Every surfboard manufacturer out there offers some sort of protective bag with the company logo on it. The question is whether or not it is worth spending the money to buy one or run without a protective bag. The majority of damage that occurs to surfboards happens outside of the water. That being said, we believe that having a bag to protect your surfboard depends on two factors: the type of board it is, and where the board is being stored. Essentially by type of board, we are referring to the construction. Low price surfboards are typically made of materials that are heavier in weight and more durable. Because of how these boards are designed, they don’t necessarily need a bag for extra protection as they are built to withstand impact. Higher end boards typically end up being more brittle, just because they are made to be light weight in order to maximize performance. These boards, the high end boards, are more prone to cracking and breaking from even the slightest impact. A good rule of thumb is boards that retail for less than $500 won’t necessarily need a bag but boards over $500 will benefit and help with the longevity of the board.

So if you fall into the category where a bag would be beneficial, the question becomes “what type of bag should I get?” There are two main types of bags and they both serve different purposes. There is a nylon constructed bag and a cotton constructed bag (referred to as a surf sock). Both examples can be found here. The nylon constructed bag is padded and designed to be more durable. This bag is designed for boards that are traveling in and out of the boat. The nylon outer shell helps prevent scratches and the padding in the bag creates a nice shell around the board to prevent damage from impacts. If the board is stored in the boat, there is a significant decrease in the probability of hitting something hard enough to damage the board; however, there is a chance of the board getting scratched. For example, tucking the board in storage compartments can cause the board to rub up against other objects which will cause scratching to the fiberglass of the board. If you want to keep your board looking like new, we recommend a simple cloth surf sock. Surf socks will help protect from small impact damage, but mostly they are designed to prevent rub rash and keep the board looking as nice as new.