Planning a surprise get-away Surf trip with your pals can be as frightening as it is fun. This is because we so often look forward to riding our dream waves that we forget our surf travel essentials.

It is true that surfers are a very spontaneous species, primarily due to the sport’s laid-back culture and lifestyle, and thus forgetting the most mundane stuff can be common when impulsively deciding to hit the road with friends.

 Your On-The-Go Travel Luggage

A travelling surfer usually invests in a sturdy, easy-to-carry backpack or duffle bag that may be used for surf trips long-term.

For starters, it is wise to invest in lightweight, water-resistant luggage that contains specialized stash pockets to separate your dry surf gear from wet, sandy gear. The bag may also contain extra mesh pockets for cameras, laptops, and flash drives, which is a huge plus for surf vloggers who want to film and document their trips.

Tote/duffle backpacks are also popular with surfers on a budget. These bags are a cross between a duffle and a backpack and can be obtained from online retailers like Luggage Direct for under $100.

For those with a little more cash to spend, brands like Samsonite and Delsey have upmarket versions of duffles and tote bags that will satisfy even the most discerning female surfer.

Surfboards… Among Other Things

It is common knowledge that the first rule of (surfing) fight club is to prepare your own surfboard. However, most amateur surfers today forget what they need more: their essential surfing accessories.

The most important accessory is, by far, a surfboard leash, since it is utilized as a safety mechanism to connect the rider with the board. If you forget your leash and decide to surf anyway, you will be in for a long swim as soon as you tumble with the waves.

Another important add-on to your surfing accessory toolkit is an extra surf fin. Fins are like wheels for your cars – they generate speed for your board and maintain the rider’s stability and control. Whilst most fins are built tough, they are still susceptible to damage especially when facing powerful waves.        An extra surf fin will be your extra tire when your board is damaged.

Appropriate Surfwear

Surfwear wise, it is a widely known rule for each surfer to bring his own rash guard/wetsuit set. These suits vary depending on the location’s environment and climate – for instance, a thick wetsuit is required for sub-zero temps in Canada, while a thin rash guard is for the sunny beaches of the Gold Coast, Australia. It’s always a good thing to scout the place and do a bit of research beforehand so you bring the appropriate surf gear.

 When you decide to stop surfing and chill on the beach side with your friends instead, always prepare at least three pairs of board shorts or bikini swimwear, so as to prevent yourself from getting dry rashes borne out of drying the surf gear out in the sun.

 Personal First-Aid Kit

 It’s not so often that a surfer bumps into some minor reef cuts and rashes while riding the waves. Unfortunately, not all have their basic first-aid kits, so it is important to always keep one in the bag just in case the surf camp does not have any immediate access to medicines. Surfers usually bring basic sea sickness pills and pain relievers (especially when riding large boats), as well as emergency antiseptics for treating any reef gashes and wounds.

It is also recommended to bring the highest SPF grade sun creams and insect repellents for first-hand skin protection. Going to a beach means being exposed to the sun and a variety of insects for hours, so it is better to have these lotions ready. Sunburn and dengue fever are the last thing a surfer wants to bring home from a beach trip.

For serious injuries, however, insurance is key to avoid any enormous medical bills. Most surf travel agencies require their clients to have these, since they are fully aware of the possibility that serious accidents do happen in surfing. Make sure you get hold of one of these before setting out on your trip.

Calling Cards

Surf culture and lifestyle means more than just simply riding random waves on a sunny beach. It also becomes a playing ground for strangers who share common interests through food, music, and style. Simply put, surfers tend to create unique bonds during their beach trips that most people will not understand.

Bring a calling card in case this happens, if you want to remain in contact with your new surf buddies either personally or through business. You may eventually share or exchange a huge network of contacts with them in the future and even potentially build business partnerships.

Who knows, you might eventually meet someone with a keen eye for business and the resources to invest in a surfboard retail business? That would be a big opportunity to pass up.

Waterproof Cameras

In today’s age of social media and globalization, most people document everything they do online. These people include a lot of modern surfers, who utilize waterproof cameras during their surf sessions so much that it eventually became an essential for trips. They may also be used in other water sports, such as wakeboarding, cliff diving, and motorboat racing.

Most surfing waterproof cameras are either attached to the rider’s suit or mounted on the rider’s mouth, primarily due to the POV angle that creates more action when riding the waves. There are surely a lot of waves that serve as eye candy for surfers, and the sunset is just as breathtaking!

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