Surf Accessories

Start with the board and the session. A shortboard used in beach break surf needs different accessories from a longboard, SUP surf board, kitesurf board or family board that spends most of its life on roof bars.

Your first priority should be safety and board control: choose the right leash length, thickness and attachment style. Then think about grip, board protection, travel protection, wet kit management and how you are transporting the board to and from the beach.

For regular surf or SUP surf use, the essentials are usually a suitable leash, wax or deck grip, board bag or sock, roof straps, rail protection where needed, and a way to keep the car clean after wet, sandy sessions.

A surf leash should roughly match the length and type of board you are riding. Shortboards usually use shorter leashes, longboards use longer leashes, and SUP surf boards need a leash that suits both the board size and the power of the conditions.

Shortboard and everyday surf leashes

For regular shortboard surfing, choose a leash that is close to your board length and suitable for the wave size you are surfing. Thinner leashes feel lighter and create less drag, while thicker leashes offer more security in bigger or messier conditions.

Longboard calf leashes

Longboard calf leashes can be useful when walking the board, trimming or cross-stepping. The calf position helps keep the cord away from your feet, which can make traditional longboard movement easier.

SUP surf leashes

SUP surf boards are bigger and carry more momentum, so leash choice matters. Choose a strong leash that suits board length, rider weight and surf conditions. For flat-water paddleboarding, use the appropriate SUP leash setup for the environment rather than assuming a surf leash is always the answer.

Grip is one of the simplest upgrades you can make to a surf setup. Wax gives traditional feel and adjustability. Traction pads give a more permanent rear-foot reference point and are popular on shortboards, fish shapes, kitesurf boards and some surf SUPs.

Choose wax by water temperature and board type. Choose traction pads by board tail shape, kick height, arch preference and where your back foot naturally lands. A badly placed pad can be annoying, so dry-position it carefully before sticking it down.

For SUP surf boards, check whether the existing deck pad already gives enough coverage before adding extra grip. For prone surfboards, a well-positioned tail pad can help with turns, control and foot placement.

Surf boards, surf SUPs and foil boards all pick up knocks from beaches, car parks, roof bars, paddles and everyday handling. Rail protection and ding patches can help keep vulnerable areas cleaner for longer and reduce minor cosmetic damage.

Rail tape is especially useful on SUP surf boards and composite paddleboards because paddle strikes can mark the rails quickly. Ding patches can be useful for small knocks, but they are not a substitute for a proper repair if the board has structural damage or water ingress.

Useful related ranges include rail tape and board protection, RS Pro rail savers, paddleboarding accessories and board bags.

A lot of board damage happens before you even reach the water. Rack pads, roof straps and good board bags help protect rails, decks, fins and noses when loading, driving and storing boards.

Rack pads protect the board where it meets the roof bars. Proper roof straps keep the board secure. Board bags add protection from knocks, UV, wax transfer and general car park chaos. For longer drives, double-check strap tension and make sure the board cannot shift.

Useful related ranges include roof straps, board transport accessories, board bags and surf board bags.

Surf sessions are wet, salty and sandy. Waterproof car seat covers, changing robes, wet bags, dry bags and portable showers make the whole routine easier, especially through winter or when you are squeezing in sessions before or after work.

A waterproof car seat cover protects the seats when you drive home in a wetsuit. A portable shower helps rinse salt and sand from kit, feet and wetsuits. A changing robe or poncho makes cold car park changes less miserable.

Useful related ranges include changing robes, waterproof bags, wetsuit accessories and neoprene footwear.

For SUP surf

Prioritise a suitable leash, rail protection, paddle protection, board bag and wetsuit accessories. SUP surf boards are larger than prone boards, so leash strength and control matter.

For prone surf

Focus on leash length, wax or traction, board bag protection, roof transport and post-session kit. A spare leash and wax in the van can save a session.

For kitesurf

Look at board grip, travel protection, car seat covers, roof straps, waterproof bags and accessories that keep kit organised between sessions. Make sure anything attached to the board suits the conditions and your riding style.

This collection includes practical surf accessories from brands such as Dakine, FCS, Greenfix, Infinity, ION, Moloko, Northcore, Red Paddle Co, RS Pro, Starboard, Surflogic and Tahe. Each brand has different strengths, so choose by product need first rather than logo alone.

Dakine and FCS

Dakine and FCS are strong names for surf leashes, pads, board travel and everyday surf accessories. They are useful starting points for leash, grip and transport kit.

RS Pro and Northcore

RS Pro and Northcore are especially relevant for board protection, rail protection, repair, travel and practical surf session accessories.

Surflogic, ION and Moloko

Surflogic, ION and Moloko are useful for the lifestyle and post-session side of surfing, including car protection, changing, storage and beach-day practicality.

Surf accessories work best when they are chosen around the full setup. Think about board type, leash, grip, fin setup, board bag, wetsuit, boots, changing kit, roof transport and repair basics before heading away for a trip.

Surf boards · Surf SUPs · Surf paddles · Surf leashes

Wetsuits · Neoprene boots · Board bags · Rail tape

If you are unsure which leash, rail protection, rack pad, board bag or surf accessory you need, contact us with your board size, board type, the conditions you surf and the problem you are trying to solve.

For delivery information, see our delivery information. For product advice, use our contact page.

For SUP surf or paddleboard-related choices, our Woodmill SUP Test Centre can also help with board and paddle advice where relevant.