Travel

Surf Travel Checklist: What are the Essential Things to Pack?

posted by Chris Valentine

If you’ve found yourself in the sport of surfing, then you know the next step is to travel as often as you can to search for and ride the perfect waves. Many avid surfers will admit that this is the ultimate addiction. So if you’re planning to take on the world and the journey on to find yourself the best waves out there, the first thing you need is to have a perfect surf travel checklist.

This is why we’ve made up a list that will include all the essentials that you need to pack as you venture out on your surfing adventure.

Boards

Of course, this is a given, but it doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be on your checklist anyway! You want to take a couple of boards with you, and depending on the destination, the level that you are at, and the kind of waves that you’ll be taking on, you can pick out your boards. You might want to take an inflatable board to change things up a bit. If you’re not sure what to get, you should research and find a suitable website that will give you reliable and up to date reviews. This way, you won’t have to go through the trouble of wondering whether you’re getting a quality stand-up paddle or not. Don’t forget the covers and racks to pack the boards well.

Board Wax & Comb

Even though there is a possibility that you will be able to purchase board wax, it’s always a smart option to just carry your own. Take wax for both warm and cold water so that you’re well prepared, and don’t forget to take at least 2 wax combs with you.

Skin Protection

It doesn’t matter if you’re going to a colder or warmer climate, the sun is always there, and clouds or not, the UV rays are still going to affect your skin. So make sure that you invest in quality sunscreen and after sun lotion so that your skin is well taken care of. As a surfer, you expose your skin to the elements a lot more than the average person does, so it’s imperative that you take care of it before and after you’re done surfing.

Ding Repair Kit

Your surfboard can run into any kind of damage as you surf, and you need to have to have your ding repair kit with you at all times in case this happens. It’s a good idea to learn how to do this properly so that you can become self-sufficient and not have to worry about whether you can find a place where people do these kinds of repairs or not.

Booties

In many locations, there might be a lot of rocks or coral, so you need to have a decent pair of booties on you to protect your feet from any potential cuts or damage.

First Aid Kit

This is probably one of the most important items that you will need to carry with you as you  travel. It’s important to research where the hospitals are, wherever you end up going and what the emergency numbers are as well. But besides that, ensure that you stock your first aid kit well enough in order to tend to any kind of injuries that are common to surfers.

Fin Sets

You absolutely need to carry a couple of fin sets with you, because it’s not uncommon for fins to break or even get lost. Make sure that you also have a couple of keys so that you don’t have any trouble changing the fins.

Swim & Surfwear

This too, is a given, but it needs to be on the checklist nonetheless. Pack wetsuits for both cold and warm water, and bring as many as you can because you never know what might go wrong. Besides, bring along normal swimwear to wear underneath your wetsuit and for easy surfing and swimming on the calmer days.

The checklist provided above is definitely going to make the whole process of packing for your surfing adventure a much smoother one. Keep this list with you at all times as you move from one destination to the next so that you don’t forget or misplace any of these items. Don’t forget to have all your travel papers packed safely with you at all times, because you’re already going to be carrying a lot, so keep those close to you in your backpack. You’re bound to go on one hell of an amazing adventure discovering different locations with amazing surfing spots as long as you’re always prepared.

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