Buying guides and how-tos for bodyboards, fins and leashes, compared on manufacturer specifications.
All bodyboarding guides
Bodyboarding Bodyboard and Boogie Board Sizes: Charts by Height and Weight
Pick a bodyboard size by height and weight on the maker's chart. On the Morey and eBodyboarding charts, a 41 inch board suits riders about 5 ft 6 to 5 ft 8 and 125 to 170 lb, and a 42 inch suits 5 ft 7 to 6 ft and 145 to 180 lb. When the two point to different sizes, Morey says go by weight.
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Bodyboarding Body Board vs Boogie Board: Is There a Difference?
There is no difference between a body board and a boogie board. Boogie is the Morey brand name, used since 1971, and the name stuck for every board of the type.
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Bodyboarding Bodyboarding Buying Tips: The Kit You Need and Why People Start
A first bodyboarding kit is a board sized to you, a leash, fins and something to keep you warm or covered. An EPS board suits occasional riding; PE and PP boards cost more and last longer, and the right core depends on your water temperature.
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Bodyboarding Own the Wave Wave Weapon Bodyboard: Product Notes
The Wave Weapon is a light EPS core bodyboard from Own the Wave, sold in 33, 37 and 41 inch sizes for riders up to 65, 120 and 188 pounds. These notes cover its listed specs, sizing and limits.
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Bodyboarding Best Bodyboard Fins: Five Current Pairs Compared
The best bodyboard fins are short, pull-on fins in a size that fits your bare foot or fin sock. DORSAL, Churchill Makapuu, DaFin and Ho Stevie! list their fins as floating rubber; Hydro Tech 2 fins are silicone and the listings do not say they float.
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Bodyboarding Best Bodyboard Leashes: Wrist and Bicep Leashes Compared
A coiled wrist leash suits most beginners and children; a bicep leash keeps the cord away from your stroke. WaterSportHQ editors compared six current bodyboard leashes on their listed cord, cuff, swivels and length.
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Bodyboarding Best Skimboards for Beginners: First Boards Sized by Rider Weight
A first skimboard is sized by rider weight and should come with a traction pad. WaterSportHQ editors compared four current beginner boards on the listings their makers publish, from a 30 inch board for small children to a 45 inch board for riders up to 225 pounds.
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Bodyboarding Best Skimboards for Adults: Wood vs Fiberglass, Sized by Weight
An adult skimboard is sized by rider weight first. Wood boards are sold for learning and tricks; the boards listed for waves are fiberglass. Three current boards compared on their listed specs.
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Bodyboarding Best Surfboard Leash: Length, Cord and Wave Size Compared
The best surfboard leash is about as long as your board, with a cord rated for the waves you ride. Thin 3/16 inch cords are listed for smaller surf; 1/4 inch and 7 mm cords for overhead waves. WaterSportHQ editors compared five current leashes on their listings.
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Bodyboarding Best Wakeboards: Six Boards Compared by Listed Rider Level and Weight
For a first wakeboard, pick a package with bindings, a continuous rocker and a length matched to rider weight. WaterSportHQ editors compared six current boards on their listed specs.
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Bodyboarding Black Marlin Sporting Goods Bodyboard: Product Notes
The Black Marlin Sporting Goods bodyboard, a 37 or 41 inch EPS board for riders up to 145 pounds, shows as currently unavailable on Amazon. Three current boards of the same sizes list limits of 140, 188 and 200 pounds.
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Bodyboarding Bo-Toys Body Board with EPS Core: Product Notes
The Bo-Toys body board is a light EPS core board sold in 33 and 41 inch sizes. Its chart rates the 33 for children up to 85 pounds and the 41 for riders of 85 to 180 pounds.
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Bodyboarding Body Glove Phantom 42.5 Bodyboard: Product Notes
The Body Glove Phantom is a 42.5 inch bodyboard with an EPS core, IXPE deck and crescent tail. Its Amazon listing shows it as unavailable; these notes cover its specs and two current Body Glove boards with a similar build.
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Bodyboarding Bodyboarding for Beginners: Plan Your First Session
For a first bodyboarding session, go to a lifeguarded beach with a sand bottom and small waves, wear a leash and fins, stay between the red and yellow flags, and start close to shore in the whitewater.
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Bodyboarding California Board Company Magnum 44 Bodyboard: Product Notes
The California Board Company Magnum 44 is a 44 by 23 inch bodyboard with an EPS core and a coil leash. Its Amazon listing shows it as unavailable; these notes cover its specs and two current boards of the same size.
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Bodyboarding CAPAS Snorkel Fins: Sizes, Materials and Who They Fit
CAPAS snorkel fins are short, open-heel travel fins with adjustable straps, sold in three sizes from kids to US men 13. The listing gives no blade length or weight.
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Bodyboarding Do You Need a Leash for a Bodyboard: What You Need to Know
Yes, wear a leash on a bodyboard: it keeps the board near you after a wipeout. Wrist or bicep, what to check, and three current leashes on their listed specs.
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Bodyboarding How to choose a bodyboard
Choose a bodyboard in this order: length by height and weight on the maker's chart, core by skill level and water temperature, then tail, slick and stringer. A crescent tail is the standard shape.
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Bodyboarding How to drop-knee bodyboard
To drop-knee bodyboard, plant your back knee on the inside rail with the back fin hanging off, put the front foot on the opposite rail, and learn on easy frontside waves.
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Bodyboarding How to Ride a Bodyboard: Body Position, Catching and Steering
To ride a bodyboard, lie with your hips near the tail and your fins under water, push the nose down and paddle as the wave arrives, then slide forward, arch your back and hold the top corner on the side you are going.
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Bodyboarding How to Use a Bodyboard: Paddle Out, Duck Dive and Catch Your First Wave
To use a bodyboard, watch the surf first, start where you can stand, paddle out during a lull, duck dive under breaking waves, and begin on slower waves that need less paddle speed.
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Bodyboarding How to Wax a Skimboard for Improved Grip and Performance
How to wax a skimboard: clean off old wax, apply a base coat to build bumps, add wax rated for your water temperature, and reapply the top coat. Steps come from named wax sellers, a skimboard maker and shops, and where they differ the page says so.
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Bodyboarding Hydro Tech 2 Bodyboard Fins: Product Notes
Hydro Tech 2 fins are silicone bodyboard and bodysurf fins with left and right shapes, V-Rail blades and three drain holes, sold in men sizes 4 to 13. The listings do not say whether they float.
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Bodyboarding Legendary Pro X Bodyboard: Product Notes
The Legendary Pro X is a beginner bodyboard with an EPS core, a soft foam deck and a hard slick bottom, sold in sizes from 33 to 45 inches. These notes cover its listed specs, sizing and limits.
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Bodyboarding Morey Mach 7SS Bodyboard: Product Notes
The Morey Mach 7SS is a 41.5 inch bodyboard for drop-knee riders, with a polypropylene core, two carbon power rod stringers, mesh and a Surlyn slick. Morey sizes 41 to 41.75 inch boards for riders 125 to 170 pounds, says the core can be hard for beginners to control, and lists no leash.
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Bodyboarding Morey Cruiser 42.5 Bodyboard: Product Notes
The Morey Cruiser is still sold as a 42.5 inch board with an EPS core, IXLPE deck, HDPE slick and coil leash. These notes compare it with the older Cruiser listing and cover fit and limits.
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Bodyboarding Random High-Performance Bodyboard: Product Notes
The Random High-Performance Bodyboard is a 37 or 41 inch EPS board that Amazon lists as unavailable. Its listing gives rider weights of 55 to 121 and 121 to 192 pounds; the BPS Storm covers nearly the same ranges.
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Bodyboarding RAVE Sports Impact Wakeboard: Product Notes
The old RAVE Sports Impact listing (B0053P18AI) now sells the Jr. Impact, a 48.8 inch youth board with no stated rider weight limit. The adult 122 cm Impact with a 125 lb figure is not on it.
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Bodyboarding Skimboard Size Chart: What Size Skimboard Should I Get?
Skimboards are sized mainly by rider weight, then checked against where the nose reaches on your body. This page compares the weight charts of Zap and Exile, two skimboard makers, and a UK shop, and says where they disagree.
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Bodyboarding BPS Storm Bodyboard Pack: Product Notes
The BPS Storm is an EPS core bodyboard with an XPE deck, an HDPE slick and a coiled leash, sold in 33, 37 and 41 inch sizes for riders up to 65, 120 or 188 pounds. BPS calls it beginner-friendly through intermediate. Heavier riders can look at the 42.5 inch Storm PRO.
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Bodyboarding Wave Rebel Oxygen Bodyboard: Product Notes
The Wave Rebel Oxygen is a 42 inch bodyboard for advanced riders of 190 pounds and up, and its Amazon listing shows it as unavailable. Three current 44 and 45 inch boards list limits of 250, 240 and 225 pounds; the Morey Mach 12 MDS stops at 195.
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Bodyboarding What Are Fins? Do Swimmers Really Need Them?
Swim fins are blades worn on the feet that add push to each kick. Swimmers do not need them to swim, but gear guides describe them for kick drills, and snorkelers, bodyboarders and rescuers rely on them.
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Bodyboarding Younger 41 Inch Bodyboard with IXPE Deck: Product Notes
The Younger 41 inch Super Bodyboard with an IXPE deck is no longer sold on Amazon. These notes cover what is still known about it and two current 41 inch boards with an EPS core.
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