The soft top surfboard for beginners that actually gets you standing up
Not every wide, spongy board is created equal. Here's the spec that separates a soft top surfboard for beginners that works from one that just looks the part in the rental rack.
Shopping for a soft top surfboard for beginners? Or just trying to work out if the one your camp handed you is any good? Here's the no nonsense version. It comes down to four numbers. Length, width, thickness, volume. Nail those and the board does half the work for you before you've even paddled out.
I've watched thousands of first timers wobble to their feet on a wide, spongy board. Looks easier than it feels, every time. That's the whole point of a soft top. Built to forgive your mistakes while you're still working out where your feet go. And different enough from a hardboard that getting the spec wrong is the single biggest reason beginners struggle in their first few sessions.
01 How it works
Why soft tops suit beginners
A soft top surfboard is built with a foam core, wrapped in a soft foam deck instead of a hard, glassy top skin. The bottom and rails are usually a tougher, slicker material, so the board still glides and turns properly. But the surface you're lying, kneeling and standing on stays soft.
That combination earns its keep for three reasons. Falling onto a soft deck, or copping a stray board to the ribs mid wipeout, hurts a lot less than a hard fibreglass edge would. Soft tops also carry more volume for their size, so they float higher and paddle easier. And a stable, buoyant board gives you room to get it wrong while you're learning to balance. Your energy goes into catching waves instead of fighting the board underneath you.
None of this is a compromise reserved for complete beginners, either. Plenty of surfers who've been at it for decades still keep a soft top in the quiver, simply because it's durable, easy to travel with, and genuinely fun in small, mushy waves. The old stigma around "foamies" being a lesser board has mostly faded. Modern soft tops use proper fin boxes and shapes that actually perform, not just float.
The one number that matters
Forget the brand on the deck. If a soft top surfboard for beginners lists its volume in litres, that single figure tells you more than the length or the price tag ever will.
02 The spec
The spec checklist for a soft top surfboard for beginners
This is the part worth getting right. Simple rule: more length, more width, more volume equals more stability and easier paddling. Here's what to check before you rent, borrow or buy one.
Length & width
8–9 feet, wide nose
A longer board catches waves earlier and holds its line more predictably. Look for at least 21–22 inches across the widest point. Width is what stops you toppling sideways.
Thickness & volume
3 inches, 60–80+ litres
Thickness keeps the board floating high under your weight. If volume is listed in litres, higher is better for a beginner, scaled roughly to your height and weight.
A taller or heavier surfer needs more length and volume than a smaller one, to get the same paddle power and stability. If in doubt, size up, not down. Beyond the core measurements, check for a proper fin box system rather than fixed plastic fins moulded into the foam, so the board tracks straight and turns with some intent. And check the rails, not just the deck, are foam covered. That's what actually makes a soft top a soft top.
Durability matters more than it sounds too, especially if you're buying rather than renting. A well made board handles sand, sun and salt without the deck peeling or the core waterlogging. Buying one? Get it from a proper surf shop, not some unknown listing. You want to know the fin boxes and construction are genuine, not something that'll fall apart in a fortnight.
One thing to flat out ignore: a board that looks fast and aggressive in the photos because a sponsored ripper is standing on it. A shape built for someone who's surfed for a decade is, almost by definition, the wrong shape for someone who hasn't. Boring, wide and buoyant gets beginners up and riding. That's the whole brief. Nothing else matters yet.
03 The nuance
Foamie vs soft-top epoxy: what's the difference
You'll hear "foamie" and "soft top" tossed around like they're the same thing. They're not, not quite. An old school foamie is soft foam right through: deck, rails and bottom. About as forgiving as a board gets, though it can feel sluggish the second you try to actually turn it.
A soft top epoxy board pairs that same soft foam deck with a firmer core and a harder, slicker bottom skin, often a fibreglass style or epoxy layer. You still get the safe surface to stand and fall on, but the board glides faster, holds an edge better, and answers back more precisely when you shift your weight. Most modern beginner boards, including the ones at a decent surf camp, are built this way rather than as a pure old style foamie. Forgiveness without giving up all the performance. Best of both.
04 Progression
When to size down (later than you'd think)
Once the basics click, paddling into a wave unassisted, popping up consistently, riding a line along the face instead of straight at the beach, it's tempting to jump onto a shorter, sportier soft top. Resist. Longer than feels natural.
Shorter, narrower soft tops with a pulled in nose and quad fin setups exist, and they do bridge the gap towards a hardboard eventually. But they demand more paddle strength, more precise positioning, and more balance than a longer board asks for. Exactly the things you're still building in your first weeks and months. Size down too early and you just buy yourself more time struggling, less time surfing.
My rule: let your wave count decide, not your ego. Most people progress faster staying on a longer, stable board, only trimming length and volume gradually as paddling and pop up become automatic. You'll move from a soft top epoxy shape to a genuine hardboard eventually. Just not in week one.
05 Upkeep
Care and maintenance basics
Soft tops are tougher than hardboards day to day, but they still need basic care to earn their keep.
- AfterRinse in fresh water every session, especially the fin boxes and leash plug where salt and sand collect.
- StorageKeep it cool and dry, out of direct sun. Heat and UV weaken the foam and glue over time.
- RestingLay it flat or stand it on its nose or rail. Never the tail, the thinnest and most vulnerable part.
- TransportUse roof racks or a board bag, and never leave it in a hot car. The heat can delaminate the deck.
- RepairsPatch dings promptly with a waterproof adhesive so water can't reach the core.
None of this is high maintenance. A quick rinse and a sensible place to store it keeps a soft top performing well for years. Basic respect, that's all it asks.
06 Where we come in
Why our boards fit this spec
You don't need to shop for any of this if you're joining us. Every guest gets a board included in the camp package, and I've picked ours against exactly the spec above: generous length, plenty of width through the nose, and enough volume to make paddling and catching waves as easy as possible from day one.
Bali
Heart of Canggu
One surf lesson a day, coaching at a 2:1 ratio and never worse than 3:1, so there's always someone alongside you making sure you're on the right board for your size and progress. All-inclusive, social, 18+, dinners and drinks included, rated 5.0 stars from more than 2,000 Google reviews.
Sri Lanka
Beachfront in Weligama
Two surf sessions a day, sunrise and sunset, with ocean views, a rooftop bar and daily gym and yoga to help your body keep up with the extra water time. Coaching runs at roughly 5:1, still close enough that you're never lost in a crowd.
The spec that matters, from rack to rinse.
Ready to swap the research for the real thing? Join a week in Bali and let a 2:1 coached, once daily lesson plan put you on the right board from the first paddle.
Explore Bali surf campsPrefer two sessions a day and a beachfront base? Our Weligama camp in Sri Lanka pairs sunrise and sunset surf with ocean views and a rooftop bar to unwind in between.
Explore Sri Lanka surf camps07 Good to know
Frequently asked questions
What size soft top surfboard should a beginner use?
Most beginners do best on a board between 8 and 9 feet long, at least 21 to 22 inches wide, and around 3 inches thick. If it's listed in litres, look for roughly 60 to 80+ litres depending on your height and weight. More volume means easier paddling and more stability while you learn.
Are soft top surfboards only for complete beginners?
No. Plenty of experienced surfers use soft tops for small, mushy waves, for travel, or simply because they're durable and fun. They're the obvious starting point for beginners, but they're not exclusively a beginner board.
What's the difference between a foamie and a soft-top epoxy board?
A foamie is soft foam all the way through, which is very forgiving but can feel slow to turn. A soft-top epoxy board keeps the soft foam deck for safety but pairs it with a firmer core and a slicker, harder bottom, which glides faster and handles better while staying safe to fall on.
When should I move from a soft top to a hardboard?
Once paddling, catching waves and popping up feel automatic, rather than after your first week or two. There's no fixed timeline. It depends on how often you're surfing, but most people progress faster by staying on a stable, longer board for longer than they'd expect, then sizing down gradually.
Do I need to buy my own soft top for a surf camp trip?
Not at Elsewhere. A board suited to your size and level is included in your camp package at both our Bali and Sri Lanka camps, so there's nothing extra to source or bring.