If you are reading this right now then you are probably interested in purchasing a Slyde handboard. I had trouble determining which one to buy so decided to create this guide to help you if it is your first time purchasing one.

Which Slyde handboard should you get? This depends on your skill level and wave height. Each board is designed differently so here is a quick guide to help you to determine which one to buy:

Grom – Perfect for the beginner and small waves (1-3 ft)
Wedge – Best for all skill levels and all waves up to 5ft
Phish – Best for speed and skilled riders. Works best in larger waves ( up to 5ft)
Bula – Best for large, steep waves, shorebreak and expert bodysurfers.

Still unsure? Before you press “add to cart” read the rest of this article. I will make it easy to help you determine the best handboard for you.

how to choose the right Slyde handboard

To help you choose the best Slyde handboard, you should consider a few different factors that will influence your decision. You should consider your 3 things

Skill Level – First, make an honest assessment of your skill level in the water. Slyde has designed both beginner handboards and expert handboards alike. For the less advanced wave riders, I recommend choosing your handboard based on skill level.
Wave Type – What type of waves are you riding? If you are riding tall, steep waves then you will need to use a hanboard with more hold and control. If you are riding smaller waves, then you will need a handboard that provides optimal buoyancy and minimal drag. For those of you who are experienced in riding waves and spend the majority of your life in the water, I recommend choosing your handboard by wave type.
Your Budget – You also need to consider your budget when buying a handboard. Some of these models are not cheap so you need to take any budget restrictions into consideration. This article will inform you of the cheapest handboard and also the most expensive handboard money can buy.

To give you a better understanding of the different types of Slyde handboards available, I have created a handboard comparison chart in the next section. This table covers each handboard version in more detail.

types of Slyde handboards

To help give you a brief overview of all the different types of handboards Slyde offers, I have created this handy Slyde handboard comparison chart. It provides the weight, length, and width of each board. Also included are the recommended wave heights and skill level necessary to use each handboard.

Board	Wt (oz)	Length (in/cm)	Width (in/cm)	Wave Height (ft)	Skill Level
Grom	9.5	17.8 / 45.2	9.5 / 24.1	1 – 3	Beginner
Wedge	22	19.8/ 40.2	10.1/ 26.7	1 – 5	Beginner
Phish	24	18 / 45.72	8.1 / 23.32	1 – 5	Intermediate
Bula	14	11.7 / 29.89	7.24 / 18.38	> 5	Expert

This table is an excellent summarization of all the Slyde handboards. Make sure to reference this chart when trying to decide which board is best for you. The rest of this article dives into more detail about each of these handboards.

the Grom

If you are looking to get introduced to the sport of handboarding, the Grom will make for an easy transition. This is by far one of the best handboards for beginners. You will be able to catch more barrels, which means more fun for you!

The Grom is one of the best foamies on the surf market. This soft-top handboard will outperform just about any other handboard out there in terms of buoyancy and lift. The high-density foam core and slippery-smooth enables you to ride every wave longer and faster.

The grip is super sticky to prevent your hand from slipping. The extra friction in the grip will also help to avoid losing your board. The Grom is very rigid and durable to prevent damage.

Weighing in at 9.5 oz makes it easy to carry to the beach. It is also small and compact, which makes it convenient for travel and storage.

The Grom is very safe to use. The tightly sealed, soft outer edges will never hurt you if you wipe out. This design makes the Grom a kid-friendly handboard. Parents, this is the board to get your little ones!

It is also one of the cheapest handboards on the market. The Grom is affordable enough to buy one for yourself and all of your family members or friends.

the Wedge

If you truly can’t decide which handboard to purchase, simply go with the Wedge. This is just about every bodysurfers “go-to” handboard.

When in doubt, go with the Wedge! It will turn an average day of surf into something spectacular.

The Wedge is the board that spans all skill levels and wave types. Whether you are a beginner or more advanced, you will certainly be impressed by the performance of the Slyde Wedge handboard.

It weighs only 22 ounces so you can easily manage to carry this board to the beach. It also makes for light travel!

This board is small and compact. It is just under 20 inches in length and measures about 10 inches in width. You can conveniently store this board just about anywhere.

The Wedge is a lot of fun to use and simple to master, which makes it an excellent beginner handboard. The extra volume designed into this board provides more lift and less drag.

The concave underside efficiently channels water behind you. This means you will be riding waves farther and faster down the line than you ever have before with minimal spray back.

You will love the extra width in the middle of the board, which makes this handboard very forgiving. You will find it much easier to realign and stabilize your body while riding.

There is also a carbon fiber version of the Wedge that I found on Amazon. This design reinforces the strength of the board, which makes it super resilient to damage. If you want a handboard that does not break then take a look at the carbon fiber Wedge that will drown any doubt or hesitation floating in your mind.

The screen-printed graphics on the Wedge are epic and make your board stand out. There is a GoPro insert that allows you to attach your GoPro for filming. You can also take advantage of the built-in leash plug so you never lose your board.

the Phish

Have the need for speed? The Phish is your board. However, this handboard may not be the best to use if you are a beginner. The Phish is an intermediate-level handboard so keep that in mind if you are just starting out.

The Phis is a super light handboard weighing in at 24 oz. It is excellent for travel and easy to store. It measures 18 inches in length and roughly 8 inches across making it a sleek and thin board that produces one of the fastest, smoothest rides you will ever experience.

The Phish speed board mimics the 1970’s surfboard design of a fishtail. It features a slightly concave bottom, pinched rails, and rolled hull. This board design channels the water along the rails and out the back propelling you forward.

You will be catching barrels just as quickly as you come out of them. Yes, this handboard is that fast!

The buoyancy and lift will make sure your ride is long and swift. The Phish is extremely durable so you will have this handboard for a lifetime.

The Phish also features printed graphic designs that are pretty sweet. The board is scratch-resistant to help prevent dings if you surf near rough terrains like rocks or coral.

It is definitely not the cheapest handboard but certainly worth the investment if speed is what you are after.

the Bula

Once you have mastered the Grom, Wedge, and Phish, it is now time to graduate to the Bula handboard. It is designed strictly for experts and steep wave break.

The Bula is one of the smallest handboards on the market. It measures just under 12 inches in length and only about 7 inches wide.

It is easy to carry because it only weighs 14 oz! Talk about traveling light! The Bula handboard can easily fit in your backpack and can conveniently be stored in smaller spaces.

The Bula features the deepest concave bottom of any handboard on the market. It has crisp, sharp rails for tight turns. This is what gives the Bula amazing hold and grip on large wave faces. You will be able to carve up some gnarly sets.

If you are looking for performance in big barrels, it does not get better than the Bula. It was specifically designed for Point Panics so you know this board is no joke. Again, this board is for the expert body surfer who has many years of experience using handboards.

selecting a Slyde handboard by skill level

Choosing your Slyde handboard by skill level is relatively easy. First, you need to make an honest self-assessment of your wave riding abilities. Then, reference the chart I created for you below. This table should give you a good idea of which handboard to select. It reveals the type of Slyde handboard and corresponding skill level.

Handboard	Skill Level
Beginner / Novice	Grom, Wedge
Intermediate	Phish
Expert	Bula

If this is your first time handboarding, then it would behoove you to choose a starter board like the Grom or Wedge. If you are more advanced, the Phish or Bula should be a good fit. Again, if you are still unsure, the Wedge is usually the 90% solution. The remaining part of this section compares starter handboards to intermediate handboard to expert handboards.

best handboard for beginners

Maybe you are a complete newbie or not sure if you will actually like this water sport. If you fall into this category then make your decision simple and purchase the Grom.

The Grom is one of Slyde’s novice handboards. It is lighter than a feather, compact, and easy to carry. The board was designed for extra buoyancy and lift making is one of the most user-friendly handboards on the market.

It’s also the cheapest handboard by Slyde coming in at a price under $60. Therefore if you find yourself not enjoying the sport of handboarding then you won’t feel strong buyer’s remorse.

Another beginner handboard is the Wedge. This board is also used by advanced body surfers as well.

The Wedge is a slightly bigger handboard that provides more width and length. This extra room makes the board more forgivable, which is great for newbies! It’s comparable to a longboard for surfing. It will ultimately allow you to catch more waves with less effort.

Turns and tricks will be a breeze using this board. You will be riding waves farther and faster even if it is your first time. This is a handboard that you can use practically every day no matter what skill level.

intermediate handboard

More speed? Better performance? More barrels? Make sure to get the Phish handboard.

This stunning board is sleek and sexy. For the advanced rider, make sure to take a look at this handboard before you purchase anything else.

This handboard is designed for speed. The shape of the Phish is similar to the 1970’s speed surfboard. The shape allows water to flow smoothly along the edges and filter out the back for a clean, effortless ride.

This handboard is perfect for staying in the barrel of the wave because of its speed. You will be able to stay in the pocket longer and ride the wave for its entirety with no problem. So if you are an experienced wave rider looking for more high-speed action, the Phish is the board to get.

best handboard for experts

Only the experienced wave riders should consider this board. If you ride steep wave faces, the Bula will be your favorite wave tool.

It is a smaller handboard so that means less room for error. However, The shape and size of this board make it an excellent tool for carving up larger waves.

The deep concavity of the underside is what keeps you stuck to the face of the wave. It will help you drop into the barrel and stay under control. You will be able to easily manage steep drops and stay high in the barrel.

This is a very aggressive handboard. Beginners should take caution when using this board because you can seriously hurt yourself if you do not know what you are doing. I highly recommend the Bula for experts only.

selecting a Slyde handboard by wave height

What type of waves do you like to bodysurf? Part of your Slyde handboard selection process should consider the type of waves you ride. The different models of Slyde handboards were designed to perform differently in specific types of surf.

Below, I have created a table you can reference that compares the different types of Slyde handboards and the corresponding wave height that they are best used in. To keep things simple, there are four different wave heights that will specify the type of board you should be using.

Wave Type / Height	Handboard
Less Than 3’	Grom, Wedge
Less Than 5’	Grom, Wedge, Phish
Greater Than 5’	Bula, Phish
Shorebreak	Bula

Note that there are multiple boards listed for certain wave heights. There is overlap because some models perform extremely well in a few different types of waves. Keeping your selection within the suggestions mentioned in the table will make your bodysurfing adventures more enjoyable.

best Slyde handboards for GoPro

Looking to film your epic handboarding sessions? You will need a handboard that can hold your waterproof camera.

Fortunately, Slyde customized a GoPro insert for your GoPro camera. You will find this insert on the Wedge, Phish, and Bula.

Unfortunately, the Grom does not have an insert. Instead, you will need to install a GoPro surf mount.

best handboard for kids

The Grom is by far one the best handboard for kids. It is safe to use because it is bump-friendly. It has a soft, foam top that is like a cushion. If you wipe out, this board will not hurt your head.

This board is super buoyant and provides a ton of lift. Your child will easily be able to catch waves and longer rides.

best handboard for shorebreak

Shorebreak consists of steep waves. The Bula handboard was specifically designed for this type of surf. The deep concavity of the bottom side acts like a suction cup so you can hold tight high on the wave face.

The Bula boasts the most control on large, tall, gnarly waves. You will be cutting and carving like a pro.

what’s your budget?

Now let’s discuss the prices of these Slyde handboards. There is a large price difference between the Grom and the higher performance boards. Below you can read the comparison in price regarding the different boards.

Slyde handboards under $60

The Grom is the cheapest handboard. It costs just under $60 and is an excellent board for newbies.

Slyde created this handboard for beginners and those on a budget. If this is your first time handboarding then purchase this board.

It will not make a large hole in your wallet and you won’t feel regret about buying it if you decide to retire from handboarding. It’s a cheap investment that makes an excellent starter board.

Slyde handboards over $120

The rest of the Slyde handboard collection costs over $120. These are fairly expensive handboard but totally worth the money.

The Wedge, Phish, Bula are seriously high-quality boards that provide the best wave performance. There is also a carbon fiber Wedge option, which is designed to be one of the strongest boards on the market.

Slyde handboard prices are typically more expensive than other brands of handboard. You can check out my hand board price guide to learn more.

determining the best Slyde handboard for you