South Bay Board Co, a Los Angeles based surfboard company (also now available in Australia) has a wide-ranging selection of softboards including a beginner range and a hybrid surfboard range which combines soft top deck with epoxy / hard bottom. With large numbers of customer comments like “my new favourite board!” and “this is not your standard foamie”, these guys are clearly doing something right!
With overwhelmingly positive feedback, and at very affordable price points – these soft top surfboards are definitely worth looking into.
In this review, we will look at both South Bay Board Co’s beginner softboard range and the hybrid soft top surfboard range.
SOUTH BAY BOARD CO BEGINNER SOFT TOP RANGE
1. 6’0″ & 8’0″ Guppy
The South Bay Board Co Guppy Surfboards are a beginner shape designed with long lasting & light weight EPS Closed Cell Foam that includes an EZ Carry Handle that’s perfect for the kids! The Guppy features a rounded nose and semi-squared out tail for maximum stability and performance while also keeping safety in mind. The pattern on the top deck allows you to spot the board easily while its in the water during those busy summer days.
This board is perfect for anyone from beginners to those who are a little more experienced in the water. While they are very affordable, these boards from South Bay Board Co are not lacking in quality.
Size:
6’0″ x 21” x 3” – 40L (suited to smaller and younger children)
8’0″ x 22″ x 3″ – 80L (suited to pre-teen and teenagers, or adults)
User FEEDBACK:
- Great learner board for kids
- Handle in deck is a popular feature
- Lightweight
- Easy to fit and store in car
- Some people note quite easily dents
2. 7’0″ Ruccus
South Bay Board Co perfected the design of this 7’0″ foamie for incredibly fun surfing with a Soft-Top Surfboard. The focus of this design is high performance and durability suited to a range of surfing abilities from beginner through to intermediate – advanced.
Features:
- A slim pinched in squash tail with rubber bumper (for sharper turns and safe vertical storage)
- Compressed Finger Print Textured IXPE Foam Deck (No Wax needed)
- Hand Tapered Rails, Beginner Friendly Nose Rocker to prevent nose diving, Slight Tail Rocker for added release in turns
- Bottom Deck Features a Slick HDPE surface with a full Double Concave shaved from the nose to the tail
- Heat release valve
Size: 7’0” x 22” x 2.85”
Fins & Leash included (packages available with surfboard bag etc as extra)
User FEEDBACK:
- Great for beginners – older kids & teenagers or lighter adults
- Works in smaller and larger conditions
- Can be enjoyed by experienced surfers too
- We’ve now taken it out numerous times in small and larger conditions
- Solid construction and high performance design
- Great value for the price
REVIEWS:
“This has to be the best soft top board on the market! l was blown away at the detailed construction, the sleek feel, the tight rails, and the double concave bottom. This is a lot like my fiberglass boards! The attention to detail is amazing considering the bargain basement price.”
3. 8’0″ Verve
The South Bay Board Co Verve is a user friendly board designed to easily catch waves. A perfect board for starting out, and surfs like a wavestorm on steroids for those of us with a bit more experience in the water.
Features:
- Rounded rubber tail (for extra stability through turns and safe vertical storage)
- Finger Print Textured IXPE Foam Deck (No Wax needed)
- Hand Tapered Rails, Beginner Friendly Nose Rocker to help prevent nose diving, Slight Tail Rocker for added release in turns
- Slick HDPE bottom
- 3 stringers
- FCS fin box fins
- Heat release valve
Size: 8’0” x 23” x 3”
Supports weights up to about 180 lbs (80kg) for beginners, heavier weights for more experienced
User FEEDBACK:
- Very stable so great for beginners trying to stand up for the first time on a surfboard
- Great in mushy waves up to around 3 foot
- Solid construction
- Good value
- Great float and easy to catch waves without much effort
- Users rate it highly compared to other softboards they’ve ridden
REVIEWS:
“I bought this soft top surfboard for a last second road trip with the boys to go crazy with and was more than stoked with how well this board surfs – I was catching everything I was paddling for and this board made the trip and conditions way more epic!”
“My second board from SBBC, they are absolutely great! Amazing price for what you are getting, their beginner soft tops blow a wavestorm out of the water. Highly recommend to anyone who is just starting out or even for that intermediate to advanced rider looking to catch a lot of waves. Aqua color way looks awesome and not needing wax will keep your board looking brand new!”
4. 8’8″ Heritage Surfboard
A perfect all rounder Longboard Soft-Top Surfboard with a sleek frame, round nose and squash tail, this massive foamie paddles easily, catches waves early, and can gain speed quickly. Suitable for all ages and surf abilities.
Features:
- Squash tail with rubber bumper (for sharper turns and safe vertical storage)
- Finger Print Textured IXPE Foam Deck (No Wax needed)
- Hand Tapered Rails, Beginner Friendly Nose Rocker to help prevent nose diving, Slight Tail Rocker for added release in turns
- Slick HDPE bottom
- 3 stringers
- FCS Fins
- Heat release valve
Size: 8’8” x 23” x 3.25”
Supports weights up to about 210 lbs (95 kg) for beginners, heavier weights for more experienced
Includes fins and leash (package available with stomp pad, board bag etc as extra)
User FEEDBACK:
- Good looks
- Great float and easy to paddle and catch waves
- Stable and forgiving – perfect for beginners
- Fast and great glide through the water
- Great for a heavy surfer
- Handles well
- Great in crowded surf spots
- Very responsible and handles well
- Surfs well in anything from knee to head high waves
REVIEWS: “I got the 8’8″ Heritage, Freakin’ Awesome board! within a few minutes I was up and riding like I knew how to surf, which after 20 years out of the surf and returning to surfing in my mid 50s is pretty darn good. I am totally impressed with this board” “Super durable board. It isn’t too wide and relatively thin in comparison to the amount of buoyancy, allowing easy manoeuvrability in the water whether getting in position to catch a wave or riding the wave. The foam top is thin and grippy. I highly recommend this board whether you’re a beginner or are looking for a fun board” “I tried several boards through various surf instructors and wanted to get specific dimensions. The 8’ Verve was ideal for what I needed as a newbie. Easy to get on, good manoeuvrability, nice balance. “
SOUTH BAY BOARD CO HYBRID SURFBOARD RANGE
1. 4’10” Huevo
South Bay Board Co’s 4’10 Huevo Hybrid Shortboard Surfboard features an extra wide, rounded-out nose & widened chest area for incredible paddle power.
Designed as a small wave summer charger with a blunt & wide tail which enables great stability but also has a loose skateboard-like feel.
Features:
- 1 x Full Length I-Beam Wooden Stringer + Bamboo Strengthened Bottom Deck
- 6oz Full Coverage Top-To-Bottom Layer Of Resin For Extra Durable & Rigid Surf Boards
- Tapered Rails + Proper Nose/Tail Rocker for performance shortboard surfing
- FingerPrint Texture Foam Top Deck = No Wax Needed
- FCS Quad Fins
- Heat release valve
Size: 4’10” x 21” x 2.85” (37L)
Supports weights up to about 200 lbs (90 kg)
Includes FCS Quad fins and leash (package available with stomp pad, board bag etc as extra)
User FEEDBACK:
- Super fun
- Paddles like a longboard and gets you early entry onto waves
- Fast down the line
- Loose like a skateboard feel
- Great for travel as so compact
- Could benefit from some added reinforcement on the tail
- Suits waves up to head high
- Fantastic value for the price
2. 5’0″ & 5’5″ Big Betsy
The 5’0 Big Betsy is a short, wake boarding designed board which can also surf ocean waves for advanced surfers. It has a twin fin setup.
The 5’5 Big Betsy Hybrid is a slightly fuller shape wide rounded nose and general width through the board for increased paddle power. The wide diamond tail allows epic release in your turns and and provides great stability and float in slower sections of waves.
Features:
- 1 x Full Length I-Beam Wooden Stringer + Bamboo Strengthened Bottom Deck
- 6oz Full Coverage Top-To-Bottom Layer Of Resin For Extra Durable & Rigid Surf Boards
- Tapered Rails + Proper Nose/Tail Rocker for performance shortboard surfing
- FingerPrint Texture Foam Top Deck = No Wax Needed
- FCS Twin fins (5’0) and 5 fins for quad/tri fin (5’5″)
Size: 5’0″ x 20” x 2”
Supports weights from approx 70 lbs (30 kg) to 230 lbs (100 kg) for wake surfing and approx 70 lbs (30 kg) to 170 lbs (77 kg) for surfing
Size: 5’5″ x 20” x 2.25” (31L)
Supports weights from approx 70 lbs (30 kg) to 200lbs (90 kg)
Includes FCS Twin/Quad fins and leash (package available with stomp pad, board bag etc as extra)
User FEEDBACK:
- Great for wake surfing and afforable (5’0″)
3. 5’8″ Mahi Fish
The South Bay Board Co Mahi Fish is one of the most popular boards in their lineup and has many customer reviews raving about it.
It is a classic fish shape with quad fin setup. High volume with refind high performance features at an affordable price point.
The board suits intermediate to experienced surfers but also is noted to be good for kids by customers.
Features:
- Hand tapered rails to allow board’s edge to cut through the face of the wave.
- Classic Fish Tail to draw out big turns and hold the high line for flowing down the wave.
- Fingerprint Texture in the foam on the top deck (NO WAX NEEDED)
- I-Beam Stringer and Bamboo Layered bottom. The I-Beam Stringer covers the full length as well as the bamboo layers providing for a rigid deck with slight flex
- EPS CLOSED CELL Foam Core
Size: 5’8″ x 21” x 2.75” (38L)
Supports weights between 50 Lbs (22 kg) and 180 Lbs (82 kg)
User FEEDBACK:
- Very well made and quality construction
- Some say the grippy soft top is irritating to the skin but others say better than others
- Overall, the fact that you don’t need any wax is a very popular feature
- Paddles great and floats well
- Due to small size, needs a little bit of wave to get going therefore probably better suited to someone with some surfing experience/skills
- Stable, but still very maneuverable
- Great for kids as well as advanced
- Fast and responsive in waves up to 6 feet but perhaps better for down the line surfing than ultra snappy performance surfing
- Paddles great and is really easy to catch waves
- Very easy to transport
- Great value
- A go-to board when waves aren’t big enough or powerful enough for a typical shortboard
- Good board for transitioning from longboard to short
4. 6’0″ Razzo
The South Bay Board Co 6’ Razzo is a high performance shape with good volume (35.5L) for easy paddling and getting into waves early. With slight nose and tail rocker, the 6’ Razzo is a surfing rocket down the line and makes small waves big playgrounds. Real Bamboo layers protected with a properly resined hard bottom deck with FCS Fin Boxes.
Features:
- Hand tapered rails
- High-Performance squash tail and thruster nose for aggressive high-performance surfing
- Fingerprint Texture in the foam on the top deck (NO WAX NEEDED)
- I-Beam Stringer and Bamboo Layered bottom. The I-Beam Stringer covers the full length as well as the bamboo layers providing for a rigid deck with slight flex
- EPS CLOSED CELL Foam Core
Size: 6’0″ x 20” wide x 2.75” (35.5L)
Supports weights between 50 Lbs (22 kg) and 180 Lbs (82 kg)
User FEEDBACK:
- Good looks
- Value for the price
- Great feedback from beginners – kids and adults
- Stable but very maneuverable and high performing
- Smooth and fast through the water
- Good for variety of wave sizes
- Users like the wax free deck feature
- Good float and paddle power
5. 6’8″ Casper
The South Bay Board Co Casper is a fun mid length shape with rounded nose with a swallow tail. This means easy paddling and smooth turns. It is a user friendly board but is certainly not lacking at all in it’s ability to turn and carve down the line which is clear in the customer feedback.
Features:
- Hand tapered rails
- Rounded out nose, width and swallow tail for extra stability and fun performance
- Easy to paddle and entry into waves
- Fingerprint Texture in the foam on the top deck (NO WAX NEEDED)
- I-Beam Stringer and Bamboo Layered bottom. The I-Beam Stringer covers the full length as well as the bamboo layers providing for a rigid deck with slight flex
- EPS CLOSED CELL Foam Core
- FCS Fin boxes with tri fin setup
Size: 6’8″ x 21” x 2.75” (45L)
Supports weights between 70 Lbs (30 kg) and 200 Lbs (90kg)
User FEEDBACK:
- Performs much better than expected
- Can make late drops into waves
- Very easy to paddle
- High quality construction
- No unwanted flex
- The low rocker and wide tail are great for weak summer waves
- Super fun and fast down the line
- Great for beginners and advanced
- The bamboo bottom is well finished like a regular surfboard.
- Great looking
6. 7’7″ Elefante
The 7’7 Elefante Hybrid features an old school mid-length template, with widened out chest area for easier pop-ups and a pulled in tail for a looser feel on smaller waves. Featuring a larger single fin box with small side bite fins.
The company calls it the ultimate summer funboard cruiser, suited to advanced beginner through to experienced surfer looking to get in the water regardless of wave size.
Features:
- Tapered rails and proper Nose/Tail Rocker for classic & easy funboard surfing.
- Rounded out nose, width and swallow tail for extra stability and fun performance
- Easy to paddle and entry into waves
- Fingerprint Texture in the foam on the top deck (NO WAX NEEDED)
- I-Beam Stringer and Bamboo Layered bottom. The I-Beam Stringer covers the full length as well as the bamboo layers and 6oz resign layer top and bottom provide a durable and rigid board
- EPS CLOSED CELL Foam Core
- FCS Fin boxes with tri fin setup
Size: 7’7″ x 23” x 2.85” (57L)
Supports weights upto approx 250 lbs (110kg)
User FEEDBACK:
- Goes really well in waist to shoulder high surf
- Great float
- Waxless deck is a nice feature
- Value for money
7. 9’6″ Tortuga
The South Bay Board Co 9’6″ Tortuga Hybrid Longboard is a classic longboard shape which is one of the more refined soft top longboards on the market. At 9’6″ with 84 L volume it is certainly bouyant but not overly so compared to other soft longboards available which max out at around 9 foot. This means a more closely aligned longboard design to traditional logs.
Suited to intermediate to advanced surfers.
Features:
- Tapered Rails and Proper Nose/Tail Rocker for classic longboard surfing
- Tri-fin with larger centre fin (FCS fin boxes).
- Classic Longboard Influenced Shape
- Easy to paddle and get early entry into waves
- Fingerprint Texture in the foam on the top deck (NO WAX NEEDED)
- I-Beam wooden stringer and Bamboo Layered bottom. The I-Beam Stringer covers the full length as well as the bamboo layers plus a 6oz layer of resin to top and botom for extra durability and rigidity
- EPS CLOSED CELL Foam Core
Size: 9’6″ x 24” x 3.25” (84L)
Supports weights up to approx 300 lbs (135kg)
User FEEDBACK:
- Great build quality and durable
- Rides well and fast
- Good looks
South Bay Board Co have one of the most extensive range of softboards available and there is sure to be something which appeals to any surfer!
Feel free to share your thoughts on the boards if you have any experience with them, or if you have any questions just drop us a comment below!
Make sure you check out our in-depth reviews and buyer guides.