The Ultimate Surf Trip Packing Checklist

The Essential Surf Trip Packing List

You can feel the excitement growing. There’s nothing better than the stoke of getting ready for a surf trip! Whether you’re headed to a tropical beach in the South Pacific or headed north to find unexplored, empty waves, these are the essential items you’ll need to bring to make sure your trip is a success.

The worst thing that can happen is arriving at your destination only to realize you won't be able to surf because you packed at the last minute and forgot something. Some places don't have surf shops nearby where you can pick up gear you forgot, so make sure to follow our list and bring these items on your next trip!

Travel Backpack: Probably one of the most important items you’re going to bring on your trip. Your backpack is going to literally be attached to you throughout the entire trip. Our new 38L Island Hopper is going to make your next trip a breeze! Hidden pockets, a luggage sleeve, and big enough for a week-long trip, the Island Hopper 38L is the ultimate travel backpack. You won't even need to check luggage as long as you follow our packing checklist.

Surfboard Soft Racks: So you just landed at the airport with all your boards, and you’re ready to head to your spot and surf. The problem is, the car you rented or the taxi you are taking doesn’t have racks or straps. That’s where we come in. Our new Soft Racks are the best way to get your boards to your surf spot. No roof-rack crossbars are required on the car, and our new soft car racks will hold multiple boards. They also have a scratch-resistant silicone coating on the buckles, so you won’t scratch or dent the rental car.

 

Surf Fins: Always a must-have, and bring an extra pair! You don't want to get all the way to your destination and break a fin on the reef the first day.

Travel Towel: A towel is going to be essential when traveling. This could be for your shower at the hostel, having on a boat trip, or just keeping you warm when you get out of the water. We designed our microfiber travel towel to pack up light and compact, but it absorbs water and dries super fast. It’s so light, you won’t even know it’s in your bag.

Rash Guard: Sure, everyone wants to come home from their trip and show off their new tan, but let’s face it, no one likes rubbing sunscreen on your buddy’s back. Also, if you normally surf in a wetsuit, your stomach and nipples aren’t going to like you if you suddenly start surfing for hours on end without a rash guard. It’s called a rash guard for a reason.

When you’re done at the end of your session, make sure to thoroughly rinse your rash guard with clean water to get all the salt out. The salt buildup will just make your rash worse if you don’t rinse it. We recommend bringing a couple of short-sleeve and long-sleeve options for days when the sun is unbearable. The rash guards from Florence Marine would be our pick for a high-quality rash guard.

Sun Hat: The sun is brutal and will destroy your face. Our new El Verano Wide Brimmed Bucket Hat will keep your face protected.

 

Reef Booties: If you’ve never surfed a reef break, it only takes standing up one time to ruin your trip. The reef is alive and full of things that are alive that will cut you to shreds. Make sure to get a quality pair of reef booties.

Surf Wax: Check the water temperature where you’re going and make sure you get a few blocks of wax. When you leave, make sure to stoke out a local kid and give all your wax away.

Leashes: Always bring an extra leash. Leashes break when the surf gets big. The last thing you want is to spend your surf trip swimming.

 

Sunscreen(Reef Safe) and Chapstick:

Regardless of where you are traveling, the sun is brutal. It will zap your energy. A bad sunburn can even leave you with a fever for a couple of days. Make sure you lather yourself up multiple times a day. We are fans of All Good Brand Sunscreen because it's reef-friendly!

Dry Bags: You always need to make sure your essentials stay dry: wallet, phone, passport. A dry bag is an essential item to bring on any trip. You never know when it's going to rain, so it's good to be prepared.

We also like to bring several different sizes and use them to separate dry and dirty clothes. Our dry-bag 3-pack is perfect, as it contains a 3L, 5L, and 10L Dry Bag. All dry bags come with their own adjustable shoulder strap.

Warm Clothes: You may wonder why you need warm clothes when you’re going somewhere tropical. The issue with tropical locations is that when it rains for days on end, it can get really cold. Also, when you are flying internationally, the airlines like to drop the temperature on the plane so you’ll sleep better.

Even if you're going to Indonesia, some planes can get freakin' cold! Bring a warm layer of clothes so you’re comfortable in any situation. You’ll thank us later. We like this North Face fleece because it's warm but also fairly compact.

 

First-Aid Kit: What is it they say? Hope for the best but plan for the worst? Well, when you’re surfing, anything can happen, so it’s better to be prepared. This first-aid kit from MyMedic is perfect for taking on any trip.

Headlamp Flashlight: You have no idea what the situation will be like where you’re at. Does the power go out? What if you get lost or are in a dodgy area at night? Regardless of the situation, you can’t rely on your cell phone flashlight. Having a headlamp is a lifesaver when you need light in an unfamiliar area, cooking in the dark, or walking back to your bungalow in the dark.

 

Water Bottle: You don't want to pollute the place where you are traveling. Try to leave the place cleaner than when you arrived. Getting an insulated water bottle not only helps reduce plastic waste, it will keep your water nice and cold while you're surfing. That's why we collaborated with Ocean Bottle!

Made from 90% recycled stainless steel, BPA-free plastic, silicone rubber, and ocean-bound plastic, all materials are fully recyclable. All plastic is made from recycled plastic recovered from the ocean.

 

Ear Plugs: If you're like us, you get lots of ear infections. Surfing every day, especially somewhere tropical, can make it even worse. Trust me, you don't want to be on your flight home with swimmer's ear. The pressure from the altitude is unbearable! These are our favorite earplugs.

Board Bag: This seems obvious, but it's not something you want to go cheap on. Your most valuable items are going to go into this bag and be thrown around by the airlines, so choose your board bag wisely. We like the FCS travel board bag. It is built to handle some tossing around.