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Ultimate Review of the Best Noserider Surfboards in 2023

Best Noserider Surfboards

There’s a misconception that all longboards can noseride.

It’s so widely spread that I fell into it during my transition from shortboarding to nose riding.

Out of naivety, I got a 10’ Storm Blade longboard surfboard and could only picture myself performing the gravity-defying stunts, including the hang ten toes, stretch-five, heel hang, and so much more.

I was really pumped up and thought I would become the next noseriding champ!

But all it took was to step into the water, and my dreams were shattered.

See, it wasn’t long before I discovered that my board, or rather that most of the log designs in the market, wouldn’t allow me to stand on the tip of the board, let alone do maneuvers from the front end.

For the most part, my board got super squirrely when I got to the nose since it had a thruster set up, and the fins broke free pretty easily.

Secondly, almost everything about my board, including the rocker, width, shape, and thickness, was built for speed and agility in the turns, not for stability. Stability is important for a nose rider longboard.

Of course, it was a disappointing experience, especially considering that I had seen some genius noseriders do it with random logs.

But I remembered I wasn’t Joel Tudor and couldn’t try on just any board!

I needed the right board for the newly-found skill.

After all, I discovered that some boards are easier to noseride than others- better equipment is the most important part.

For example, it’s easier to noseride with a single-fin than with a tri-fin surfboard. The triple-fin boards are kind of trackey, and they won’t allow you to steer the board from the forward part as easily.

But getting the right board for noseriding isn’t the easiest one.

You’ll have to maneuver through a whole variety of noseriding board designs, from classics to modern performance longboards and all that is in between.

It can be nerve-wracking, but we’re here to help.

I don’t want you to make the same mistakes as I did, and in the section below, I’ll review some of my favorite noserider surfboards in the market.

My picks are awesome and will help you transition into noseriding more effortlessly. Plus, they’ll help you learn to hang five, hang ten, foot heels, and so much more.

Quick Comparison Table!

South Bay Board Co. ‘8 Verve

4.8

4.8/5
California Board Company Foam Surf Board

4.6

4.6/5
NSP Elements Longboard

4.5

4.5/5
Storm Blade 9’ Longboard

4.3

4.3/5
Wave Bandit Ben Gravy

4.0

4/5

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#1 South Bay Board Co. '8 Verve - EDITOR'S CHOICE

4.7/5
4.2/5
4.8/5

I’ve a dozen fiberglass longboards and recently switched to soft boards.

I’m loving the soft-tops, and the SBBC Verve, in particular, has exceeded my expectations.

This nose rider longboard has a more refined quality, better shape, awesome construction, and great performance. Mind-blowing for sure.

Of course, I was a bit reluctant to spend the extra $$ for it, but I can now see why.

It’s worth it.

For starters, it’s such a versatile longboard.

Verve’s versatility stems from its unique board shape.

A rounded-out nose helps with the float, while the rocker prevents riders from falling face-first flat on the water.

Simply put, the SBBC Verve is a great all-around board, extremely fun to use in the smaller set, and can handle well in larger sets.

It’s also easier to perform different surf styles, easy to learn, and fun to have in your quiver for those carefree days out in the water.

I was also impressed by Verve’s performance and loved how it made me feel like a pro, yet I was still new to nose riding.

For one, with a generous volume of 50 liters, the Verve is stuffed enough with enough waterproof EPS foam core to make catching waves and learning how to surf easier for all levels.

It’s a great beginner-friendly option, thanks to its buoyancy and friendly shape.

I’ve also not mentioned that it comes with a unique foam texture on the deck, so you won’t require a stamp pad or waxing.

Yet, the grip is textured enough to provide sufficient grip when doing the crazy hang tens and crosswalking to the tip of the nose. All while it remains soft on your skin, so you don’t suffer from rashes or abrasions.

What about the construction?

It’s everything you would wish for in a high-performance longboard.

The triple-stringer construction offers protection against cracks and beach breaks, especially on the high-impact parts of the board.

It doesn’t break easily as other longboards do, and I’ve had mine for several seasons now, yet it remains as new as when I first purchased it.

Of course, it has a few nicks and dings here and there, but nothing serious to compromise its performance.

And the good thing is, despite the sturdy design, it remains ultra-friendly to beginners because it’s foamy. So, even if you accidentally wipe it out and fall on it or even crash on other surfers, it does little harm to them. It’s like a huge sponge.

As icing to the cake, the South Bay Board Co Verve comes as a complete package and includes leash string, leash, and thruster fin set up.

Surfers can expect the highest quality surfing session riding on this bad boy.

Pros

Cons

#2 California Board Company Foam Surf Board - Best Soft Longboard for Beginners

4.6/5
4.3/5
4.6/5

I bought this board to California Board Company Foam Surf Board to learn on, and I’m glad I did.

It’s easy to use and feels like a boat.

In fact, I managed to get on this board on my first attempt!

It’s a great surf longboard to learn on and gain confidence on.

And the best part is it looks much better than the blue striped boards.

Yes, I know aesthetics don’t matter a lot to some riders, but if you like the retro look of a Bolsa board, you can never go wrong with this pick.

I love its faux wood grain deck. It looks great when I display it on my living room wall when not in the water. I can’t also mention the number of compliments I’ve received riding this board.

But this board is more than just looks.

It’s wide and long, so it levels up your surfing, and this is why I also recommend this surfboard to beginners.

It’s stuffed enough, so it has awesome buoyancy and super floatation. So, it’s a great pick for those who like having fun catching waves.

Personally, I’ve surfed with this bad boy several times, and I’m impressed with it.

It’s very floaty and ideal for my 180-pound weight.

Plus, it paddles effortlessly, allowing me to catch even the smallest flat-faced waves.

Yes, it’s not the quickest or paddle fast enough to turn into my glass board, but the moderate speed is just what I need to surf and noseride.

It does what it’s designed to do and does it well.

However, paddling out the soup needs some elbow grease with the board being so floaty, but you’ll ultimately get used to it.

Now, while still on the performance, we need to talk about the longboard’s shape.

I observed that it came with a rounded nose and widened tail.

On the water, the shape is beneficial to beginners, especially those learning to catch new waves and balance when making the creative moves.

The flat bottom with a slight taper along the edges is also helpful in creating “drag” on the water while improving the overall stability. This is what you need for a nose rider longboard.

Of course, as with any beginner longboard, California Surf Foam is a soft-top surfboard.

It’s necessary for reducing the surfer’s concern that they will fall and hit a hard deck or edge or even hit another swimmer.

For me, having a soft top means I can confidently keep it in my service van without worrying the glass board would get dinged in the back of the van.

Surfers will also be happy to know that the soft top deck doesn’t compromise the board’s durability. Plus, it has a natural feel to it.

The board’s EPS foam core is waterproof, so there’re no water logging concerns. Plus, it comes with stringers to stiffen the board and prevent flexing.

Pros

Cons

#3 NSP Elements Longboard - Most Durable Noserider Available

4.4/5
4.5/5
4.5/5

The NSP Element longboard is a famous and one of the widely sold longboards in the world.

It joins a shortlist of the best longboards made with durability in mind.

Beyond the amazing durability, I considered this high-performance longboard to our list because of its features and performance.

It’s so easy to use, and I love it because it’s a fun board to use.

Now, back to the durability, the NPS Elements longboard utilizes a waterproof EPS foam core and a durable epoxy resin.

You can expect this board to take on whatever you throw at it, including dragging on the rocky beaches or even surfing past the beach breaks/ point breaks.

I’ve used it for several seasons now, and it still holds up strong, and it doesn’t seem like it’s going to break anytime soon.

While the construction is awesome, the execution of the design and shape makes this noserider longboard more than just a gimmick.

You can see that it comes with an inwardly shaped base deck. It’s a unique design that helps surfers gain increased stability when they surf.

This is not to mention it permits you to perform incredible tricks such as cross-stepping or walking to the nose.

NPS Elements high-performance longboard doesn’t falter in the performance department, too.

It has both side fins and center fins. The 2+1 (tri-fin setup) delivers better performance, especially better maneuverability.

And the good thing is the fins are a breeze to install and won’t take more than several minutes. I did mine in less than five minutes.

Overall, the NPS Elements Longboard is a great noseriding longboard and a nice pick for those who need to build their abilities on their newly-found skills.

It’ll let you remain on water effectively while you appreciate wave catching.

Pros

Cons

#4 Storm Blade 9’ Longboard - Practical Noserider

4.3/5
4.5/5
4.3/5

If you’re looking for a foam surfboard that will get you through the little doldrums of summer surfing or simply want to catch any kind of wave you go for, pay attention to the Storm Blade board.

One of the attractive features of this board is the high volume. It’ll catch any wave, including the marshy, small waves that other shortboards can’t.

But as with any classic longboard, the StormBlade board doesn’t time on a dime. But it’s great for any type of longboard break and the right choice for you if you love the drawn-out turns or walking the nose.

It has the perfect shape for riding the ankle-high summer waves, quite as well as the waist-high peelers.

A rounded square tail center, similar to the squash tail, helps generate some speed while retaining the much-needed stability for noseriding.

It’s gas for learning how to hang ten because of the calibrated thickness on the deck.

Meanwhile, a bit of low entry rocker stops you from pearling on steeper take-offs and will help you catch waves before they even break.

And the final thing is the board comes with great fin options, so if you intend to ride it as a thruster, you can,

It also comes with a large back fin, so you can ride it as a single fin setup.

Pros

Cons

#5 Wave Bandit Ben Gravy - Best Design

4.2/5
4.6/5
4/5

I was a little hesitant buying this board, but I went for it.

It was the best thing since I’ve never had so much on a longboard.

The Wave Bandit Ben Gravy is an absolute joy to use.

It’s easy for a beginner like me, but also high performance enough for experienced riders.

One of the greatest draws to the Wave Bandit was its versatility.

I’ve ridden this in small ankle waves, all the way up to6 ft waves, and it handles itself well in the water.

The Bandit is perfect for use from river waves to groveling in ankle-high wave conditions.

One of Bandit’s greatest assets behind the awesome performance is its shape.

It’s an egg-shaped longboard, or rather a “short longboard.”

As with typical eggs, it comes with a rounded nose, wide midsection and flat cut-of tails, which helps hold speed and fluidity.

While it’s not the board for performing the crazy tricks and maneuvers, it’ll greatly help cross walking, cross stepping moves, and generally nose riding.

Beginners are also pleased with this pick as it’s wider and thicker, so it’s easy to stand up and it catches waves easily.

You’ll be pleased to know that it’s made out of double maple-wood stringers. So, it maintains a good shape, even after abuse, and doesn’t get water-logged.

What about the looks?

Get ready to be the talk of the beach.

It comes with pineapple graphics that are fantastic to the eyes.

Both the old, young, experienced, and newbie surfers long for this longboard’s design.

And as with all the longboards in our bundle, this option comes bundles with a leash, leash fins, and thruster fin setup.

Pros

Cons

Best Noserider Surfboards Buying Guide

Best Noserider Surfboards Buying Guide

Are you ready to choose your next noserider longboard?

If so, you need to consider several factors that will allow you to make the right purchase for your riding style.

And in the section below, I’ll share everything you need to know about purchasing a noserider surfboard.

But before then, let’s look at the different types of noserider designs.

Types of Noserider Longboard Designs

Noseriders are usually longboards, but not all noserider longboards make the ideal noserider.

To know what boards can become noseriders, we’ve listed the different surfboard shapes and explained why they’re shaped that way and how they’ll help you with noseriding.

Bottom Contour

Noseriding longboards are different from the shape of the modern-day surfboard.

For example, shortboards are shaped with a concave bottom for improved acceleration, while boards meant for riding also have round-shaped bottoms.

The round shape “drags” the board, resulting in better balance and giving foam core riders enough time to walk to the nose.

Wide Tail

Wave positioning and design characteristics help stabilize a surfer’s position while riding it.

The huge single fins attached to boards with broad tails create the right drag, helping to slow the board.

Fast boards aren’t crucial in noseriding because they outrun the spot the surfer needs to get the best noseriding.

The square tail and rounded pin are also another surfboard shape that can create better stability.

Nose

The best nose design for a noserider surfboard is a wide nose.

This is because it allows you to stay to that side of the board.

It should be at least 18″ to create a stable platform on the feet and offer better drag.

The bottom should also be concave to create the right lift.

Soft Rails

Usually, most of the noserider longboards use soft and smooth rail transitions for breaking water.

Hard rails make a clean break on the water, thus improving the speed. We don’t want that.

The soft rails allow the board to hold to the wave’s face because the water passing bends around the curves, thus slowing the board to allow the rider to cross-walk to the nose.

Factors to Consider When Purchasing the Best Noserider Surfboard

If you’re new to noseriding, here’re the critical features to consider to help you progress much faster in your surfing journey:

Length

Longboards are available in different lengths.

For noseriding, I would recommend longboards greater than 10 feet.

They’re the traditional line of surfing lengths.

However, if you’re looking to progress into surfing with a noserider, choose an option in the 8-10 feet range.

Meanwhile, shortboards are ideal for maneuverability but might not be great for noseriding.

Longboard Material

Some of the common materials on most noserider longboards are lex, double maple wood stringer, and PU.

Blas wood longboards are also common. Balsa is lightweight and eco-friendly.

But if you need want a sturdy and lightweight board, choose those made out of epoxy resin. Epoxy is stiff and thick.

Width and Thickness

Usually, noseriders come with a thickness of 2.5” and more.

Your choice of noserider longboard should be floaty to catch waves.

However, not so much because it may inhibit the performance.

I would recommend the thin, and lightweight surfers stick on the lower thickness boards.

On the other hand, the big surfers can go with the 3+ range.

Rocker Longboards

We recommend getting a noserider longboard with a more pronounced rocker.

This helps you stay on top of the water better and accommodate the extra weight.

Noserider vs. High-performance Longboards

There’re two main types of longboards in the market:

1)  Noserider

2)  High-performance longboards

These two designs are similar in many ways, but they also have their differentiating elements.

In terms of construction, both designs can utilize polyurethane, fiberglass, polyester resin combination, and expanded high-density polyethylene.

However, noserider have foam throughout their body.

They also have a broader mid-section and a rounder tail at the bottom.

Most of the noseriders are also single-fin surfboards.

When it comes to the performance, the noseriders are generally slower than the traditional longboards.

Their speed, along with the flat rocker, promote effortless surfing and improved balance.

On the other hand, the high-performance longboards are, as their name suggests-they’re built for performance.

First, they come with a narrow width, narrower nose, and lesser tail width. They also utilize a more pronounced rocker and can accommodate multiple fins.

The high-performance longboards are suitable for surfing through the roughest and steepest waves.

With the high-performance longboards, you will find it easier to catch the tough and high waves because these boards are faster and more maneuverable.

Best Noserider Surfboards Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What makes a surfboard a noserider?

A: Generally, noserider surfboards have more foam throughout the board. In terms of shape, they’re wider and tend to have a rounded rail. Most of them have a single fin set up.

Q: How do I choose a noserider longboard?

A: Pick an option that you’re comfortable riding with.

It should be easy to use and, more importantly, help you progress into nose riding much better.

Q: What is the best brand of surfboards?

A: There’re numerous brands of surfboards, and here’re just but a few; Wave storm, Bic, Liquid Shredder, Channel Island, SBBC.

Wrap Up: Our Choice

Wrap Up Our Choice

Our winner for the best noserider longboards is the SBBC Verve.

It’s a fantastic option that scores highly in all departments and will make it easier for you to learn noseriding.

It’s super floaty, has plenty of volumes, and tracks in a straight line.

While a bit expensive than most surfboards, it offers real value for money and has everything you would wish for easy and fun times in the water.

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Lisa Hayden-Matthews

Lisa Hayden-Matthews

An avid Skier, bike rider, triathlon enthusiast, amateurish beach volleyball player and nature lover who has never lost a dare! I manage the overall Editorial section for the magazine here and occasionally chip in with my own nature photographs, when required.

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