Funboard Surfboard: What to Buy?

If you ask me, buying the right beginner surfboard is just as complicated and perplexing as learning how to surf. With so many options on the market and the different types of boards, it’s only reasonable that you would have some trouble picking the right one.

And no, don’t think that I’m making this whole thing any more complicated than it really is because the reason why this is so important is that the board you pick dictates your progress later on.

So, it’s only logical to think that if your board is too narrow, thin, or short for you, you won’t be able to do all the surfing techniques right. It will affect how many waves you catch and how far you ride a single wave. Plus, balancing will be a pain!

To be successful in your initial learning, you will want a board with some length and girth. But not too much, though, because too much length and girth will make your board challenging to maneuver in the water and out.

With all that said, I totally understand your troubles. You may be struggling between a funboard surfboard vs. a longboard, and making that decision will largely depend on how you want to surf and the surf breaks you live nearby. And don’t worry, finding the right board will be easier than you think with my in-depth comparison of the ideal beginner’s board.

Choosing the right Beginner’s Board

Buying a particular board and then realizing it is not the right one for you is a nightmare. You’ve spent all that money, and now you have to pay some more again. Nah-ah, I’m not gonna let you do that here.

So, firstly, it is important to understand that fun board surfing will be primarily determined by the board you buy. Sometimes technique or lack of experience doesn’t matter as much as the board. This is why, do not go for short longboards in the beginning, no matter what!

They are too thin and narrow and only suitable for experienced surfers that know their way around the waves. For anyone who is just now learning to surf, the short longboards will be a nightmare.

Why? Because they lack volume and stability and are just too thin and narrow for learning to surf.

So, with that said, we are left with a funboard surfboard or a longboard to buy when first starting to ride the wave.

Funboard Surfboard vs. Longboard: your 101 comparison

Initially, you might not be able to see what’s so different between these two beginner’s boards. However, as you read on, you will find the many different capabilities and features of the funboard surfboard and the longboards.

So, let’s start first with…

The Funboard Surfboard

As I said (100 times) before, the funboard surfboard is great for beginners. With their round and wide noses and ideal dimensions overall (volume, length, width, and thickness), funboards allow for excellent stability and balance over water.

The wide nose of the funboard surfboard has a great design that’s ideal for not going in and under that water; hence you will have less chance of falling while turning or when nose-diving when launching in the water. However, don’t worry. All this stability and thickness won’t take away control and maneuverability in the water. They still offer a good amount of pivotal and rail turning ability. Plus, with their design, they catch waves quickly and can stay afloat for longer rides.

Funboards are excellent in small and medium waves which and if you want to learn the basic moves like the bottom turn, cutback, or get barrelled, your funboard surfboard will be a great stepping stone to riding performance shortboards if that’s your cup of tea!

However, as you progress and you want to catch the big waves, you will need to upgrade to a more pro advanced surfboard designed for the power of big surf.

And how do I buy a funboard surfboard?

The following dimensions are the basics for a beginner funboard.

7 to 8 feet in length
2 ½ to 3 inches in thickness
21 to 22 inches in width

Guidelines for buying a funboard surfboard

If you weigh 100 to 175 pounds, look for a board that is 7′ to 7’2″ in length, 21″ in width, and around 2 1/2″ in thickness.
If you weigh 150 to 200 pounds, look for a board that is 7’6″ to 7’8″ in length, 21 1/2″ in width, and around 3″ in thickness.
If you weigh 175 to 225 pounds, look for a board that is 7’10” + in length, 21 3/4″ to 22″ in width, and around 3″ in thickness.
In terms of length, choose a board that is AT LEAST a head taller than you.

My piece of friendly advice is to buy a used fun board in the beginning. Trust me when I say a well taken care of funboard will perform like a brand new one.

PLUS, you won’t feel as bad for all those scratches and dents you make until you learn how to hold it, store it properly at home, and maneuver it in water.

Funboard Material

Epoxy or polyester are your choices when it comes to the material of the funboard. If you ask me to choose between epoxy and polyester resin, I will go for epoxy.

Why? Well, because surfboards made of epoxy are laminated with epoxy resin, which is more durable and lighter than polyester resin. So, with epoxy boards, you have more strength and less weight than the standard polyester.

Good for:

The ideal conditions for a funboard will be almost anywhere when it comes to beginner’s surfing. From small waves to larger ones, your fun board surfing will be a blast! Especially if you live somewhere where surfing is available all year.

Pros and Cons: Funboard

When it comes to the good side of funboard surfing, the funboard surfboard is excellent for gaining surfing skills and advance over time. With a funboard surfboard, you have the simplicity and balance of paddling a longboard combined with the easy maneuverability of short longboards or shortboards. Basically, you have the two best things in one.

On a funboard surfboard, you will be able to learn all short longboards (shortboard) moves such as cutbacks or bottom turns, and you can surf almost anytime on small to overhead surf.

With all that said, there are some drawbacks to a funboard surfboard. Namely, these boards won’t work as well in smaller surf conditions. From experience, they are a bit slow to catch waves, and when to compared to a longboard isn’t as easy to ride them because they aren’t as wide and thick, but you gain more maneuverability, so you trade a little balance for it.

The Longboard

Longboard, on the other hand, is somewhere between 9 and 12 feet long, and with its beginner’s friendly design and great stability is an excellent first-timer board.

As a rule of thumb, if you are looking to enjoy paddling or surfing and aren’t after the big waves as much and you simply want to surf recreationally with a group of friends, then the longboard is your best bet!

You see, longboards are specifically designed to have small wave capabilities thanks to their length, low rocker, width, and overall volume. This is why with longboards, you have super stability, a smooth ride, and an excellent base for learning the techniques of surfing that all newbies need.

If you enjoy the old-school style of cruising and walking the wide nose, rather than pumping down the line and doing a cutback, then a longboard is right for you. But, it’s important to note that experienced surfers can also maneuver and surf well with longboards.

While these boards are great for beginners, experienced surfers can perform progressive maneuvers, everything from nose rides, trimming, turns to ride switch. So, if you’re worried that you’ll grow out of your longboard quickly, I’m here to say, nope, you won’t! Not that fast!

Good for:

Longboards offer a smooth, clean glide across the water. They work best for 1-2 foot and 2-3 foot surf, but even in places where longboards are too big, like Malibu or Hawaii, they can still be handy with the lulls between the waves.

But during the inconsistent summer months, the longboard will be your best surfing pal!

Pros and Cons: Longboard

When it comes to the pros and cons, you will have a blast riding the stable and reliable longboard as a beginner. Due to the great balance, it offers you can master all moves pretty easily so that you can go quickly go onto your next, more advanced moves.

On the other hand, if the swells in the water are bigger, the longboard will be slightly more difficult to control. This is because their design makes duck diving a hassle because of the size. So, instead, you will need to learn the turtle roll technique to get under bigger waves effectively.

Additionally, longboards with their volume and low rockers are harder to maneuver when cruising down the line, unlike funboards.

Final words for the longboard and funboard surfboard comparison

As you can see, both of these boards are great for beginners. While it will all depend on your preferences and abilities in the end, here’s a short breakdown of the two boards.

You will buy a longboard if you want an easy, balanced ride you can enjoy anytime, anywhere, even if there are small waves in the water.

You will buy a funboard surfboard if you want to learn the basics and have a chance to maneuver it like a shortboard and eventually upgrade to a shortboard and do maneuvers like cutbacks and getting shacked. It is a functional choice.

Practically, assess your capabilities and where you see in the future and then take the 3 most essential aspects of a board into account: performance, durability, and price.

And with this, I conclude my little funboard surfboard comparison, and I hope that I have helped you make your mind and buy your first surfboard, no matter which one. If I did, feel free to leave a comment telling me which one you ended buying and what’s your experience so far. I’d love to hear it.

But if you’re still making up your mind and cannot really decide, take a look at these awesome inflatable SUP boards. They are equally versatile, and you can enjoy the water with any.

Also, don’t forget to visit my Facebook and Instagram accounts for more cool tips and recommendations on paddleboards, surfboards, and accessories.

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