The 10 Best Quality Body Boards – Reviews of the Top Brand

A good bodyboard will have to either be high enough to reach your belly button when placed on the floor or fit between your knees and chin when held in front of you. Moreover, there are some important points to remember when buying the best bodyboards and learning how to ride one.

Firstly, if you are tall and choose a small bodyboard then you will risk dragging your legs behind in the water thus causing unnecessary drag. Secondly, if you have the budget then you could purchase several body boards. For example, a bigger bodyboard is recommended for small waves whereas the smaller body board better used with large waves.

What material are the body boards made out of?

Nowadays, body boards are often made from PE material which stands for polyethene. Moreover, some models of body boards might me made from PP which stands from polypropylene foam. The latter has been used for a very long time as it is much more durable and long lasting albeit being heavier the PE body boards. However, body boards made from PP are better for cold waters.

Furthermore, keep in mind that body boards made from polypro material might not be suitable for everybody as they tend to get super stiff in cold water. Lastly, some bodyboard manufacturers now use a mix of these materials to create premium class body boards that are much more flex and easier to ride.

What is a body board stringer and tail?

A stringer is a narrow tube that is made from composite material and runs down the shaft of the body board thus giving the body board its strength and better projection. On the other hand, bodyboard tail is considered to be last exit point for the water right at the bottom of the body board therefore many bodyboard manufacturers design the tails in a number of ways so as to allow the rider to achieve various effects when riding the body board.

The rule of thumb for the body board is the wider the tail, the faster and more stable the body board will be. However, body boards with narrow tails have been reported to be much more manageable and are thus preferred by beginners.

Furthermore, you will need to remember about the rail, the body board edge, as it will determine the bite. The bite is the term used to call the control and drive of the body board plus keep in mind that the steeper the edge is the better control you will get of the body board but be prepared to lose the drive.

Consequently, the shallower the edge of the body boards is the faster the body board will be thanks to less resistance but harder to control due to decreased vacuum under the body board. Nowadays, most body board sold come with 50/50 guise or 60/40 guise that provides very good balance with an average rail angle ranging from 25-35 degrees.

Comparison of 10 Best Body Boards in 2019

Top 10 Best Body Board Reviews in 2019

#1 Wham-O Mach 7 Body 42 Inches

Wham O Mach Body Board has been proven to be durable and reliable thanks to its strong core and great stringer. Moreover, customers have reported the customer service to be friendly and helpful plus the manufacturer offers a 2-year warranty.

Furthermore, customers can choose from several fun colors that will fit men and women. Also, riders have reported loving these Wham O Mach body boards because they come with strong cores and crescent tails.

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#2 Empire Andre Botha PP Body Board in Blue

Empire Andre Botha Blue Body Board is made with a reliable PP core and PE material deck with round contours that will ensure a smooth ride and good bodyboard floatation.

Moreover, customers have reported that this Empire body board has the needed thickness and tail width in the form of a crescent. Plus, Empire Andre Botha body boards are affordable and come with a 1-year warranty.

#3 Mike Stewart Science Pocket Black Body Board

Mike Stewart Science Pocket Black Body Board is made with the latest technology that has been developed to give the rider maximum speed, manoeuvrability as well as control.

Moreover, customers have reported that this bodyboard will be perfect for medium to high waves. Also, this bodyboard is made to have a much wider template than most regular body boards.

Furthermore, because of its strong core, this bodyboard will be perfect for heavy individuals plus the PE deck has been designed with wave cushions so as to give the rider much softer experience even on high waves. The bottom of the body board has been made with HDPE layer as well as built-in tail and nose bumpers.

#4 Own the Wave Beach Attack Lime Body Board

Own the Wave Beach Attack Lime Body Board is a brightly colored body board with ultimate control and maneuverability that most riders strive for.

Moreover, the pocket template of the body board will ensure that you can control the acceleration of the body board in small to medium waves.

Plus, you can choose from many different colors but sadly these body boards are only available in the crescent tail.

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#5 Morey Mach 7 Body Board in Assorted Colors

Morey Mach 7 Body Board is made to have superb control and acceleration speed with rough edges for added acceleration. Moreover, customers can choose from many colors plus riders have reported loving the overall design of this board.

Furthermore, these body boards come in a package with body board nylon covers that you could use to store your body board when it is not in use.

Also, the covers will protect the body board from scuffs and scratches plus the manufacturer has developed this bodyboard especially for the very tough conditions.

#6 GYN Trade Heat Sealed Body Board with Nylon Cover

Another great body board at an affordable price that comes with a great template and strong core made out of PE material. Moreover, the board is just of the right thickness to give the rider great acceleration speed and control even in high waves.

Plus, the GYN Trade Heat Sealed Body Board is often preferred by many professional riders taking part in world championships taking place in Hawaii and Australia.

The manufacturer has specifically designed the body board to have a curved template so as to give the rider the chance to shred large sections of the waves and take high points.

#7 BZ Body Board with PE Core

Customers have reported that this bodyboard will be perfect for medium to high waves. Also, this bodyboard is made to have a much wider template than most regular body boards.

Furthermore, because of its strong core, this bodyboard will be perfect for heavy individuals plus the PE deck has been designed with wave cushions so as to give the rider much softer experience even on high waves.

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#8 Empire Makai Blue Body Board

Empire Makai Blue Body Board is made with PP core and round contours that will ensure a smooth ride and good bodyboard floatation. Moreover, customers have reported that this Empire Makai Blue body board has the needed thickness and tail width in the form of a crescent.

Plus, this bodyboard comes with a 1-year warranty. Also, customers have reported that this bodyboard will be perfect for medium to high waves. Also, this bodyboard is made to have a much wider template than most regular body boards.

Furthermore, because of its strong core, this bodyboard will be perfect for heavy individuals plus the PE deck has been designed with wave cushions so as to give the rider much softer experience even on high waves. The bottom of the body board has been made with durable material as well as built-in tail and nose bumpers.

#9 Custom X Titan Crescent Tail Body Board

Moreover, the board is just of the right thickness to give the rider great acceleration speed and control even in high waves.

Plus, the GYN Trade Heat Sealed Body Board is often preferred by many professional riders taking part in world championships taking place in Hawaii and Australia.

The manufacturer has specifically designed the body board to have a curved template so as to give the rider the chance to shred large sections of the waves and take high points.

#10 California Board Company Switch 42 Inches

California Board Company Switch 42 Inches Body Board is made with ultimate control and maneuverability that most riders strive for. Moreover, the pocket template of the body board will ensure that you can control the acceleration of the body board in small to medium waves.

Plus, California Board Company body board is high enough to reach your belly button when placed on the floor or fit between your knees and chin when held in front of you.

Also, this bodyboard will be perfect for someone on a budget while its size will make the board perfect for small waves whereas the smaller body board better used with large waves.

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Other things to look at when choosing the best bodyboard

In addition to things mentioned above, pay close attention to the chine which is the large area that goes around and meets at the rail plus remembers that after the water gets sucked up from the under the deck it wraps the rails up thus creating the point of vacuum. Furthermore, remember that the wide point of the body board will determine how maneuverable the body board is plus it will also affect the overall flotation of the body board.

Moreover, the width of the bodyboard will also determine how buoyant it is, however, it will also affect your ability to easily turn the body boards thus remember that the width of the body board is a double-edged sword. For this reason, many manufacturers have started designing narrow body boards so as to allow the rider to take sharper and harder turns.

What dictates the template and shape of the bodyboard?

Most body boards have a much wider point in front of the body board so as to give the board more surface area thus making the body board much suitable for the prone riders.

What body board thickness is recommended?

As mentioned above, regular body boards have become much slimmer in the last decade thus you can find body boards that range between 50 mm and 55 mm. However, keep in mind that the slimmer the body board is the less buoyancy it will have despite being more controllable. Moreover, the speed of the bodyboard will also be affected plus thinner body boards are much cheaper to purchase.

Also, look to see how rough the rocker, gentle upward curve of the body board, is because it will determine how well you can ride the body board. Overall, you should look for a body board that is medium thick with a foam deck that will naturally expand thus creating the needed rocker edge.

Conclusion

In conclusion, we hope you will remember that the most important factor in choosing the best bodyboard is the wider the tail, the faster and more stable the body board will be. However, keep in mind that some professionals believe that the body boards with narrow tails have been reported to be much more manageable and are thus preferred by beginners.

Furthermore, you will need to remember about the rail, the body board edge, as it will determine the bite. Consequently, the shallower the edge of the body boards is the faster the body board will be thanks to less resistance but harder to control due to decreased vacuum under the body board.

Also, keep in mind that body boards made from polypro material might not be suitable for everybody as they tend to get super stiff in cold water. Lastly, some bodyboard manufacturers now use a mix of these materials to create premium class body boards that are much more flex and easier to ride.

Of course, they cost much more and not every beginning rider would want to pay the hefty sum. But, do remember if you will decide on riding on a regular basis then you will need a durable and reliable body board that will allow you to fully experience the sea and the waves.

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