buying advice
Best River Surfboards 2024 | Complete Guide
Author: Simon Coward & Tom Stewart
Whether you've been ocean surfing on the Australian coast since childhood, like Simon, or you grew up inland and learned to surf abroad, like Tom, or even if you're just starting out, we have an awesome breakdown of our favorite river surfboards. This guide will help you find the perfect board for your style and the wave conditions you plan to surf.
Keep in mind that our top picks reflect the wave conditions generally found in Western Canada and may not translate well to the larger, more exposed features typically seen around Montreal or the Ottawa Valley.
The Best River Surfboards 2024
Boardworks Froth River Surfboard
Best Soft Top River Surfboard
The Boardworks Froth River Shortboard has been around for quite a while. It originally launched under the Nerf! brand, and you might still see some of its taller, older siblings in rental shops and surf schools.
This durability speaks to the build quality of these soft top boards, which are likely a bit overbuilt for their intended use or cost.
The first generation of the Froth Shortboard was designed exclusively for beginners. It was easy to use, but the volume was a bit excessive, causing many beginners to outgrow it too quickly.
When Boardworks redesigned the Froth, taking inspiration from the Wakesurf boards emerging in 2020, they really nailed it.
The 2 sizes work well for both smaller and larger surfers. The 5’6” (large) is a great board for larger river surfers or those looking for a stable platform to learn on. The 5’0” (small) is ideal for smaller river surfers but also performs well for midweight surfers looking for a high-performance, durable soft top board.
[Also Watch: Meet the 2019 Froth Surfboard From Boardworks Surf]
Badfish ISK8 Inflatable River Surfboard
Best Inflatable River Surfboard
We were first introduced to the Badfish ISK8 a couple of years ago and had a chance to try it out on a mix of slow and fast river waves in and around Calgary Alberta. The ISK8’s shape and roots are deeply influenced by wakeboarding, and this is reflected in its ride and feel.
The board’s inflatable nature provides excellent stability. As a beginner, it’s easy to cruise and carve around on your knees while waiting for the right moment to get to your feet. Its build is also incredibly durable, drawing from Badfish’s heritage in creating ‘bomb-proof’ inflatable whitewater SUP boards.
For beginners, the ISK8 offers a great learning platform that is both forgiving and fun. More advanced surfers might find it ideal for a skate/wakeboard-inspired ride rather than traditional edge-to-edge surfing.
An additional bonus of inflatable river surfboards is their convenience: they’re easy to deflate and inflate, store, and transport. Plus, you can likely bring them on a plane for free, unlike their solid board counterparts.
[Also Read: What is river surfing?]
LIB TECH LOST PUDDLE JUMPER RIVER SURFBOARD
BEST ALL ROUND COMPOSITE RIVER SURFBOARD
The Lib Tech Lost Puddle Jumper River Surfboard has been making ‘waves’ in our river surf community for a few years now. Its build quality is top-notch for a full composite surfboard, making it well-suited for our fast-moving, shallow rivers.
This board is certainly not designed with the beginner river surfer in mind. However, for intermediates who can catch waves and stand with relative consistent, it is a great next step board. Though the learning curve can be a bit frustrating at times, it’s rewarded with amazing looseness and exceptional edge-to-edge surfing capabilities.
For advanced river surfers, the Puddle Jumper offers fast edge-to-edge performance and the ability to really put the board on rail. The 5-fin box setup allows for numerous fin arrangements, providing plenty of room for experimentation and fine-tuning to match different conditions and surfing styles, whether skate-inspired or more traditional edge surfing.
Lib Tech Lost Puddle Jumper Surfboard
Best River Surfboards | Complete Guide
The Lib Tech Lost Puddle Jumper Surfboard started a revolution and remains the benchmark for small wave performance, the Lib Tech Lost Puddle Jumper has become one of the most sought after river surf boards due to its easy riding, predictable nature, and bomb proof construction. The Lib Tech Lost Puddle Jumper Surfboard is great not only for small wave days at the beach but for river surfing too.
Features
This board features a concave bottom that transitions to vee in the tail. The wide outline makes for easy wave catching and down the line glide and stability. The concave bottom adds lift and increased rail curve, which allows radical top to bottom surfing. The straight rail line & vee in the tail keep the board moving forward and hold during hard carving maneuvers.
Technology
TECHNOLOGICALLY TOUGHER - ENVIRONMENTALLY NICER!
Lib Tech is dedicated to board riding and hands on high tech board building. We have spent a lifetime of surfing, shaping and working with alternative, high performance, environmentally friendly materials and constructions. Traditional surfboard construction has always felt too fragile and the build process is toxic and unhealthy for the planet and craftspeople. We know there had to be a way...
Mike Olson and our experiMENTAL division applied our 35+ years of hands on board building experience to the task of building a better surfboard. In the process we completely rewrote the book on surfboard construction. Every component we use in our ecoIMPACTO surf construction is completely new to the surf industry. Our Thermo fusion process radically minimizes resin exposure and sanding while creating amazingly durable, environmentally friendly, high performance surf structures that will free your mind and lift your surfing to new heights.
THE ECOIMPACTO RIDE "HIGH PERFORMANCE LIFE EXTENSION"
A smooth responsive and high performance ride with the feel of a crispy new polyester that lasts and lasts.
- LESS WORRY... MORE FUN
- THE ULTIMATE TRAVEL BOARD
- WONT ABSORB WATER IF YOU DO GET A DING
- REPAIRS WITH EPOXY
- ECO FRIENDLY MATERIALS AND PROCESS
- ELIMINATION OF INDUSTRY-STANDARD RESIN EXPOSURE PROCEDURES
- ELIMINATION OF INDUSTRY-STANDARD SANDING PROCEDURES
- ELIMINATION OF INDUSTRY-STANDARD PAINT BRUSHES, TAPE, AND SOLVENTS
- LOW VOC PLANT BASED BIO RESIN
- RECYCLED FOAM OFFCUTS
- LONG LASTING CONSTRUCTION
Specifications
| Length | Width | Thickness | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5’1” | 19.5" | 2.25" | 25.5 cl |
| 5’3” | 20.0" | 2.32" | 28.0 cl |
| 5’5” | 20.5" | 2.38" | 30.5 cl |
| 5’7” | 21.0" | 2.5" | 33.9 cl |
| 5'9” | 21.5" | 2.63" | 37.65 cl |
| 5'11” | 22.0" | 2.75" | 41.75 cl |
| 6'1” | 22.5" | 2.8" | 44.0 cl |
Video
LIB TECH LOST HYDRA RIVER SURFBOARD
BEST HIGH VOLUME COMPOSITE RIVER SURFBOARD
The Lib Tech Lost Hydra River Surfboard features a radically designed, higher volume swallow tail shortboard build Lib Tech's renowned Ultra Bomber durability, making it unreal for the trashy and hard on gear river environment.
With a higher volume-to-length ratio than other boards in the Mayhem lineup, the Hydra provides a better platform for less experienced surfers and allows larger river surfers to enjoy a shorter board. Larger river surfers of all skill levels will likely appreciate the stability and performance of the Hydra River Surfboard.
This design is particularly suited for flatter, slower waves. The added volume increases buoyancy, making it easier to stay on and ride those slower, flatter river surf waves.
Far from a ‘pig’ of a board, the rail and tail shape provide advanced river surfers a ride that allows quick rail-to-rail transfer and super snappy turns. Pop some of the fins out or use some smaller knubster style fins on this board for a super loose, slidey, rad ride.
For more beginner surfers, with a more traditional fin setup, the Hydra will prove to be a great transition board from a beginner rig to a more high-performance, true surf-style feeling board.
Lib Tech Lost Hydra Surfboard
Best River Surfboards | Complete Guide
The Matt Biolos designed Lib Tech Lost Hydra Surfboard is built to be the most advanced small wave board in the Mayhem lineup. This short, wide board has the highest volume to length ratio of any Lost board which translates to an epic river surfboard for small flat waves or larger surfers looking for a more forgiving shortboard. The Retro fish inspired diamond tail adds stability to the rear foot but shortens the rail line for quick radical turns. The Lib Tech Lost Hydra Surfboard Eco Impact construction means that this board can take the abuse of the river while also reducing your impact on the environment.
Features
The HYDRA is a minuscule wave monster, melding more than 25 years of developing small wave fish and mini wave hybrids.
It implements proven design details from a myriad of models like the Puddle Jumper, Bottom Feeder, Pelagic, and most recently the RNF-Retro. Built around an overall low rocker paired to an almost traditional “fish” outline, this little sea monster is a mini-wave weapon.
It features multiple magic making design elements which bring The HYDRA to life.
- On the outline, we’ve continued with the snowboard influenced “Pelagic” side cut outline.
From the original Pelagic, to the RNF-Retro and on to the new SWORD-FISH, every board featuring this outline has worked above expectations. It noticeably locks into the wave during carves and shortens the radius of turns while both gaining speed and maintaining control.
- The bottom contours feature a double concave (sitting in a single concave), with noticeable chined releases towards the rail. A design featured in our classic Bottom Feeder model. The triple concave allows the use of more curve through the rocker (which makes proper turning and vertical surfing a lot easier) by cutting through and adding lift and speed. With very wide boards, single concave bottoms easily get sticky and stay flat on the face, the chined perimeter towards the rails, add release and frees up the board from rail to rail. Making 3D rail surfing more possible, as opposed to simply skating fast on the surface, like so many traditional fish.
-
The tail is a split diamond, which melds the characteristics of both swallow and diamond tails.
- The notched-out center line shortens the stringer and reduces surface area behind the rear foot, to add bite and control to a wide tail.
- The double diamond tail shortens the rail line making quick and radical, power retaining turns much more manageable.
- The HYDRA uses a flat-ish deck, with full and forgiving rails. Flat decks can remain thinner and still retain volume and are more flexible (even if thick) than vee or dome decks. Flex is good in low rocker boards, keeping them pliable and forgiving.
Technology
TECHNOLOGICALLY TOUGHER - ENVIRONMENTALLY NICER!
Lib Tech is dedicated to board riding and hands on high tech board building. We have spent a lifetime of surfing, shaping and working with alternative, high performance, environmentally friendly materials and constructions. Traditional surfboard construction has always felt too fragile and the build process is toxic and unhealthy for the planet and craftspeople. We know there had to be a way...
Mike Olson and our experiMENTAL division applied our 35+ years of hands on board building experience to the task of building a better surfboard. In the process we completely rewrote the book on surfboard construction. Every component we use in our ecoIMPACTO surf construction is completely new to the surf industry. Our Thermo fusion process radically minimizes resin exposure and sanding while creating amazingly durable, environmentally friendly, high performance surf structures that will free your mind and lift your surfing to new heights.
THE ECOIMPACTO RIDE "HIGH PERFORMANCE LIFE EXTENSION"
A smooth responsive and high performance ride with the feel of a crispy new polyester that lasts and lasts.
- LESS WORRY... MORE FUN
- THE ULTIMATE TRAVEL BOARD
- WONT ABSORB WATER IF YOU DO GET A DING
- REPAIRS WITH EPOXY
- ECO FRIENDLY MATERIALS AND PROCESS
- ELIMINATION OF INDUSTRY-STANDARD RESIN EXPOSURE PROCEDURES
- ELIMINATION OF INDUSTRY-STANDARD SANDING PROCEDURES
- ELIMINATION OF INDUSTRY-STANDARD PAINT BRUSHES, TAPE, AND SOLVENTS
- LOW VOC PLANT BASED BIO RESIN
- RECYCLED FOAM OFFCUTS
- LONG LASTING CONSTRUCTION
Specifications
BOARD SPECS
| Length | Width | Thickness | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5’3” | 20.25" | 2.5" | 30.5 cl |
| 5’5” | 20.75" | 2.6" | 33.5 cl |
| 5’7” | 21.25" | 2.7" | 37.5 cl |
| 5’9” | 21.75" | 2.7" | 39.5 cl |
| 5'11” | 22.25" | 2.8" | 43.5 cl |
| 6’1” | 22.5" | 2.9" | 45.5 cl |
Video
Lib Tech Whirlpool River Surfboard
Best High Performance Composite River Surfboard
The Lib Tech Whirlpool is our highest performance board and the only one specifically designed for river use.
Beyond Lib Tech's bombproof construction, the Whirlpool features a tightly pulled-in tail, making it feel super engaged in the wave rather than riding on top of it. The double rail design enhances quick snaps from one rail to the other. Often in river waves, the nose can start to bog down, but with the Whirlpool, you get a bit of uplift when it catches that secondary edge.
When comparing the 5’2” and 5’4” versions, you'll notice some key differences. The 5’2” requires constant rail-to-rail action and doesn't quite have the speed to stick in one position on a moderately powerful wave. In contrast, the 5’4” is lightning fast and more stable than expected, despite its low volume and narrow characteristics. It’s definitely an expert or high-intermediate level board, but it’s more stable than it appears, possibly due to the unique drop deck feature that directs your toes or heels toward the center, enhancing stability when up on the rail.
This board requires a relatively powerful wave to surf effectively. Like all Lib Tech boards, the Whirlpool is built with their eco impact construction, one of the toughest surfboard constructions available, making it a great choice for river surfing. Plus, as Lib Tech says, they're environmentally nicer.
Lib Tech Whirlpool River Surfboard
Best River Surfboards | Complete Guide
Inspired by the river wave and City Wave high performance surf culture in Munich that has spread around the world. The Whirlpool is a low volume “river focused” high performance shortboard infused with some amazing features developed through the Lib Tech wake and ocean surfing shape experiments. A classic squash tail with a smooth curved rail line, matching rocker, single concave and tri fin set up translates to proven high performance. PAD (particle acceleration dish) concave placed in the front fin area increases water flow rate on the board surface where you need it most and creates magical speed and a loose feel. A visibly chined rail offers catch free forgiveness while at the same time reducing rail volume and allowing aggressive precise high performance surfing. To take it over the top performance wise Lib Tech also added a top deck concave under your front foot for positive skate like control in and above the water.
Reinforced fin boxes and rails for artificial durability enhancement!
Features
NEW! FOC II FIN BOX SYSTEM
- FCS II compatible!
- Two Tab compatible with 1/2” fin adjustability for precise tuning of your boards surf characteristics
- Stronger and lighter box
MAGNESIUM FIBER
- Tough & Resilient!
- High impact and break strength fiber
- Great rebound / memory
BASALT FIBER
- Smooth & Strong!
- Pure additive-free mineral fiber
- Natural dampening properties
- Break and impact resistant
CARBON POWER SPINE STRINGER
- Dynamic energy & long lasting flex
- Tension spread to carbon fiber
- Rebound energy return
- Perfect flex tuning
NITROGENECELL FOAM
- Strong, Light, Waterproof
- Environmentally friendly nitrogen blowing agent
- Elliptical engineered cells act like a column providing stiffness from top to bottom and “nerf-like” elasticity in side impact
- Recycled: 25-40% recycled content, 100% of off cuts recycled
HEXZYLON FIBER FOAM SKIN
- Strong & Smooth!
- Smooth riding vibration absorption layer
- Impact and ding resistant
BIO-MATRIX RESIN
- Strong & Nice!
- Low VOC glycerin based chemistry
- Surfs smooth like a new polyester board
- Longer lifespan than epoxy
ELASTO PERIMETER DAMPENING FIBER
- Smooth & Strong!
- Flex control, pop, precision
- Impact resistant
LIB TECH LEASH PLUG
- Better Basics!
- 6061 T6 Aircraft aluminum pins
- Lightweight fiber composite cup
Technology
TECHNOLOGICALLY TOUGHER - ENVIRONMENTALLY NICER!
Lib Tech is dedicated to board riding and hands on high tech board building. We have spent a lifetime of surfing, shaping and working with alternative, high performance, environmentally friendly materials and constructions. Traditional surfboard construction has always felt too fragile and the build process is toxic and unhealthy for the planet and craftspeople. We know there had to be a way...
Mike Olson and our experiMENTAL division applied our 35+ years of hands on board building experience to the task of building a better surfboard. In the process we completely rewrote the book on surfboard construction. Every component we use in our ecoIMPACTO surf construction is completely new to the surf industry. Our Thermo fusion process radically minimizes resin exposure and sanding while creating amazingly durable, environmentally friendly, high performance surf structures that will free your mind and lift your surfing to new heights.
THE ECOIMPACTO RIDE "HIGH PERFORMANCE LIFE EXTENSION"
A smooth responsive and high performance ride with the feel of a crispy new polyester that lasts and lasts.
- LESS WORRY... MORE FUN
- THE ULTIMATE TRAVEL BOARD
- WONT ABSORB WATER IF YOU DO GET A DING
- REPAIRS WITH EPOXY
- ECO FRIENDLY MATERIALS AND PROCESS
- ELIMINATION OF INDUSTRY-STANDARD RESIN EXPOSURE PROCEDURES
- ELIMINATION OF INDUSTRY-STANDARD SANDING PROCEDURES
- ELIMINATION OF INDUSTRY-STANDARD PAINT BRUSHES, TAPE, AND SOLVENTS
- LOW VOC PLANT BASED BIO RESIN
- RECYCLED FOAM OFFCUTS
- LONG LASTING CONSTRUCTION
Specifications
| Length | Width | Thickness | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5’4” |
N 14.4" W 18.8" T 15.1" |
2.1" |
23.0 cl |
Video
LIB TECH LOST MICKS TAPE SURFBOARD
Best High Performance Multi-purpose River Surfboard
The Lib Tech Lost Micks Tape is a board I haven’t personally ridden, but it has garnered quite a reputation. Designed to be ridden as small as possible, it stands out as an ideal all-purpose board.
It’s short enough to fit into tight river wave pockets but with enough volume, speed, and paddle power to handle progressive surfing in small to medium-sized waves. This makes it a versatile choice for river surfers who want a board that can adapt to various conditions while still delivering a high level of performance.
Final Takeaways
While this isn’t an exhaustive list, it highlights some of our favorite boards that we’ve been lucky enough to ride over the years.
If you're interested in purchasing a board, our river surf staff are always excited to chat about gear. And don't forget, AQ Outdoors ships river surfboards across Canada!
If you’re new to the sport, be sure to check out the additional resources below, especially our info on River Surfing Safety. Even experienced ocean surfers need to be aware of the unique hazards of river surfing, which can catch the uninitiated off guard.