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Surfboard travel bags are essential for any surf trip. They make travelling easier, provide proper safe storage, and protect your board from unnecessary UV exposure. Ultimately, travel requires protection, and that’s where finding the best surfboard travel bags is an important task!
Choosing the right surfboard bag for your specific requirements will cut out travel stress and keep the stoke alive for every trip. You need to consider the materials, style of bag, shoulder straps, wheels or no wheels, and of course, budget. All of these factors have a part to play in the importance of the board bag.
Lucky for you, we’re here to help give you the facts so you can decide if you need a double board bag or a fish bag. Or maybe a coffin-type travel bag is the way to go! Here are the top eight surfboard bags that tick all the boxes for us at GILI, along with what you need to consider before buying.
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This bag from Pro-Lite is superbly designed, is comfortable to carry and use, and made from high-quality materials. While it’s not the cheapest bag out there, you’ll be blown away by the quality which is worth every dollar.
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You can get a great surfboard bag for an affordable price. This all purpose board bag from FCS ticks all the boxes for us!
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Despite the high price tag, this board bag is epic! It’s good for the environment and has the awesome feature of wheels – enough said! You’re sure to be turning heads with this surfboard bag.
Why we like it:
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Pro-Lite’s Rhino Surfboard Travel Bags are designed for day-to-day/indoor storage use and airline travel. The Rhino series comes in three different styles: shortboard, longboard, or hybrid/fish. All three shapes come in various sizes ranging from 6’0 to 10’6, so you can get the best fit for your board.
This surfboard bag has a velcro secured expandable sidewall and gusset that adds 3” at the nose and 7” at the tail to carry two boards. An internal partition separates the two boards and stops wax being transferred to the top surfboard.
Overall, this bag from Pro-Lite is superbly designed, is comfortable to carry and use, and made from high-quality materials. While it’s not the cheapest bag out there, you’ll be blown away by the quality which is worth every dollar.
Channel Islands is a well-respected brand in the surf community, so you can begin to imagine how good the quality and design of the CX4 Quad Surfboard Bag is. This is a coffin style board bag that unzips the top almost entirely, so you can maneuver surfboards in and out easily. The bag is designed to carry 4 surfboards. However, you could fit in 5 performance boards if needed.
Along with the excellent materials used for the bag, Channel Islands have also included three internal padded dividers, corrosion proof zipper, and stash mesh pockets for keeping your fins in one place.
While the sizing options are limited to 6’6 - 7’6, this is still a great surfboard bag for traveling with multiple surfboards (as long as they are all within this size bracket). If your quiver has a shorter board in it, make sure you pack them correctly to avoid any damage to the smaller board.
The Mission Surfboard Bag from Dakine is a great choice for any surfer who wants a lightweight day-to-day bag to protect their valuable board during travel. The Noserider bag is perfect for longboards. Dakine also offers a Hybrid Mission Surfboard Bag and a Shortboard Mission Surfboard Bag option.
The wide choice of sizes is fantastic, so you can get the perfect fit for your board. Even though this is a longboard bag, the lightweight material keeps the weight down. This is helpful for when you’re taking your surfboard on an airline with weight restrictions.
We can look past the fin pocket issue and safely say this surfboard bag from Dakine is a great option. Sure, it’s not the cheapest, but the quality you’re getting is next to none.
If you’re an eco-conscious surfer, then this hemp surfboard travel bag from Wave Tribe will be right up your street! Hemp is a great material to use, as it keeps the heat out and is also safer for the planet. You can choose between the natural ‘grizzly bear’ brown or the blue for a color splash.
You can fit three boards in the mini/hybrid style surfboard bags from Wave Tribe. They come with a padded internal separator and adjustable straps so you can secure your boards inside the bag.
Despite the high price tag, this board bag is epic! It’s good for the environment and has the awesome feature of wheels – enough said! You’re sure to be turning heads with this surfboard bag.
Leave no board behind with the Tour Regulator Surfboard Travel Bag from Dakine. This board bag is mega with one stand-out key focus – carry all of the surfboards. Dakine designed this bag for surfers who want to take more than a couple of surfboards.
Perhaps you have an insane world trip coming up, or you’re a pro heading out to a competition, this board bag is made for serious surfers.
If you’re in need to take a lot of boards on the road, then there is no other option. Get your hands on this big bad boy from Dakine, and you’ll be set-up for the road trip of your dreams.
You can’t go wrong with FCS. The brand is reliable, so you know what you’re getting with the FCS Day All Purpose Board Bag. Expect great build quality, good materials, and a solid design to protect your surfboard.
This bag is for one surfboard only and is suitable for airline travel. It’s also lightweight so would be great for boat trip surf missions.
You can get a great surfboard bag for an affordable price. This all purpose board bag from FCS ticks all the boxes for us!
Can’t decide which board to take? Then take them all with Pro-Lite’s Wheeled Coffin Surfboard Travel Bag! This big travel bag can take up to four surfboards and comes with padded internal dividers and compression straps, so you can secure your boards for travel.
There are multiple interior storage and fin pockets, so you can keep all your surf gear together. Pro-Lite also put in some mesh vent panels to allow airflow, keeping the boards cool through transit.
Ok, sure, the price tag is high. But this coffin bag from Pro-Lite is kind of like 4-in-1, so it’s worth the money!
This Shortboard Double Board Cover from Creatures of Leisure is one of the premium bags available for surf travel. With the higher price tag, you get top-quality materials, build quality, and thoughtful design.
As a coffin bag, you can ensure you pack your surfboards properly and minimize all risks of dings whilst traveling. Choose between three sizes and three colors.
While there aren’t as many sizes to choose from as other brands, you know you’re getting a top-quality surfboard bag from Creatures of Leisure.
So how do you go about choosing between surfboard bags? There are some key features you should be considering before buying a travel bag. From what style you want to what shape you need, these important aspects will narrow your choices and help you find the best surfboard bag for you and your boards.
Size does matter when it comes to surfboard bags. For the best protection, you need a bag that is fractionally bigger than your surfboard, so the nose and tail aren’t getting crushed but it’s also not moving within the bag.
If your surfboard is 5’10, then you should aim to get a bag between 5’10 and 6’0 (the extra size would allow you to pack towels and other soft items.)
The shape is equally important. Generally, there are three shapes to choose from:
Surfboard bag styles also vary. You can get single bags, double bags, and even quad (or more) bags, depending on how many surfboards you need to travel with. Day bags are simple and often more lightweight. Coffin bags unzip the whole top to allow easy access to the interior, great for longer and more intense surf trips with all your gear packed inside.
Good materials equate to good durability. At the end of the day, you want your surfboard travel bag to last for more than just the journey. Airlines are notorious for being heavy-handed with luggage, and surfboards are no exception. Having top-quality materials will save your precious boards from unwanted damage through transit.
Look out for 600+ denier ripstop material. Ideally, you want breathable panels to allow some airflow; surfboards go into the bags out of the water, so you don’t want moisture getting trapped inside to go moldy. 10 mm of foam padding on the nose is desirable, along with reinforced rails and tail panels for board bags with multiple boards.
The stronger the outer material, and the thicker the padding, the better the protection for your surfboard.
The best surfboard bags will last for years, especially if they’re handled carefully and looked after. Sure, the high-end bags cost more money. But it’s worth it for the durability.
Make sure your travel surfboard bag also has a good quality zip on it. There is nothing worse than a poor-quality zip busting on you mid-travels.
How many boards will you be taking on your travels? Perhaps you can’t choose which stick you want for the trip. Or maybe you’re expecting a killer swell that could end up snapping your boards. Either way, if you think you want to take more than one board, opt to get a double board bag.
Comfortable carry handles and padded shoulder straps that adjust are a must when it comes to surfboard bags. You need to be able to easily move the bag around.
Some of the larger board bags even have wheels on the bottom to give you a helping hand. This is great for manoeuvering around an airport, not so great across a beach after a boat crossing in Indo!
You also want to make sure there are some pockets in the bag; either a mesh interior pocket or a zippered exterior pocket. Don’t ever underestimate the importance of a pocket! Storing your fins, wax, and leash in your surfboard bag means you won’t forget anything for your trip.
And, of course, there is a budget to think about. Quality doesn’t come cheap, so it is down to you to work out where your budget lies.
All we suggest is don’t go for the cheapest options; you’ll only be disappointed after it lets you down and you need to replace the bag.
After you’ve got an appropriately sized surfboard bag, you’re ready to start packing for your upcoming surf trip! Packing gets easier with the more experience you gain. Here are some top tips on how to pack a surfboard for travel:
Surfboard travel bags can generally be washed. However, you will not be able to wash them in a washing machine. You will need to hand wash only with a sponge and detergent. Make sure you allow the bag to dry completely before use to stop any mold or mildew.
Most surfboards will be put into the bags still with some moisture on them or on the wax.
Vents and mesh panels on surfboard travel bags allow air to circulate through the bag. This is important to keep the humidity down, allow your boards to dry, and stop any mold or mildew.
Most of the well-known and premium surf brands that sell surfboard travel bags will provide a warranty period with their products. The length of these warranties will vary, so be sure to check directly on the product that you’re considering purchasing.
You can travel with your surfboard waxed up. If you’re only traveling a short distance or staying within the same climate, keeping your board waxed will save you time on the other end (which means more time in the water catching waves).
However, if you’re traveling from cold water to the tropics, it’s highly recommended you remove the wax before traveling. Cold water wax will melt in the high heat and humidity, going all over the inside of your surfboard bag which is difficult to then remove.
To increase the lifespan of your surfboard travel bag, you need to do your best to avoid saltwater. This is a challenge as surfing generally takes place in the ocean! Try to rinse off your surfboard before putting it back into the bag. Saltwater will damage the material, seams, and zip on the surfboard bag.
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