The 7 Best Bodysurfing Handboards
This wiki has been updated 26 times since it was first published in December of 2016. A handboard may well be the best bodysurfing accessory you're not yet using. These clever, compact items give you added buoyancy and control, maximizing the enjoyment you can experience, even when the waves are on the smaller side. And if you choose a handplane with a built-in camera mount, you can share your aquatic adventures with the world through exciting, first-person-perspective videos. When users buy our independently chosen editorial selections, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
1. Slyde Wedge
2. Hydro Pro
3. Slyde Hawaiian Bula
Editor's Notes
December 02, 2019:
While the Slyde brand handboards are featured throughout the list for their top quality options for everyone from beginners to pros, they can be a bit of an investment for beginners, so we selected a few budget-friendly options from other brands.
With the Hydro Pro you'll get a bit of a concave bottom to provide some speed and one of the best things about it is the heavy duty strap that will keep this choice on your hand even when you wipe out.
The Go Floats Handplane isn't going to provide users with much speed, which makes it a safe option for the most inexperienced, and it's priced right for someone trying bodysurfing for the first time. Because it's so flat, you won't mind putting it in your suitcase either.
Special Honors
Pocket Rocket This model from Sole Hand Planes is designed for speed, with its dimensions being just larger than the average hand. The extremely thin edge allows it stay light despite the wood construction, plus an interior layer of cork adds to the light buoyancy of this option. The logo is laser engraved for longevity. solehandplanes.com
FLY Fish Wood If you're looking for unbeatable barrel performance, the ultra-compact FLY Fish features a unique fish tail design that allows more freedom in wrist movements, plus the underside is concave for maximum speed and lift. It's handmade in Australia from sustainable Paulownia timber and sports a comfy neoprene hand strap. ectohandplanes.com
4. Go Floats Handplane
5. Slyde Grom
6. Salt Creek Classic
7. Coastal Roots Originator
Tina Morna Freitas is a writer who lives in Chicago with her family and three cats. She has a B.A. in anthropology with a minor in English, and has built a freelance career over the years in writing and digital marketing. Her passions for cooking, decorating and home improvement contribute to her extensive knowledge of all things kitchen and home goods. In addition, her 20 years as a parent inform her expertise in the endless stream of toys and equipment that inevitably takes over the homes of most parents. She also enjoys gardening, making and sipping margaritas, and aspires to be a crazy cat lady once all the children are grown.