Whether you’re planning to take your surfboard on vacation or to your local beach, it’s important to keep your board well protected from dings, scratches, and cracks that can come from transporting and storing. Investing in a top quality surfboard travel bag will save your board, and save you money. So, what are the things to look for in the best surfboard travel bags? Well, this partly depends on if you’re head out by plane, car, or simply on foot.
In general, you want a well constructed, highly durable bag that’s padded and easy to carry. For daily surfing at your local spot, you’ll at least want a good bag for basic surfboard travel protection. And if you’ll be taking your board on flights, you’ll especially want something that’s lightweight for minimizing airline checked baggage fees. This may be a surfboard coffin style, with or without wheels. You also want to consider whether to get a bag that’s made to accommodate one or multiple boards.
DaKine Daylight Thruster Bag
The Daylight Thruster surfboard bag from DaKine come extremely hightly rated by users as a great day bag. It offers all the top characteristics you’ll need at a very reasonable price of around $65 (depending on size). Constructed of a durable tarpaulin fabric, it is both heat-resistant and water-resistant, protecting your bag from the damaging elements. 1/4″ foam padding offers added protection, and the wrap around zipper is a heavy duty #10 coil.
This surfboard bag has both a carry handle and a padded shoulder strap for comfortable options while transporting. And it has a convenient pocket for wax or other gear. The versatile shape will nicely fit most boards, even with fins on, and you can choose from 68″, 72″, 78″, or 84″ length.
Curve Shortboard Travel Bag
Designed specifically for shortboards, this travel shortboard bag from Curve features high quality construction and unique innovative features, including superior protection for the nose and tail of your board. These two areas are typically the most vulnerable, and this Curve bag provides substantial 3/4 inch 20mm foam zones. This bag also features Curve’s unique TPSS Tail Protection Strap System, a special built-in strap that wraps around the tail of the board, keeping it securely in place and away from the zipper.
The body of the bag is fully padded with 7mm foam core, and is constructed of ultra durable Tarpee base and 600D Polycanvas top. There’s a carry handle and a padded shoulder strap that’s both adjustable and removable when not needed. There is also a small storage pocket near the tail of the bag.
Choose from sizes: 5’9″ short, 6’0″ short, 6’3″ short, 6’6″ short, 6’10” short, or 7’2″ hydrid.
Curve Longboard Travel Bag
The Curve Longboard Travel Bag features the same top quality specs and innovative design as the Curve Shortboard Travel Bag above, only this one is for your Longboard. These features include extreme tail and nose protective padding, Curve’s TPSS Tail Protection Strap System which keeps your board’s tail away from zipper’s harm, and a removable padded shoulder strap. Users consistently give high ratings for this bag for travel, storage, and overall surfboard protection.
This bag also has an internal wax compartment and a convenient velcro fin slot.
Choose from sizes: 7’6″ round nose minimal / longboard, 8’2″ round nose minimal / longboard, 8’8″ round nose long board, 9’2″ round nose longboard, 9’6″ round nose longboard, or 10’2″ round nose longboard.
Creatures of Leisure Double Shortboard Cover
Creatures is among the most revolutionary board bag manufacturers, and this double shortboard cover is a great example. Highly durable construction coupled with smart styling make this an extremely popular choice with serious boarders. This bag is designed to comfortably fit 2 short boards without fins.
Made of rugged 600D polyester, this bag is lined with heat-reflective polyester to minimize heat on the board. The bag is fully padded with 10mm closed cell foam, and 5mm rail protectors and board separator. The padded shoulder strap can be detached at one end and stowed out of the way in it’s exterior pocket, and there’s an interior pocked for fin/wax.
Available in 6’0″, 6’3″, 6’7″ and 7’1″ sizes.
Ocean & Earth Triple Wheeled Coffin Shortboard Surfboard Travel Bag
Easily fit up to 3 boards in this wheeled coffin shortboard surfboard travel case from Ocean & Earth. The 2 heavy-duty integrated in-pine wheels make it easy to transport your boards without strain. The bag is designed with an exterior load compression strap system to secure boards in place after packing, and the padded shoulder strap is detachable and there’s a built-in pocket to store it in.
The bag features 20mm protective gusset, solid non-corrosive zipper, and a highly durable PVC skid plate that protects this vulnerable area. There’s a removable storage hook for added convenience, and an internal fin and was bag.
Sizes include: 78″, 84″, and 90″.
Love Ocean & Earth but prefer a single board bag or a non-wheeled surfboard travel case? Then have a look at the full line of Ocean & Earth surfboard travel bags.
Sticky Bumps Coffin Quad Travel Bag With Wheels
Need to carry 4 boards at once? This quad coffin surfboard travel case from Sticky Bumps will do the trick, with the ability to pack up to 4 boards. And smooth rolling integrated wheels make rolling through the airport a breeze. This full featured bag includes a reinforced PVC nose protector, and 8 mm closed cell waterproof foam padding with padded board separator sheets.
Choose from 6-feet or 9-feet sizes.
The best surfboard bags for you will depend on board size, number of boards, and bag features. The most important thing is to protect your surfboard while you’re transporting it, whether through an airport or across a parking lot.