You've booked a surf trip. You're absolutely frothing.
Then you pull your board bag out and lo and behold… reality sets in. Which boards? Which wetsuit? What about fins? Legropes? Wax? Booties?
We get it.
We've been baffled about what to pack for a surf trip before.
So here's the short answer. There's no single packing list. What you bring comes down to a few things. Cold water or warm water. And land-based or boat-based.
This guide breaks down what to pack for each, plus the stuff that comes along no matter what. It's for anyone heading off on a surf trip and second-guessing the bag, from your first ever surf camp to your tenth boat charter.
Let’s check it out.
Beginner? Relax. This isn't for you
If you're a total beginner heading to a surf camp, you can switch your brain off here.
You don't need boards. You don't need wetsuits. Your camp sorts the gear, the surf instructors sort the rest.
All you really need to bring is zinc sunscreen, a pair of sunglasses and clothing that suits the destination. Boardies and flip-flops for the tropics, a warm layer or two if it's cooler. That's it.
So if that's you, pack light and we'll see you in the water. The rest of this is for surfers bringing their own gear.
First up… getting this wrong is a problem
For everyone else, packing wrong means the trip suffers in small, annoying ways.
You bring a big board to a reef break and snap it on day two. Or you pack a 3/2 for cold water and shiver through every session. Or you haul a board you never ride across three flights.
We've watched it happen to everyone. Frothing surfers, undone by a list they pulled off some generic travel blog written by someone who's never paddled out.
The waves don't wait for you to sort it out. The swell comes when it comes.
To avoid this, here's how we actually pack
After running our own surf camp experiences and trips all over the world, we've learned the same thing every time.
Sort the water temperature, then sort whether you're on land or a boat. Nail those two and the rest falls into place.
First, the stuff that comes on every trip, wherever you're headed:
- Two boards minimum: Your daily driver plus a backup. One for serious surf, one for fun days
- Spare leashes and fin keys: The cheapest insurance in surfing
- Reef-safe sunscreen: Zinc that won't poison the ocean you came to enjoy. We're a 1% for the Planet member, so this one matters
- Ding repair kit: Solarez and a bit of sandpaper has saved more trips than we can count. Also, never underestimate the DIY repair power of ductape!
- A decent dry bag: For boats, dinghies and surprise downpours
- Insurance: Not something you pack, but something that brings heaps of peace of mind. Won’t stop injuries, but will stop your bank account being drained
Now, by trip type.
Warm water (Sri Lanka, Maldives, Indonesia)
The dream trip. Boardies, sunshine and water you can stay in all day. Think Ahangama, the Maldives atolls, the Mentawai islands.
- Boardshorts, bikini or/and a rash vest: Often all the rubber you need.
- A thin spring suit or shorty: For early starts or cooler shoulder seasons. Check the season first
- Reef booties: Reef breaks like Cokes and Chickens break over shallow, sharp reef
- A long-sleeve UV top: You'll be out in the sun all day, every day
Check your surf forecast before you go. Tools like Surfline help you read tide, swell and which low tide window lines up green waves with the right wind. Our top European summer surf spots are a good place to start planning.
Cold water (Ireland, Morocco, Portugal and Spain in winter)
Different beast. Here, the gear makes the trip. Get it wrong and you're shivering on the beach watching perfect sets roll in. Donegal in Ireland is the classic.
- A proper 3/2, 4/3 or even 5/4 wetsuit: Don't skimp. Cold water ends a session fast
- Boots, gloves and a hood: Maybe all three… depends how cold the water is
- A thermos: Random, but keeping your beverages hot is key after a cool-water surf. To stay comfy, stay warm.
Land-based (surf camps and surf houses)
A house or camp, a crew, mellow waves down the road and local surf spots a short ride away. Our surf houses and camps run year-round across Portugal, Spain, Morocco, Sri Lanka and a few more.
- Casual clothes for off the water: You'll spend evenings with likeminded people, not in some hotel lobby
- A daypack: For day trips to that local spot round the headland
- The right surfboard for your level: Beginners, leave it at home. Most surf schools and surf courses hand you a big board. Foam is your mate. The right surfboard's the one that floats you, not the cool one
- Travel adapter and a power bank: Kinda obvious, but necessary
These group surf trips suit solo travellers best. You turn up alone and leave with a tribe. Happens every time. Have a browse through our surf houses around the world to see what we mean.
Boat-based (Maldives, Indonesia)
Wake up, eye the peak from the deck, paddle into the lineup for some of the best waves of your life. But space is tight, so pack smart.
- Two or three boards in a decent coffin bag: Charters mean back-to-back sessions. Bring options
- Soft, packable bags: Hard suitcases are a nightmare in a cabin
- Dry bags: For valuables on the deck and trips to land
Note: boat trips don't include surf lessons. This one's for surfers already comfy in the lineup. The only downside being you'll be sharing a small space with the crew for a week, so pack light and pack tidy. See what we mean on our Maldives boat trips.
A few honest words on overpacking
Honestly, you'll prob wear the same things all trip. Everyone does.
So pack less than you think. The best travel packing advice we can give? Bring what keeps you surfing and not much else. If it’s a cold-water destination, look for gear that’s lightweight but warm and waterproof.
FAQ about packing for a surf trip
Q. Do I need my own surf board?
For beginner camps, no… boards are provided. For intermediate trips and up, bring your own. Just ask us before you book.
Q. How many boards should I travel with?
Two for most trips. Three on a boat charter.
Q. Can I rent a wetsuit on location?
Sometimes, but quality varies. For cold water, bring your own.
Q. What's the best surf trip for beginner surfers?
A warm(ish) water, land-based camp with surf instructors, soft waves and sandy beaches. Portugal, Spain and the Canary Islands are hard to beat. Mellow beach breaks and a gentle learning process where you can start surfing without the reef.
Q. Do I need to know how to read waves before I go?
Nope. Wave reading comes with time in the water. A good surf course teaches you where the waves break, how to spot a set and when to take off. The first session’s the hardest. After that, you're hooked.
Q. Is a surf trip good for solo travellers?
The best, honestly. Most of our crew show up on their own. You'll meet likeminded people, share a lineup with other surfers and the surf lifestyle does the rest. You leave with a tribe. Solo surf trips are actually havin’ a moment right now.
Final thoughts
Packing isn't the trip. The waves are. The people are.
It's all about the surf lifestyle, the moment you catch that first green wave and the people you share it with. Get the gear right and you spend less time fussing and more time ripping or cross-stepping.
That's the whole point.
Pack light. Stay stoked. Hit us up if you have questions. We'll see you in the lineup.
