About a month ago I bought the Slyde Wedge handboard. I absolutely love using it for bodysurfing and am so glad I bought it.
Why should you get the Slyde wedge
I’m surprised how much I actually use my Slyde Wedge. I honestly did not expect it to have such a big impact on bodysurfing. To help you determine whether or not this is the right
Performance & Testing
The first thing you will notice when bodysurfing with the Slyde wedge
The Wedge also enables you to ride the waves with more speed and distance. I was surprised by how fast and far I was going.
I was also impressed by the buoyancy. You are literally able to push yourself up to the point where you are practically floating on the surface of the water. This reduces the amount of drag so you can travel fast and far.
The Slyde Wedge provides better control and maneuverability than I expected. It sticks to the wave face and allows you really dig into turns.
Usability
Is the Slyde Wedge handboard easy to use? To be honest, it was a little challenging at first. I found it difficult to swim out with it attached to my hand. However, once I figured out to keep the board in front of me while I paddled with my other hand, it made things a lot easier.
I totally wiped out the first few times using it. However, once you time the waves right and adjust yourself to the correct the planing position, it becomes natural after a few runs. You have to remember to push down on your board once you are riding the wave in order to lift your body up.
It was easy enough to bodysurf with one hand or two. I started out using one hand but then found I was much stronger using two hands on the board to push myself up for better planing and less drag.
The Wedge is a very forgiving bodysurfing
Surf Conditions
The Wedge handboard is best for those average surf days. You can get some surprisingly good runs out of small, mushy waves. It is even good in choppy swells where there is a lot of whitewater.
What is the best wave height to use the Wedge
I have tried it in 1 – 2 foot waves. It does catch the smaller waves fairly well and it is still fun to use but the ride is shorter, especially if they break quickly.
Specs
Want to know the size and weight of the Slyde Wedge? All of the specs are displayed in the images and table below:
| Dimension | Value |
| Weight | 1.4 lbs (22oz) |
| Length | 19.8″ |
| Width | 10.1″ |
| Thickness | 1.25″ |
The wedge features a great amount of volume. This makes it very buoayant so you can start planing immediately across the surface of the water. You can catch just about any wave with this board.
It is flat and thick in the middle. Your hands will have plenty of room to stabilize and lift your body. This is what makes the Wedge the perfect starter board because it is very forgiving.
It is super lightweight too so you won’t feel weighed down in the water or carrying it on shore. It also makes travel to and from the beach easy!
Durability
The durability of any product is always a concern. At least it was for me. It would not be fun if your handboard got damaged after a few runs right?
Fortunately, the wedge is made of the highest quality manufacturing material on the market today. The Wedge is designed using epoxy, urethane, and then reinforced with triaxial fiberglass.
When I first held the board, I could tell it would be difficult to break. It is made of a high-density foam core that is light and super strong. The laminate finish reinforces the handboard strength. The rails, tail, and nose are designed for impact.
I accidentally dropped my Wedge
How long will the Wedge last? The lifespan of your board depends on a few factors. However, the Wedge is very difficult to break so it should last a very, very long time.
Portability & Storage
The Slyde Wedge is small and compact, which makes it very convenient for travel and storing. You can bring it wherever you go easily and store it almost anywhere.
No longer do you have to worry about awkwardly carrying large, heavy equipment to the beach. Gone are the days of accidentally dinging your board on objects as you walk to your destination. Nor do you have to worry about hitting someone or being in the way. Plus you can conveniently store this board in your closet or under your bed.
How do you pack the Slyde wedge for a plane? You can simply take it as a carry-on and easily fit it in the overhead compartment. You can also simply slip it into a backpack to protect it from getting scratched.
The wedge will never weigh you down when you travel because it only weighs 22 oz! You can freely travel to any beach in the world without having to pay shipping fees.
Your Wedge handboard will be by your side during the whole trip so it will never get lost. This is the smartest and most convenient travel companion for any bodysurfer.
Want to know where to store it in your house when you are not using it? Try placing the Wedge handboard on a closet shelf wrapped in a beach blanket. You can also place it in a drawer or keep it in your carry bag. There is no need to plan a special place for storage because it can fit just about anywhere!
Comfort
The Wedge is very comfortable while bodysurfing. The laminate finish is smooth and feels good in your palm. You can easily wax this handboard for an extra sticky grip.
Since the Wedge is lightweight, your arms will never fatigue quickly. This makes maneuvering through waves much easier compared to having a heavy board attached to you.
Note that the Wedge does become heavier and more awkward to handle when you have a GoPro camera attached to the nose. My arm became fatigued when I had my camera attached.
The handstrap contains extra padding and is adjustable. It fits any hand size so you can ride waves in comfort. It features quick-release technology that makes it easy to remove.
The Slyde Wedge delivers an overall smooth ride across the surface of the water. There are minimal vibrations felt throughout your arms while riding waves, which makes for a more enjoyable bodysurfing experience.
Shape & Design
The Wedge is the largest handboard that Slyde makes. The width of the board provides extra planing surface and room for your hands.
There is slight concavity running the entire length of the underside to channel the water quickly under the board quickly and out the backside. This double-wing shape increases your speed and minimizes the amount of spray that could hit your face.
The slippery smooth underside of the Wedge handboard will help you quickly drop into many barrels.
You will also notice that the middle of the board is the thickest part. This is where your palm is placed. The added thickness will increase buoyancy and stability, which will help to prevent wipeouts. You will be taking waves further than you ever have before.
The tail of the board resembles that slightly of a fish fin. The nose comes to a tight, rounded point and the rails are crisp. This is ideal for ultimate control and better turning capability.
Visual Appearance
The overall appearance of the Wedge board is pretty sweet. Each model has a crisp, clean graphic design printed on the deck and underside. Check out the detailed graphics on the
Special Features
The Slyde Wedge has some cool features built-in to the deck of the board. The leash plug is placed at the tail end. This is where you can attach a bicep coil leash so you always remain connected to your handboard.
At the nose, there is a GoPro mounting insert. This is a convenient feature for mounting your GoPro camera on the deck so you can film yourself bodysurfing. In order to attach your GoPro to your
Safety features & Concerns
There are a few safety features and also safety concerns of the Wedge handboard that you should be aware of.
Safety Features:
The Slyde Wedge has a strong velcro strap that does not lose integrity so your hand remains in place. You could get injured if your hand is constantly slipping.
There are stainless steel screws to keep the hand strap in place so you don’t become disconnected from your board during a wipeout.
The GoPro mounting insert will keep your camera safely attached to your handboard. This will prevent the ocean from eating your valuable filming equipment.
Safety Concerns:
Because you are tightly strapped to your board, you also need to be mindful of the power of the wave. The Wedge
Since you are traveling at higher speeds with increased buoyancy, wipeouts are intensified. You will notice that the wave will throw you around with more ferocity while using the Wedge handboard.
The board deck does become slippery in the water, especially if you are not using wax. If the
Also, when walking out into the surf, you need to be careful about waves knocking the handboard back into your face. This actually happened to me and it was not fun.
To prevent injuring yourself while walking out into the surf, you want to keep the hand that your board is attached to behind you as you walk out. When a wave approaches, turn the opposite shoulder into the wave.
Wedge board collections
What are the different Wedge versions available? Below is a list of all the known Slyde Wedge board collections. They vary by graphics and color. The shape and design remain constant.
- Wedge Carbon Fiber
- Wedge Californian
- Wedge Envy
- Wedge Hipster
- Wedge Racketeer
Pricing $$$
The price of the Slyde Wedge handboard is fairly expensive. It costs about $140 on slydehandboards.com. It’s actually more expensive on Amazon so I recommend purchasing it from the Slyde site.
*Pro-tip: If you search hard enough, you can find various discount promo codes for Slyde handboards that actually work. I found a few websites online that offered valid codes for a $30 discount.
Related Questions:
Does it come with a carry bag?
The Slyde Wedge does not come with the Slyde carry bag. You can either purchase it on Slydehandboards.com or on Amazon. However, using a simple drawstring bag, day pack, or backpack should work. The Slyde Wedge is small enough to fit into one of these options.
Why is the Wedge so expensive?
The Slyde Wedge
Does the board come with a leash?
The Wedge handboard does not come with a leash. However, you can buy the bicep leash separately or add it to your order.
Is there a design difference between each version of the wedge?
The only difference between each of the Slyde Wedge collections is the color and graphic design. The shape and design are the same.
However, for the black carbon version, the material it is made from is different. It is reinforced with carbon.
Whats the difference with the black carbon dipped on?
The SLYDE Carbon Black Wedge Body Surfing handboard is reinforced with a layer of carbon fiber. This is some seriously strong material that will protect your board from dings and cracks. Since carbon fiber is more expensive material it will increase the overall price of the board.
Can young children use this board?
Young children can use the Wedge if they are familiar with bodysurfing. I recommend that children know how to swim before they start using a
The Wedge is forgiving and easy enough to learn so children will have a fun time using it. Read my article on how to bodysurf with a