Gear guides by sport
Every discipline has its own kit. Start with the guide for your sport to understand what you actually need for your level and the UK conditions.
Surfboard roof racks
Roof bars, soft racks, straps and what the load rules actually say: get the board there without cracking it.
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Floating sunglasses
Lens categories, polarised pros and cons, frames that really float: protecting your eyes on water that reflects as well as shines.
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Buoyancy aids for SUP
50N or 100N, foam vest or waist belt: the right flotation for your paddling, and what the rules really require.
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Surfboard ding repair
Triage the damage, pick the right resin — polyester melts EPS — and fix a ding properly, step by step.
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Choosing surfboard fins
FCS or Futures, size by body weight, thruster or quad: the fins guide that stops you buying blind.
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Wax and traction pads
Temperature grades in °C, the basecoat-plus-topcoat method and fitting a tail pad: all your board's grip in one place.
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Choosing a board bag
Sock, day bag or travel bag: which type, what size, and how to fly with a board without breaking it.
Read the guide arrow_forwardChoosing a leash
Length to match your board, cord thickness, straight or coiled, ankle or waist – plus the one rule that applies on every river.
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Surf gear
Board, wetsuit, leash and wax – the kit you need to surf UK waves through the seasons, from a summer 3/2mm to a winter 5/4mm with boots.
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Kitesurf gear
How kites, bars, boards and harnesses fit together, and how to choose a setup that matches your level and the wind you ride in.
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Windsurf gear
What the boards, sails, masts and booms actually do, so you can build a rig that suits your weight and the conditions you sail in.
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Wing foil gear
Wing foiling kit moves fast. Here's how wings, boards and foils work together, and how to pick a first setup that helps you progress rather than holding you back.
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Paddle (SUP) gear
Everything you need for stand-up paddleboarding, from inflatable all-rounders to more specialist shapes, plus the paddles, pumps and leashes that go with them.
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Foil gear
What the mast, fuselage and front wing each contribute, and how to choose a foil setup that matches your discipline and your progression.
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Bodyboard gear
Board, fins, leash and a good wetsuit: a straightforward run-through of the kit that gets you into waves quickly and safely.
See bodyboard gear arrow_forwardBuying guides by kit type
Dedicated guides for the pieces of kit that matter most, whichever sport you're into: wetsuits, surfboards and SUP gear.
Wetsuits
How to choose a wetsuit for surf, kitesurf and SUP in UK water: thickness by season, zip types, seam construction and neoprene grades.
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Surfboards
Volume, shape and construction explained across the five main board types, from longboard to gun, with sizing advice for every level.
See surfboards guide arrow_forwardInflatable SUP
How to judge an inflatable stand-up paddleboard on length, volume, thickness and construction – and when a rigid board makes more sense.
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SUP & paddles
A full guide to choosing your SUP setup: inflatable versus rigid, board types by use, sizing and paddle materials.
See SUP & paddles guide arrow_forwardHow we approach gear
Before you spend on watersports kit, it helps to understand the trade-offs. Our guides are written to explain the choices, not to push a single model.
Matched to your level
The right board or wetsuit depends on where you are in your progression. We frame every guide around ability first, so beginners and improvers get the kit that actually helps.
Built for UK conditions
Cold water, changeable swell and a proper winter mean UK riders need different kit from the Mediterranean. Our advice is written with British coasts in mind.
Honest trade-offs
We explain the uses, the limits and the compromises of a type of kit rather than crowning an artificial winner. The best choice is the one that fits your riding.
Tools and buying resources
Practical tools and guides to help you make the right call before you commit to a board or a wetsuit.
Surfboard volume calculator
Put in your weight, your level and the waves you usually surf, and get the board volume that suits you.
Use the calculator arrow_forwardKite size calculator
Enter your weight and the wind you ride in, and the calculator gives you a kite size and a working range around it.
Use the calculator arrow_forwardChoosing a wetsuit
Get the thickness, cut and seams right and you can surf UK waves in comfort all year round. How to match a wetsuit to the season and your level.
Wetsuit advice arrow_forwardChoosing a paddleboard
The most useful place to start when comparing formats and uses before buying your first SUP, whether inflatable or rigid.
Paddle advice arrow_forward
Read the blog
Our blog rounds out the sport guides with deeper dives, kit comparisons and seasonal advice written from the water.
Read the blog arrow_forwardContext for a considered purchase
Good gear advice should not sit in a vacuum. Where an official body can help ground a choice in safe, real-world practice, we would rather point to it clearly.
Surfing England
The recognised national governing body for surfing in England, coordinating clubs, coaching and safety. A sensible reference point when you are new to the sport and building your first kit.
Surfing England open_in_newBritish Kitesports and the RYA
For wind sports, the recognised national bodies set the guidance on training, spot access and safe practice – useful context before investing in a kite, wing or windsurf rig.
British Kitesports open_in_new
Safety first
Whatever you buy, kit is no substitute for judgement. The RNLI publishes clear beach-safety and flag guidance we point to before heading out in any conditions.
RNLI safety open_in_new
Match kit to your spots
For a purchase that suits where you actually ride, it helps to know your local breaks. Our destination pages cover the UK coast from Cornwall to Scotland.
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