Surf Gear Checklist: Everything You Need Before Your First Session

Walking into a surf shop for the first time can be overwhelming — boards, wetsuits, fins, wax, leashes, tailpads, board bags. Not all of it is essential on day one. Here's a straightforward checklist of what you actually need, split by priority, so you can spend your money where it counts.

The Essentials - Get These First

A board with enough volume. For beginners, this usually means a softboard. It floats well, paddles easily, and won't hurt if it hits you, which it will, more than once.

A wetsuit matched to the season. Water temperature around North Devon changes a lot through the year, so check our wetsuit thickness guide if you're not sure what to get.

A well-fitted 3/2mm or 4/3mm covers most of the year.

A leash. Non-negotiable. Without one, your board becomes a hazard to you and everyone else in the water the moment you fall off.

Surf wax or a traction pad. You need grip to stand up at all. Wax is cheap and works well on most boards; a traction pad is a more permanent option, especially useful on the tail of a board for back-foot grip.

Worth Adding Once You're Surfing Regularly

Boots and gloves. Not essential in summer, but genuinely session-saving in autumn, winter, and early spring. Cold hands and feet end sessions early far more often than tiredness does.

A board bag. Protects your board from dings in the car, at home, and while travelling. If you've spent money on a decent board, a bag is a sensible next purchase.

Fins, if your board takes removable ones. Different fin setups change how a board rides, more manoeuvrable with smaller, more flexible fins, more stable and drivey with larger, stiffer ones. Worth experimenting with once you're comfortable.

A changing robe. Not essential for surfing itself, but makes getting in and out of a wetsuit on a cold, windy car park a lot more bearable, ask anyone who surfs through winter.

Nice to Have, No Rush

• A tailpad for extra grip and a personal touch to your board

• A dedicated boardbag for longer trips or storage

• Outdoor gear and clothing for before and after sessions

• A GoPro or similar if you want to start capturing sessions

Buy Once, Buy Right, But Not All at Once

The biggest mistake we see isn't buying the wrong gear, it's buying too much too soon. Start with the essentials, get a feel for how often you're actually surfing and in what conditions, and build the rest of your kit around that. A softboard, a well-fitted wetsuit, a leash and some wax will get almost anyone through their first season perfectly well.

Shop the Full Range

Browse surfboards, wetsuits, and hardware, including fins, boardbags, tailpads, and changing robes or check out our surfing accessories for wax and the smaller bits. Not sure what fits your budget or your board? Get in touch or drop into the shop on Barton Road, Woolacombe, we kit people out for their first session every single day.