The Best Softboards for Intermediate and Advanced Surfers This Summer (2023)

A few short years ago, the sight of a surfer carrying a softboard under their arm was typically an indication of someone very much in the early stages of their surfing life. Today, however, that’s far from the case. Some softboards remain great crafts for beginners, but these boards now come in such a wide range of shapes and sizes that there are plenty of talented surfers choosing to use them, particularly in the summer time. With December now in full swing, let’s take a look at some of the best softboards for advanced surfers to help you decide whether to jump on board this growing trend.

Ocean and Earth/Creative Army – The General

Creative Army is the brand of Josh Constable, former World Longboard Champ, so its not surprising he knows a thing or two about what makes a good longboard. The General is one of the more versatile boards in his range, and was made in combination with Ocean and Earth. This is a softboard constructed in epoxy, with a narrow tail and a heavy nose making it perfect for tight, compact turns as well as nose riding. The shape also makes it easy to generate plenty of speed, making it the optimal board to get the most out of average conditions. The 7’6” version of this board comes in at 52 litres, a lot less than most of the more beginner-friendly softboards of that length going around, so even though it’s still a big board you’ll have a lot more ability to turn on a dime than you might with some similar length boards.

MF Little Marley

The Little Marley is, as the name suggests, one of the smaller boards in the MF collection, at least in length. This one sells as low as 5’2” and up to just 5’10”, though there is plenty of volume packed into a small space, with the smaller of those two sizes coming in at 29 litres and the bigger at 43 – a lot of litres for a board under six foot. This little thing is short, wide, fast and fun, easy to catch waves even in tiny beach breaks but equally able to skim around on a dime. A wide diamond tail helps to pivot in critical sections of dumpy shore breaks, a flat rocker makes it easy to paddle into waves, while a double concave gives you both control and speed, even when the wave doesn’t want to give it to you. This board takes a little getting used to – it certainly doesn’t fall into any traditional category of board, but is a prime example of the growing popularity of softboards in advanced surfers, and allows you to enjoy a great session even in conditions which, in the past, you might have not even bothered suiting up for.

MF Sugar Glider

Let’s stick with MF boards for the time being, though the difference between the Sugar Glider and the aforementioned Little Marley is indicative of the huge range available with Mick Fanning’s range. The Sugar Glider is completely different to the Little Marley, selling at between 6’6” and 8’0” and with a shape suitable for generating speed down the line and carving retro lines. With a single fin set up, this board isn’t going to be a whole lot of fun in the shore break slop in which the Little Marley excels, but in longer, peeling waves without a whole lot of size or power behind them, this board will be a whole lot of fun. Perfect for those calm summer mornings with only small swell on offer, the Sugar Glider will take you back to a simpler time, when empty line-ups were never far away and long, carving turns where the order of the day.

Catch Surf Odysea Log x Jamie O’Brien

Jamie O’Brien has plenty of experience in conditions that us mere mortals would barely dream of surfing, but even he has to deal with dodgy shore breaks every now and then, and his Catch Surf model is ideal for getting the most out of such conditions. These boards are offered anywhere from 6’0” up to 9’0” and each size clearly offers a fairly different ride, but what they each have in common is an ability to get into a wave and make the most of it once you do. They have plenty of volume, but equally they’re relatively narrow and have a tight tail to allow for quick turns even in softer conditions. With a high performance fin setup to boot, this is the perfect board to surf at a high level in waves that don’t make it easy to do so.

MF DHD Black Diamond

If this list is anything to go by, it’s safe to say that Mick Fanning and his range of boards can be held responsible for the rise in softboard use of the past few years. The final board on this list is made in conjunction with the much loved Darren Handly Designs, taking the popular Black Diamond model made by DHD and, essentially, turning it into a softboard. A tight tail helps you to remain deep in the pocket and draw out turns, and with the bulk of the weight moved slightly forward and a dropped entry rocket, this board paddles fast, gets into waves easily, and flies once you’re up and running. The MF DHD Black Diamond is a great all-round board which can be surfed in a wide variety of conditions, so not only will you be able to get plenty of use out of it in smaller summer conditions, but once the waves pick up it will do more than just collect dust.

For a long time, softboards were the domain of beginners, with their volume making learning easy and their soft exterior making them a little safer both for those surfing them, and those around them. Over the past few years, however, the range of softboard shapes and sizes has grown drastically, and you’re now just as likely to see a pro with one of these under their arm than a first-timer. As the list above shows, there is a hugely diverse selection of softboards at the fingertips of advanced and intermediate surfers, and these boards can help you to get more value out of your summer surfing.