Quick, concise answers to all of your handboard questions. If you don’t see your question answered here then make sure to let us know!
The best bodysurfing handboard for small waves is the Grom by Slyde handboards. It is essentially a small boogie board designed to fit your hand. It is very buoyant and provides maximum lift to help you body surf even the smallest of waves.
The Bula by Slyde Handboards is by far one of the best handboards for shore break. The concave shape of this handboard provides the hold need to carve up any large wave face. You will experience maximum control and maneuverability so you can shred any barrel that comes your way.
There are many other names for this wave riding tool. I have listed a few below:
- handboard
- handplane
- hand lid
- hand slide
- slide board
- hand gun
Which bodysurfing handboard is best for you? This depends on 3 main factors:
- Your skill level
- The type of waves you are riding
- Your budget
Using a handplane makes bodysurfing way more fun! Not only will you catch more waves but you will be riding them further and faster. Make sure to read 17 benefits of using a handboard for bodysurfing.
The best handboard for beginners is the Grom or Wedge. The Grom is perfect for newbies because it is a soft-top so it won't hurt if you accidentally hit yourself in the head. Plus, the Grom is super buoyant so you can catch more waves with less effort!
The Wedge is also another excellent option if you are new to bodysurfing. It is the largest handboard in the market so you will experience more lift, speed, and further riding distances.
Bodysurfing with a handboard is the same as bodysurfing without one. First, make sure all of your equipment is secured to your body. Next, walk out to waist high water or paddle out to where the waves are breaking. If you are in waist-high water, use your legs to push off the ground in order to catch it. If you are in deeper water then you will have to paddle and kick to catch the wave. You need to time it just right. Once the wave picks you up, form a straight line with your body and then push down on the board to lift yourself up. This will allow you to plane easier and reduce drag. If you are riding a larger wave, then pick a line to either the left or right as you drop into the barrel. Remember to read my complete guide on how to bodysurf with a handboard for step-by-step instructions.
Get a concave board if you are riding steep waves. This will give you more hold and control on the wave face. Get a flatter board if you are riding smaller waves that don’t actually form a barrel. Having a flat board provides more planing surface and buoyancy. This is essential for catching more waves and extending the length of your ride. Make sure to read my guide on concave vs flat handboards.
Different handplane brands use different materials to make their boards. Here are some of the most popular materials used:
- wood
- foam
- epoxy
- polyurethane
- polypropylene
- polyethylene
- fiberglass
- carbon fiber
The type of material that your handboard is made from will impact your board’s lifespan, wave-riding performance, and also the overall handplane price.
There are two ways to attach a GroPro to your handboard.
- Install an adhesive mount on your handboard.
- Install an FSC GoPro plug mount into the built-in mounting insert (*note this feature is only designed into certain handboard brands and collections).
The boards that have this mounting feature designed into the deck include:
- Slyde Handboards
- Ecto Handplanes
- Garage Handplanes
Fins are optional but highly recommended. Wearing fins provide a more powerful kick will help you catch more waves. Plus they give you more control and help you steer while riding a wave. Check out more reasons why swim fins are very beneficial.
The Makapuu fins are one of our favorites but there are many excellent swim fin brands like DaFin, which are highly regarded in the bodysurfing community. To learn more about some of these, make sure to check out some of the best fins for bodysurfing.
Your fin size should be similar to the size of your shoe. Make sure to check out our fin size guide, which lists some of the most popular brands and corresponding sizes.
Handboards are made of durable material so you can expect the lifespan of your board to be very long. They are not easy to break because of their small size. Additionally, the life expectancy of a handboard depends on well you take care of them and how often you use it.
The price of a handplane varies by brand and type of board. You can expect to pay around $35 - $60 for a cheap bodysurfing handboard and around $150 - $250 for a more expensive one. Make sure to check out our handboard price guide to help with your budget.
It is very unlikely that a bodysurfing handplane will break unless it is cheaply made or you accidentally smash it on rocks or another hard surface. Due to its small size, it will experience less torque therefore reducing the possibility of it snapping or cracking.
Waxing your handboard is optional. However, I highly recommend you do wax your handboard for increased grip. I have used my board quite a bit now and the board does tend to slip when I’m in the water even though I’m strapped in. Make sure to check out our post on the benefits of waxing your bodysurfing handplane.
Waxing a handboard is very easy. You simply need to remove the handstrap (if you can) then wax the area of the board where you hand will be placed. I teach you how in my step-by-step instructions.
Removing wax from a handplane is a simple process and should not take long because it is such a small board. You will need a method of heating the wax and then simply scrape it off with a credit card or some type of edge. Then wipe clean with some type of cleaning solution. Check out our step-by-step instruction on how to remove wax from a bodysurfing handboard.
Wearing a leash is optional. However, I recommend wearing one, especially for beginners because the board can slip from your hand even though it is strapped. Make sure to read our post on the pros and cons of wearing a leash.
There are 2 different ways to attach a leash to your handplane:
- attach it to a built-in-leash plug (*note only a few handboards have this feature)
- attach it to the hand strap
You can wear it around your upper bicep or upper forearm. These are the two best places to wear it so it won't slip off while bodysurfing.
Try to rotate it around your arm. If you can, it is too loose.
Because of a bodysurfing handboards compact size, you can conveniently store it just about anywhere! The best place is to keep it in a handboard bag. I actually wrap mine in a towel and store it on my closet shelf. It is best to place it on a soft surface so it does not get scratched. Some other places include under your bed, in a drawer, or inside a plastic bin.
You can remove a Slyde handboard from its packaging in 10 seconds by pulling out the external tab and then dislodging the internal top cardboard flap. Check out my step-by-step guide on how to unbox your Slyde handboard easily.
You do NOT need to use a handboard on each hand, especially as a beginner. It is possible to do this but the preferred way to ride a handboard is to only use one handboard.
The majority of handboards do float because they are less dense than water. If you want to learn more about this, check out our post on the physics of how a handplane floats.
whichever you are most comfortable with. For beginners, start with your dominant hand. Once you are comfortable riding, feel free to test your other hand to determine which one is more comfortable. You can perform this bodysurfing handboard strength test to determine your dominant hand.
For maximum comfort and control, you want to place your four fingers under the strap while your thumb is placed to the side. The handstrap should be be snug up against the purlicue (the space between your thumb and forefinger) of your hand.
You can remove the Slyde handboard strap easily with a screwdriver or power drill. The strap is held in place by two screws so you will need to remove both if you want to remove the strap entirely from the board.
The best type of beach for beginner bodysurfers is a sandy bottom that has a sandbar to produce consistent waves. The beach should have minimal rocks and coral, which can pose as a hazard.
The best wave height is 2 - 5 ft with ample time in between sets. Long, rolling waves will give you the most riding time.
At first, swimming with a bodysurfing handboard is awkward but you can quickly learn how to master it.
The key to swimming with a bodysurfing handboard is to keep the hand attached to the board out in front of you while using your other arm and your legs to paddle.
Some bodysurfing handboard brands do offer adjustable hand straps in the design of their boards. A good example of this is Slyde handboards. All of their boards feature an adjustable strap to fit any hand size.
Both have pros and cons but I prefer foam handboards because of their buoyancy and lift. You will be able to ride the wave longer and faster.
You do not need to wear a wetsuit for bodysurfing. However, wearing one will protect you from cold water and some are also designed to protect your from harmful UV rays.