If there are surf shops where you are going, you can ask them about the gear they carry, but inventory is often really limited. It’s best to pack backups of the essentials like surfboard leash, fins, fin keys, sunscreen, ear plugs, and leash rope. Shit breaks. Be prepared.

The shops might not be open early enough to replace the fin you snapped halfway through a perfect sunrise session. They also might not have cool eco-friendly options that you can find when you plan ahead.

Consider these options:

Surfboard Fins

• Futures has a reclaimed wood fin and makes its Alpha | Netplus line with Bureo’s recycled fishnets.
• 5 Oceans makes an eco fin from recycled ocean plastic from Indo and Bali.
• Pushfins makes them out of skateboard waste.
• Shaka Surf makes recycled plastic fins out of 70 plastic bottle caps.

Surfboard Leash

• Wave Tribe makes recycled surfboard leashes, grab one here.
• Revolwe’s leashes are made of recycled bottles and the cuff is yulex instead of petroleum.

Surfboard Wax

• Wave Tribe’s eco wax is made in America out of beeswax and coconut oil.
• Crimson’s surf wax adds sandalwood to bee/coconut mix.

Ding Repair Kit

• Duck tape and suncure are always good to have on your trip.

Surfboard Bags

If you’re taking a surfboard, you need a surfboard travel bag for it. The extra padding and heat-protective materials make it so much easier to safely stow your board when your shelping it around on the trip.

I travel a lot. Sometimes I see surfboards wrapped in Mexican blankets or thin sheets coming out of the baggage carousel.

Don’t expect this type of setup to protect your surfboard. A board bag made for surfboard travel is the safest way to transport your gear via air.

For more detailed info on which surfboard bag to get check out our article on How To Pick A Boardbag.

Backpacks & Bags

You can pack a lot of your soft goods in your board bag if you’re bringing one. Then you may get by with a backpack that doubles as a day pack for the rest. Consider a dry bag.

I’m partial to Patagonia’s surf packs, because their gear tends to hold up and they try to do right by the planet.

Search “best surf backpacks” for other options. If you take a normal duffle, consider bringing a roll-top dry bag to isolate wet gear inside it.

Carbon Offset

A carbon offset is a reduction in emissions of carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases made in order to compensate for emissions made elsewhere. Consider Choose or Gold Standard if you feel like this is how you want to mitigate your footprint.

Sun Protection

According to Consumer Reports (CR),none of the mineral/physical-barrier (aka natural) sunscreens they tested provide enough UVA protection and SPF performance to meet their recommendations.

The sunscreens they do recommend are all chemically-based, meaning they contain oxybenzone and other chemicals known to harm reefs. AND about 40% of the 82 sunscreens they tested provide less than half of the SPF they claim.

Note: “Reef safe” is a noble goal, but it’s not a regulated term. Seeing it on a bottle of sunscreen doesn’t mean much on its own. You’re trying to minimize how much oxybenzone and octinoxate ends up in the ocean, so look for those ingredients.

Of the chemical (i.e. reef harming) sunscreens CR tested, BullFrog Land Sport Quik Gel SPF 50 did well in tests.

Of the mineral, physical barrier brands (think zinc), Badger’s active natural mineral cream SPF 30 unscented did the best, but only earned half the sun protecting score that BullFrog earned.

I have been using Badger for about ten years and as long as you put enough on, it does the job. Anyone that has been with me in the lineup knows that I put on a healthy portion.

Wetsuits - Evo has a great wetsuit thickness guide. Check expected water temps for your destination and plan accordingly. Patagonia’s Yulex wetsuit is made from sustainable plant matter and is a badass suit. Read more about Patagonia's wetsuit production process here.

O’Neill makes super comfortable suits and Rip Curl and VISSLA (men only) also make some nice options. Wetsuits are a very personal thing, some will fit you better than others and also go for the top of the line model—being cold in the line-up sucks.

Boot, Gloves, Hood - See Evo’s chart to figure out whether or not to pack them. Also, consider reef booties for warm locations with brutally rugged reefs.

I always travel with reef booties and they have saved my ass several times.

Boardshorts, For Everyone* - There an obvious addition for guys, but women often skip boardshorts. That can be a mistake if you’re skin isn’t ready for the sun.

Your thighs can fry if you’re sitting on your board for hours, especially if it sits high in the water. I always bring boardshorts that reach my knees, which are crazy hard to find for women.

You can wear men’s, but the cut is often terrible. Another option is swim tights.

Here are some earth-friendly* boardshort options for men. Coolibar has swim tight options for guys, or you could look for triathlon gear.

Ladies, you’ll have a hard time finding longer shorts. Patagonia used to make versions that you can still find on Worn Wear at times, or you can try the men’s options.

For women’s swim tights, I like the options at Carve Designs and have a few pairs from Prana. Women’s Health has some options, too.  

Rash Guard or Super Cute Suit - This is where ladies have more options. Everyone can start by looking at normal rash guards. Every brand seems to make one, so you have lots of options.

There are also a number of long sleeve swimsuits and shortie wetsuits made for women to keep the sun off your arms. The LA Times has a super fashionable round-up.

Bikinis - I wear a bikini under my wetsuit to make changing easier, and because it seems more hygienic. Same for swim tights/boardshorts. It’s also lovely to surf in just a bikini.

Just watch the sun. Here are some great options. I’d add Patagucci’s nanogrip bikini to the list, because it works. It’s nice to bring at least two.

Microplastics/Synthetic Fibers - All of these are made from synthetic materials that release microplastic fibers directly into the ocean and every time you wash them.

The most “eco-friendly” of them are made out of recycled plastics. They’re still plastic and still release plastic microfibers.

If you want to take a stand, wear tight-fitting and tight weave (for higher UPF) cotton, hemp or bamboo long sleeve shirts and shorts in the water. Or, carefully hand wash these items to reduce fiber release.

The Usual, but Consider Going Dry - You’ll want a toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, floss, deodorant, etc. But consider dry versions, like a bar shampoo and toothpaste powder (or make your own). It is often more efficient to ship, requires less packaging, and makes it easier to get through security.

Tampons - If you have periods, pack tampons, or a keeper/diva cup. They can be really hard to find in some locations.

Some First Aid - If you’re not going remote, you can probably buy most of what you need. But look over this list from Johns Hopkins and bring anything you’d like to have on-hand. Consider bug spray and/or a bug net if you’re heading somewhere buggy.

Headlamp - That’s a toiletry right?

Water Filter - I’m sick of getting sick, so I travel with a bottle purifier. It makes grabbing a quick drink easier and reduces the need for plastic bottles. REI breaks down your options.