There are multiple different variables that need to be accounted for when choosing the right skimboard. Your weight and height are some of those variables and you will need to ensure that your skimboard also matches your skills or capabilities on the water.
Much like surfboards, skimboards are extremely versatile and can also be a nightmare in the water if you do not manage to find the correct board for your needs. Luckily we are here to help you with all of the important features that you need to look for as well as the best types of boards that are currently available on the market.
Top Skimboard Comparison Charts
Before we look at the top skimboards, you will need to know exactly how to find the top skimboards and how the special features will be of benefit to you, so we have created our list of the most important features that you need to look for to ensure that you buy a quality skimboard that will give you the best value for your money.
Skimboard Buying Guide
We all know how devastating and powerful water is, but this is especially true in the ocean and a proper skimboard might be a little expensive, but you will definitely be able to ride in most water conditions without any fear of the water damaging or even snapping the board in half. Most manufacturers have started focusing on the aerodynamic element of the board to ensure that the wind does not lift you. But, let’s look at a few of the important features you will need to keep in mind when selecting your board:
Weight
The weight plays an extremely important role and when it comes to flotation. A heavier board will be much more inclined to sink into the water, thus ruining the fun and a lighter might be faster, but it will be lifted by the wind much easier
Size
Larger skimboards are much faster when you look at the length and the width of the board, but they will not be as effective in carving up when you would like to possibly attack a wave. Your weight will also play a large role in determining the size of your skimboard.
Sizing Chart
Durability
The durability will affect the price and the materials used in the construction. The most common, but also expensive skimboards are those which have been created with a fiberglass body and foam on the inside. The wooden boards are also good and they are fortunately much cheaper
Flotation
Foam boards obviously have better floatation that the wooden boards, but at faster speeds, the wooden board will still be effective enough to carve through the water and allow you to attack bigger waves.
Thickness
Thicker skimboards will glide much better on the water, but they are also less responsive to moving, thus making them harder to carve through the water with and you will need to decide on the best skimboard for your needs
By looking through these five features, you should have noticed by now that you could save a lot of money by giving up some of the features, but you will also be giving up some of the fun you could have with these boards. We recommend the carbon fiber skimboards which has been filled with foam to get the most out of your board.
With that being said, let’s look at the top skimboards for this year:
Best Skimboard Reviews
1. DB Skimboards Proto Plank
Materials: Hardwood – Maple
Size: 39 – 43 inches
While not the cheapest board on our list, we believe it’s the best quality option. It’s actually DB’s lowest-priced entry-level model, but DB is a cut above the rest to begin with. This board has a Maple core with durable HPL top and bottom layers. HPL is made of tough melamine resins that are very slick, and slide easily and very quickly over sand. DB has higher standards than most and their workflow philosophy includes environmental consciousness and sustainability.
This board features 3D rocker which means it has a continuous rocker or curve from tip to tail as well as side to side rocker (called “taco rocker”). With rocker on all sides, you can easily twist and spin free on the water without catching the edge of your board and wiping out.
Be sure to know your size – There are 3 Proto Plank sizes: 39 inches long and made for anyone 80 – 130 lbs. 41 inches for anyone from 130 – 180 lbs, and 43 inches for anyone over 180 lbs.
We recommend this board for beginners to start out with and to learn the basic fundamentals of skimboarding. This board is more of a long-term investment given its price point of around 2-3 times other, smaller, lower-quality models.
Pros:
- Maintenance-free design
- Great for children and beginners
- Great reviews online
- Rocker in all directions
Cons:
- Expensive
2. Fedmax Skimboard with High Gloss Coat
Materials: Hardwood
Size: 30 inches and 41 inches
It was hard to determine what criteria would be most important to our readers looking for a skimboard. Instead of just going for the most expensive boards which were of course filled with more features and better materials, we thought that a combination of affordability mixed with a good level quality would be our best bet. The Fedmax falls squarely in that category so it ranks higher on our list.
Because of its high gloss coating, you won’t have to worry about rubber or foam falling apart or wearing away over time. However, the coating is meant for wax to be applied from time to time to keep your feet on the board. The Poplar wood construction makes this board light and tough. It’s an excellent board for starters and they even offer you a 90-day return guarantee if you’re not thrilled! If that’s not enough, Fedmax will include an ultimate tricks and tips guide with each purchase!
Pros:
- Really affordable
- Durable hardwood design
- Great for beginners
Cons:
- Not totally maintenance-free
3. Victoria Skimboards Woody XL
Materials: Plywood
Dimensions: 48.5 x 21.3 inches
While this board is officially rated “entry-level”, you’d never know it by the comments from some experienced boarders. Not only that but unlike pretty much any board online, this one received a LOWEST rating of 4 stars out of 5 and the WORST comment was “gets the job done”. After that, the comments are insanely glowing and buyers seem to almost be over-stating how good it is (but I don’t think they’re scams). For example, the rocker (curve) of the board is described as very minimal, and that was something very desirable for one buyer. It’s meant for riding the shoreline or flat water because of its low rocker or “flatness” so it won’t ride up over waves as easily.
It’s made for riders in the 180-220 lb range but riders in the 160 lb range will find it works just fine!
In spite of the glowing comments from good riders, we do recommend this board for beginners or casual riders. Advanced or veteran riders might need to move on to the fiberglass boards to get better results. The board is also fairly cheap, but the only downside should be the plywood construction. It does offer better floatation, but is much less durable once the epoxy finish deteriorates, therefore, beginners and casual riders should get the best use out of it at an affordable price
Pros:
- Excellent feedback and ratings on Amazon
- Promotes better gliding
- Affordable
- Slightly heavier than cheaper wood boards and the extra weight allows for use in heavier winds and waves without a loss of control
Cons:
- Lacks in durability
- Lacks in control
4. Sunspecs Rubber Top Wooden Skimboard With Slip Free Grip
Materials: Hardwood
Size: 30″ 35″ 36″ 41″
Here’s another good beginner board which has (you guessed it!) lots of great reviews online. While a few buyers found some quality issue with the lamination, the vast majority loved it. It’s made of solid wood and it uses the rubber layer on top for traction, so no traction wax is needed. It comes in a HUGE variety of colors, and lots of sizes (way more colors and sizes than nearly any other board sold online). It can accommodate riders from well under 80 lbs to anyone up to (and maybe over) 220 lbs! Ride on!
Since the board offers great value to multiple sizes of people, we not only recommend it for intermediate riders, but also for entire families looking to have some more fun at the beach. The board is also really affordable and will give you great durability in the long term with the laminated finish.
Pros:
- More variety of sizes and colors than other boards
- Huge variety of weights from 80 lbs – 220 lbs by using the correct sized board
- Good value for a family vacation
- Durable hardwood construction
Cons:
- Some boards may have lamination quality issues
5. Wave Zone Diamond Fiberglass Skimboard
Materials: Fiberglass
Dimensions: 38.5 x 19.5 inches
The Wave Zone Diamond skimboard has been designed for beginners and intermediate riders alike. The board has been constructed from durable, but still, lightweight fiberglass and the added gel coating will ensure that the board is board holds up much better against stronger waves.
The foam core also allows you glide effortlessly for longer distances and periods of time and the fact that it has been handcrafted also ensure the quality of the board is that much better. Since the board is much thicker than most of the other boards, it will hinder the control a little, but the larger tail will also allow you to carve through the water more efficiently
Furthermore, the board is a little more expensive, but since the board will help you reach pro status much faster, we definitely recommend this board to anyone looking to go into the sport of skimboarding. Unfortunately, the weight limit on the board is only 110lbs and thus it will be good for younger and smaller riders.
Pros:
- Lightweight
- Extremely durable
- Promotes longer gliding periods
- Features a stylish design
Cons:
- Extremely low weight limit
6. Zap Lazer Skimboard
Materials: Fiberglass
Dimensions: 40.25 x 20 inches
Last but not least, we have the Zap Lazer Skimboard which has been made from lightweight and durable fiberglass. The inside of the board has been made from foam and all of these materials have been laminated together to ensure great durability.
The board is extremely long and this will ensure that you have a longer and more sufficient gliding period compared to most of the wooden boards and since it will be able of withstanding the weight of 160lbs, this board should be great for larger intermediate riders as well.
The board is also available in multiple different designs and you will be capable of choosing the best style for your needs. Unfortunately, the board is also one of the most expensive on our list, but it offers the most important features that will ensure that you enjoy riding the board.
We highly recommend this board for more advanced and intermediate riders, but beginners should also be able to use the board to lift them to pro status in no time. Most people in the family should also be able to have some fun with this durable board.
Pros:
- Extremely durable and lightweight
- Allows longer gliding
- Available in multiple colors and styles
- Great for veterans to use
Cons:
- The board is quite expensive
Final Thoughts & Conclusion
We would like to thank you for reading this article and we hope that you are now capable of finding the best skimboard for your weight and skills. We do recommend the fiberglass designs for their durability and the fact that they are lighter, but the wood boards will be great to start out with.
We would also like to encourage you to let us know what you think of our selections ad if you think we might have missed any.