Best Body Board Reviews 2018

When buying a bodyboard, there are so many different factors that can affect its price. One of the major things that will do this is the core. Different cores have different advantages and disadvantages, which naturally affect the price of your board. Also, its size can affect the price of your board, along with the materials it’s made of, such as what’s used for the deck and slick of your board. Other features such as the rails, chine, stringer and so on can also make a difference to the final pricepoint. On the lower end of the price scale, a good and affordable bodyboard can run you about $35, but if you’re looking for something truly professional, a real high end board can cost you up to $400 dollars. A more inexpensive bodyboard won’t cost you much, but it might need replacing more often, so it’s important to keep that in mind.

Bodyboarding is a personal experience: what works for you may not work for someone else. When you think about the features of your bodyboard, you need to ensure that they’re right for you.

Here are the features you need to look for when choosing your next boogieboard:

• Deck – this is the base of your bodyboard, the part that you lie on
• Slick – this is the bottom of your boogieboard. It meets the water and is usually made from either HDPE (high density polyethylene) or Surlyn
• Mesh – this is a wire-like plastic material that’s between the core and the slick of your board. It enhances your board’s durability and boosts its projection
• Contour – this is the shape of your board which is designed to improve control, flex, and response
• Channels – these are small grooves that you can find on the bottom of your slick. They work like the fin for a surfboard and hold the wave face
• Stringer – this is a tube that runs through the middle of your bodyboard. It acts as a spine and strengthens the core which increases your board’s projection and gives you near instant recoil. However, it’s a recent addition to many bodyboards, so not every board will come with it
• Leash – this keeps you tethered to your board
• Rails – these are the side edges of your board. Rails usually come in 60/40 or 50/50

Those are the features to look for, but the entire construction of your body part plays a huge part of your ride. Let’s look at the different parts of a bodyboard and how they matter.

The build of a bodyboard is crucial to how it’ll perform. First off, you need to consider the size of the bodyboard. You want to ensure that you get a bodyboard that will reach up to your belly button when you stand it upright. Bodyboard companies usually have a weight chart that you can use to see which board is for your weight class. If the board is too long, it’ll be hard for you to control, which will lead to a wipe out. If it’s too short then your legs will hang off too much, which will cause what’s known as a drag.

The next factor to consider when choosing a body board is the tail. There are two main tails for bodyboards, the bat tail and the crescent tail. The bat tail is great for surfs that are weaker and behave unpredictably. It adds flotation to the rear end of your board, but it also gives the board a looser feel. The other one is called the crescent tail. This tail is great for an all-around board. It’s user friendly and grips the wave well, which makes for a smoother ride. Crescent tails are also great for drop-knee riding, which is why it’s used by most pro bodyboarders.

Next is the core, which is the most crucial part of a bodyboard. It dictates the best scenarios for the board and, when you use it right, it will help you improve your boogie boarding game. There are four different types of cores: polyethylene which is also known as Dow or PE, polypropylene which is known as beaded PP or just PP, expanded polystyrene and the very recent NRG & Paradox Cell Cores.

The PE core is what you’ll find in most bodyboards. Even though it is heavier than the PP core, it still offers more flex and control. It’s great for cooler water riders. PP, on the other hand, is great for warmer water riders. While they’re lighter, they’re also stronger and will give you added speed especially when turning. A beaded PP bodyboard can also revert to its original shape quite well, which increases its lifespan over that of a PE board.

The EPS core is available in bodyboards that come in a wide range of shapes and sizes. They tend to come in less expensive boards, but once you get a well-built board with an EPS core you’re good to go. It’s best to get one with a thicker core as this adds strength to board and a dense deck. Adding rails will also increase its strength and the use you will get out of your board.

The NRG & Paradox Cell cores are the names given to cores by two factories that produce them in the east. They were originally built to replace the PE cores on professional boards, but have since found their own spot in the market. They are less dense than the standard PP so you get more flex from it. These cores are also used with mesh and stringer combinations for added strength.

Other important parts of your bodyboard to know are:

• Wide point – the widest part of your board between rails. It affects its maneuverability and flotation
• Nose – this is the top of your board where you hold onto it
• Nose to wide point – this is distance between your board’s nose and wide point
• Rocker – this is the upward curve of your board

The performance of your bodyboard is dependent on the materials used for it and where you use it. First off, if you don’t get a board that’s a right fit for you it won’t work out, simple as that. We’ve mentioned before that you need to get a board that’s built for your weight, height, age, and skill level. When you’ve chosen the board which suits you you’re guaranteed to have a better experience than using a board that’s not right for you.

Taking care of a bodyboard is easy too. There are still a few things to remember, however, such as repairing holes as soon as they appear. Another is to clean your board with cool fresh water after each use, avoiding chlorinated pools. Also avoid excess heat, so try not to leave your board in the sun or in the hot car because it will cause the foam to emit a gas that’ll form bubbles on your board.