When travelling to one of our surf camps or around the world with a surfboard there are a few things every surfer needs to take into consideration. Lets presume you have already checked to see if your airline even carries surfboards. You now need to ensure you can hit the ground running and jump straight into the water the moment you land at your surf holiday destination. Below you will find our best tips on packing surfboard for your surfing holidays.
Padding
Padding is important and can save your board being trashed by the airline baggage handlers. Use your boardbag as a suitcase and pack all the clothes you want on your surf holiday in with the board. Wetsuits and towels are great for protection boards as well. Remember if your wetsuit has hard zips to have these facing away from your board.
Prepare for impact
Most damage to boards is sustained by other suitcases hard corners or sharp edges. Simply wrapping your board in bubble wrap will do little to spread the impact of said sharp corners and therefore you need to find lightweight ways to spread the weight. Cardboard is a fantastic option as its lightweight and can be cut to the exact shape of your board bag. The combination of bubble wrap and cardboard is one of the best ways to protect your surfboard. If you have the time buy some foam pipe insulation from your local DIY store, cut down one side of the piping and then tape the piping around the rails and nose of your surfboard for extra protection.
Pack Wisely
Remove all surfboard fins and place them in amongst your clothes. You won’t be allowed these as part of your hand luggage. Also include a simple surfboard repair kit or a trusty roll of duct tape for short term board repairs so you can jump in the water for a wave upon arrival.
Choose a surfboard bag that fits
Try to get a bag that has wheels a shoulder strap and ideally pockets for essentials such as roof straps, extra fins, leashes and surf equipment. The bag with wheels on the rail edge of the surfboards are a nightmare to travel with. We recommend the coffin style board bags with the wheels under the deck of the board.
Get creative
Use a sleeping bag for extra padding, throw all hard objects into your hand luggage and if travelling with multiple boards strap them together to keep them firmly in place. Spend time packing your surf equipment properly before your surf holiday, clean everything before throwing it in the bag and enjoy the process. There’s no better way to get excited for your surfing holiday than packing the surf equipment that’s going to give you the best waves of your life!