modern Retro PU
The Modern Retro PU longboard puts a modern style to a classic design. It has a wide nose and a wide squash tail, making it super stable. The moderate rocker allows for a good balance between speed and maneuverability.
The wide form and 86 liters of volume make it great for larger surfers. The Modern Retro is best intermediate to advanced surfers looking for a high volume and high performance PU surfboard.
Walden Surflight Magic Model
The Walden Surflight Magic Model is a high performance epoxy longboard. It has a full rocker which makes it easier to turn and harder to nosedive. The epoxy resin and quality construction make it more durable than a PU surfboard.
The Walden Surflight Magic Model has 86 liters of volume which is sufficient for intermediate and advanced surfers that are over 200 pounds. Beginners will also enjoy this board and it is a great option for your first hard-top surfboard. This surfboard is a great high performance epoxy longboard for all skill levels.
Degree 33 Ultimate Longboard 9’6″ Poly
The Degree 33 Ultimate Longboard 9’6″ Poly is a high-performance PU longboard. The fairly defined rocker makes for easy turns and the ability to use it in larger surf. It has a moderate rocker and squash tail for maneuverability. It has a volume of just over 80 liters, which is sufficient for most intermediate to advanced larger surfers.
Overall, the Degree 33 Ultimate Longboard 9’6″ Poly is a great option for larger intermediate to advanced surfers looking for a responsive and maneuverable PU longboard. Beginner surfers over 200 pounds might consider a higher volume option like the Degree 33 Ultimate Longboard 10′ Epoxy mentioned previously.
Best fun boards for bigger surfers
Fun boards are great all around surfboards. They are typically 6 to 8 feet long and have a wide, rounded nose for stability. Fun boards are basically a shortened longboard shape with some added maneuverability. As a result, fun boards are a great next step from a longboard for beginner surfers and an all around good option for intermediate to advanced surfers. Larger surfers will enjoy the added stability of the wider nose while still being able to get some good turns in.
| Surfboard | Tahe Mini Longboard | South Beach Board Co. Soft-Top Surfboard | Degree 33 Poacher Funboard |
| Features | PU foam core Epoxy resin Rubber nose guard | Soft-top Carry handle Entry rocker EPS foam core Heat release valve | Epoxy resin EPS foam core Double layer glassing |
| Dimension | 7’6” x 22.25” x 2.9” | 7’0” x 22” x 2.85” | 7’2” x 21.75” x 2.5” |
| Volume | 62 L | 49 L | 46.6 L |
| Weight | 15.2 lbs | 15 lbs | 15 lbs |
| Pros | Durable High volume Wide nose Affordable Fins included | Super durable Fins included | Durable Wide nose Fins included |
| Cons | Slightly thinner nose | ||
| Skill Level | Beginner toAdvanced | Intermediate to Advanced | Intermediate to Advanced |
| Best for | Heavier surfers looking for durable and stable funboard | Higher performance soft-top funboard | High performance, durable epoxy funboard |
Tahe Mini Longboard
The Tahe Mini Longboard is a great board for heavier surfers who are looking for a hybrid between a longboard and something smaller. In essence, this board is a longboard shape with a smaller profile. It brings some of the stability and volume of a real longboard with the maneuverability of a shorter board.
The Tahe Mini Longboard has a high volume (62 liters) for its size and is very wide (22.25 inches), making it super stable and buoyant for its length (7’6”). This board is best for heavier surfers looking for more maneuverability without sacrificing stability and buoyancy. Surfers of all skill levels will enjoy this board, but it is especially suitable for beginners looking to transition to a shorter board. It is affordable, durable, and overall a great value.
South Beach Board Co. Soft-Top Surfboard
The South Beach Board Co Soft-Top is a good option for a soft-top funboard. The 7 foot long surfboard is 22 inches wide and has a volume of 49 liters, which is much smaller than the Tahe Mini Longboard. The smaller volume makes this a high performance soft-top, which can be a great transition option for people moving from a longboard to a smaller length. This board provides good maneuverability with all the benefits of a soft-top.
As a result, the South Beach Board Co. Soft-Top is best for surfers looking for a high performance soft top. Beginner surfers over 200 pounds might struggle with the relatively low volume, so it is only recommended for intermediate to advanced surfers.
Degree 33 Poacher Funboard
The Degree 33 Poacher Funboard has a longboard shape in a smaller frame that is more maneuverable. At 7 feet 2 inches long and 21.75 inches wide, it has just under 46 liters of volume. It is a great option for knees to head high waves in a variety of conditions. The epoxy resin is durable.
Overall, the Degree 33 Poacher is a great board to transition to from a longboard if you want more maneuverability. It does have a relatively lower volume than the other funboards on this list. As a result, it is best for intermediate to advanced surfers, especially larger people.
Best fish surfboards for bigger surfers
Fish surfboards, also called a swallowtail board, is generally a wide and full shaped surfboard with a wide nose. This shape makes them typically have higher volume than shortboards and therefore easier to paddle and catch waves. Fish surfboards are best in mushy conditions and not when the waves are steep and hollow.
Typically the rocker on fish boards is minimal which helps generate speed. Fish boards can range from less than 5 feet to about 8 feet. High volume fish boards are great for bigger surfers looking for maneuverability.
| Surfboard | Big Boy Fish | South Bay Board Co. Casper | 7s SuperFish 4 |
| Features | PU construction 5 fin boxes Tapered tail | Soft-top Wide nose and middle Nose rocker 3 fin setup | PU construction 5 fin boxes |
| Dimension | 8’0” x 23” x 3” | 6’8” x 22.5” x 3” | 7’6” x 22” x 2 ⅞” |
| Volume | 62 L | 45.4 L | 55.2 L |
| Weight | NA | 12 lbs | NA |
| Pros | Wide High volume | Super durable Wide nose Fins included | High volume Modern design |
| Cons | Fragile Fins not included | Relatively low volume | Fragile Fins not included |
| Skill Level | Intermediate to advanced | Intermediate to Advanced | Intermediate to Advanced |
| Best for | High volume PU fish board | Durable foam fish surfboard | Balance between volume and response |
Big Boy Fish
The big boy fish is an overall great fish board for larger surfers. It was made at the request of larger surfers. The larger size (8 feet) and corresponding higher volume (62 L) make it easy to ride and catch waves, but still preserve the fish shape. It is super wide and has a high volume, which means it has sufficient support for heavier surfers.
It actually comes in three sizes with 8 feet being the largest. Intermediate to advanced surfers will find this board a blast. If you are more experienced, you could go for one of their smaller sizes, but heavier surfers will enjoy the buoyancy of the 8 foot size.
South Bay Board Co. Casper
The Casper from South Bay Board Co. is a durable soft-top fish surfboard. It also has a wide nose and is generally shaped similar to a funboard aside from the swallow tail. It does have relatively low volume (45 liters) and should probably be reserved for larger surfers who are intermediate to advanced.
Overall, the Casper strikes a good balance between durability and maneuverability. This is a great option for surfers looking for the maneuverability of the fish shaped board, but still have the stability of the wider nose and durability of a soft-top.
7s SuperFish 4
The 7s SuperFish 4 is a high performance fish that comes in a variety of sizes ranging from 6 to 8 feet. The board has a medium wide nose, relatively high volume, and comes in a modern design. The moderate rocker helps in steeper waves but aren’t too intense to sacrifice speed.
The relatively high volume (55 liters) of the 7 foot 6 inch version of this board is great for intermediate to advanced larger surfers. It is a great choice for surfers who want the maneuverability of a fish surfboard without sacrificing too much length or volume.
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.
