Down here you’ll find a wide variety of the best surf brands you must know as a surfer!
Unbiased – In alphabetical order.
Apparel / Accessories / Wetsuits → Surfboards → Technical Surf Gear → Surf Shops
Best Surf Apparel/Wetsuit Brands
BILLABONG
Life’s better in boardshorts
Main focus: Surf and Snow gear & clothing
Billabong is a surf company, primarily a clothing retailer that also produces accessories, like watches and backpacks and skateboard and snowboard products under other brand names. Billabong also owns the skating brand Element, Von Zipper and the list goes on. There’s a great and exciting read about the brand’s history on WIKIPEDIA. Billabong refers to a creek that runs only during the rainy season.
PRODUCT LINE
- Wetsuits – Billabong FURNACE
- Clothing
- Clothing accessories
- Bags
- Luggage
- Accessories
CATCH SURF
Founder – George Arsenate
One of the latest surf brands that have blended into their niché rather quickly. Their production line is inspired by the 80s surf culture while using the latest technology: CAD and 3-axis foam shapers.
PRODUCT LINE
- Surfboards
– Funboards
– Beater boards
– Soft top - Merch – Clothing for men, women, and kids’
- Wetsuits
– Tops
– Shorty Johns - Awesome set of beach gear
– Towels
– Beach Umbrellas
– Beach Chairs
DEUS EX MACHINA
God from the machine
Main Focus: Custom motorcycles, Custom bicycles, Wetsuit tops, Custom-made surfboards, Cafe shops, Records
Deus surfboard shapers: Mason Dyer, Mike Minchinton, Forrest Minchinton, Neal Purchase Jr., Joel Fitzgerald, Takuya Yoshikawa, Ryan Burch, Jeff Mccallum, Bob Mctavish, Thomas Bexon, Rich Pavel, Chris Garrett, Ryan Lovelace, Josh Hall, Tyler Warren
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Store Locations
HURLEY
Headquarters – Costa Mesa, California
Type – Subsidiary of Nike
CEO – Bob Hurley
Hurley designs, develops, manufactures, markets, and sells surf apparel and accessories worldwide.
On May 12, 2004, the company was sold to Nike, Inc. for an undisclosed amount.
PRODUCT LINE
- Wetsuits
- Swimwear
- Apparel
- Sportswear
- Bags & backpacks
NIXON
Surf, skate, snow
Headquarters – Encinitas, United States
Main focus – Wristwatches, Accessories, Apparel, Portable Speakers
Currently sold in 80 countries worldwide, Nixon maintains stand-alone retail stores in:
- Berkeley, US
- California, US
- Bondi, Australia
- Melbourne, Australia
- Kuta, Bali
PRODUCT LINE
- Watches – Best Tide Watches
- Bags
- Apparel
OAKLEY
Founder – James Jannard
Headquarters – Foothill Ranch, California
Main Focus – Sunglasses, Clothing, Sports equipment, Accessories
PRODUCT LINE
- Performance sports equipment
- Sunglasses
- Sports visors
- Ski/snowboard goggles
- Watches
- Apparel
- Backpacks
- Shoes
- Optical frames, and much more
O’NEILL
It’s always summer on the inside
Founder – Jack O’Neill
Headquarters – Santa Cruz, California
Main Focus – Surf wetsuits, Apparel
Jack O’Neill is credited to have invented the wetsuit, his son Pat the leash on the surfboard.
PRODUCT LINE
- Apparel – Clothing, shoes
- Swimwear
- Footwear
- Accessories
- Wetsuits – Reactor 2 / Epic / O’Riginal / Hyperfreak / Psycho
Founded in 1973
PATAGONIA
Build the best product, cause no unnecessary harm, use business to inspire and implement solutions to the environmental crisis
Founder – Yvon Chouinard
Main Focus – Producing sustainable gear for silent sports such as climbing, surfing, trail running, skiing, snowboarding, fly fishing, etc.
Product line
- Technical clothing
- Bags, packs, and backpacks
- Gear care items
- Accessories
- Workwear
- Wetsuits
QUIKSILVER
Stay High
Main Focus – Surf & Snow
Quiksilver is an American-Australian retail sporting company, founded in Torquay, Australia, but now based in Huntington Beach, California. It is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of surfwear and other boardsport-related equipment.
Boardriders’ favorite brand. As their logo – A Mountain and a Wave, specializes in the world of free riders. They always have the most relaxed styles and trends.
PRODUCT LINE
- Clothing & accessories
- Boardshorts
- Wetsuits – Quiksilver Syncro / Quiksilver Highline
- Watches
- Sunglasses
- Luggage
- Bags
- Shoes
- Skateboards
RIP CURL
The search
Main Focus – Surf & snow gear, clothing
By far the coolest slogan for a surf brand. Rip Curl specializes in boardshorts, wetsuit, surf gear, and apparel. Every surfer must have or have had some Rip Curl item in their “gear stock”.
Rip Curl is considered a successful member of the “Big Three,” of the surf industry alongside Quiksilver and Billabong.
PRODUCT LINE
- Wetsuits – Rip Curl Omega / Rip Curl Dawn Patrol / Rip Curl BOMB series
- Clothing & accessories
- Sunglasses
- Footwear
- Snow gear
Founded in 1990
ROXY
Main focus – Surf and Snow Product line for Women and Girls
The name Roxy was chosen for the brand because it sounded like a punk band or club. No surprises if you know the girls who are into freeriding, in any sport. Roxy makes cool and individualistic clothing and gear for women and girls. Roxy, as you can probably tell by the logo – is from the sub-division of Quiksilver.
PRODUCT LINE
- Wetsuits
- Clothing
- Accessories
- Sportswear
- Bikinis
- Swimwear
- Luggage
- Watches
- Sunglasses
RVCA
The balance of opposites
- Founders – Pat Tenore and Conan Hayes
- Based in – Costa Mesa, California
- Billabong purchased RVCA in 2010
- Pronounced – REW-KA
Action sports apparel. RVCA sponsors a skateboard and surf team, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu competitors, and prominent MMA fighters.
Because of its art focus, RVCA is also associated with the street graffiti subculture. RVCA is involved with various contemporary art galleries such as KNOWN Gallery.
PRODUCT LINE
- Apparel
- Swimwear
- Accessories
STÜSSY
Founder – Shawn Stussy
Number of locations – 60
Stüssy as a brand was born out of the surf culture in the 80s and early 90s. The story is far too interesting to sum it up in a few sentences, so take a look at their: History Of Stussy page.
VANS
Off the wall
- Founder – Paul Van Doren
- Main Focus – Surf/Snow/Skate+ clothing, fashion, accessories
Vans is an American manufacturer of skateboarding shoes and related apparel, based in Santa Ana, California. Vans also sponsor surf, snowboarding, BMX, and motocross teams. I recommend reading Paul Van Doren’s life story as well, it’s rather interesting!
PRODUCT LINE
- Shoes
- Clothing & accessories
- Bags
- Sunglasses
VISSLA
Creators and Innovators
“Vissla is a brand that represents creative freedom, a forward-thinking philosophy, and a generation of creators and innovators. We embrace the modern do-it-yourself attitude within surf culture, performance surfing, and craftsmanship. We constantly strive to minimize our environmental impact and protect the oceans and waves that raised us. This is a surf-everything and ride-anything mentality.”
Creator – Paul Naude – Ex-Head of Billabong’s US Operations.
Main Focus – Surf gear product line for Men and Boys
PRODUCT LINE
- Wetsuits
- Clothing
- Accessories
- Bags
VOLCOM
“True to This
Let the Kids Ride Free
- CEO: Todd Hymel
- Offices in Western Australia, The Gold Coast, France, and California
- Testing ground: Yallingup, Western Australia
Volcom is a lifestyle brand that designs, markets, and distributes board sports-oriented products. The brand sponsors many talented board sports riders from all around the world.
Main focus: Snow/Skate/Surf/Hike/Golf/MTB/Swim
PRODUCT LINE
- Snow outerwear
- Clothing & accessories
- Bags
- Rashguards/Bikinis/Boardshorts
XCEL WETSUITS
“Xcel’s reputation for exceptional product quality is a clear result of an unwavering dedication to research, development, and design innovation. With tropical to cold-water products for men, women, and youth, the brand stresses performance: maximum stretch and durability, sealed-seam construction, and a fit that feels custom-made every time.”
- Founder – Ed D’Ascol
- Main Focus – Wetsuits for Surfing, diving, freediving, UV protection shirts, paddle, wake, and military wetsuits.
D’Ascoli laid the foundation that would revolutionize the industry and push the cutting edge of material and design development. Xcel has been voted Surf Industry Manufacturer’s Association (SIMA) “Wetsuit of the Year” by its industry peers three times (2007, 2008, 2010, and 2020).
PRODUCT LINE
- Wetsuits
- Clothing
Best Surfboard Brands
ALBUM SURFBOARDS
Founder – Matt Parker
- Surfcraft
- Surf accessories
- Apparel
SURFBOARDS RANGE
- Asymmetrical surfboards
- Fish
- Shortboards
- Hybrid
- Soft tops
ALMOND SURFBOARDS
Founder – David Allee
Almond Surfboards are represented in the USA, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, South Korea, and in the UK.
PRODUCT LINE
- Surfboards
- Fins & Accessories
- Wall Art
- Wetsuits
- Merch
SURFBOARDS
- Longboards
- Shortboards
- Fish
- Hybrid
- Mal
BING SURFBOARDS
Founder – Bing Copeland
PRODUCT LINE
- Surfboards
- Wetsuits
- Apparel
- Fins & Leashes
- Boardbags
- Accessories
SURFBOARDS RANGE
- Shortboards
- Midlength + Eggs
- Longboards
CHANNEL ISLAND SURFBOARDS
Channel Island continues to evolve with the highest standard of surfing
Founders – Al and Terry Merrick
Shaper – Al Merrick
Located in Santa Barbara
Born in New Jersey, The Channel Islands shaper Al Merrick moved with his parents to Florida, and eventually to California. He started surfing by the age of ten and utilized his years of experience to build the channel islands surfboards. Today he has a full line of channel islands surfboards, which are considered as popular as they come. Most of the world’s top surfers utilize Merrick’s boards.
PRODUCT LINE
- Surfboards
- Accessories
SURFBOARDS RANGE
- Shortboards
- Hybrids
- Step down/Groveler
- Step-up
- Grom
CHILLI SURFBOARDS
The founding owner of Chilli Surfboards, Jamie Cheal, did his first top turn on a surfboard at Greenmount on the Gold Coast at the age of 13 and he’s been surfing most days since. Today, Chilli Surfboards are also manufactured and distributed in Japan, North & South America, Europe & Taiwan. Chilli makes a great variety of performance surfboards that are ridden by the best surfers in the world.
SURFBOARDS RANGE:
- Grom
- Groveller
- All Rounder
- Premium Performance
- Step-Up
- Volume +
- Classic
- Custom
DHD SURFBOARDS
Founded by Australian Darren Handley, who had a passion and love for surfing, beginning at the young age of 12. Today DHD surfboards are seen ridden by one of the best surfers in the world. Another pearl from Australia.
Product line
- Surfboards
- Deck Grips
- Fins
- Leg ropes
- Board bags
- Apparel
SURFBOARDS RANGE
- Pro series
- Core series
- Travel series
- EPS Epoxy
- Twin fins
- Custom
Founded in 1981 – Western Australia
FIREWIRE
Founder – Nev Hyman
SURFBOARDS RANGE
- High Performance (+ Slater Designs)
- Performance Hybrids
- Hybrids
- Grom
- Kiteboards
- Longboards
HARBOUR SURFBOARDS
329 Main Street, Seal Beach Calif.
Founder – Rich Harbour.
Main focus: Surfboards & Apparel
By 2020 Harbour Surfboards had manufactured over 32,000 surfboards.
SURFBOARDS RANGE
- Longboards – Cruisers, Classics, Performance
- Mid-Range / Transitional
- Shortboards
- Fish
- Egg
- Customs
HAYDENSHAPES
Founder – by Hayden Cox
Haydenshapes premium surfboards are sold worldwide in 70 countries and are well known for their clean/simple aesthetic design.
Product line
- Surfboards
- Wetsuits
- Fins
- Traction pads
- Leashes
- Books, magazines
- Wax and surfboard cleaning accessories
SURFBOARDS RANGE
- Performance shortboards
- Hybrids
- Step-down
- Step-up
- Fins / tailpads
JS INDUSTRIES
JS Surfboards was started by Australian shaper Jason Stephenson and has grown to become one of the most influential surfboard manufacturers. Jason first surfed when he was at the young age of 5, and shaped his first surfboard at the age of 25. With many years of experience in the surf world, Jason set himself for success when launching JS Industries in Australia.
JS has a great variety of performance boards that are also shaped by many ex-pro surfers.
PRODUCT LINE
- Surfboards
- Fins
- Grips
- Leg ropes
- Apparel
KONA
Kona Surf Co
Shaper – Mike Sciarra
Kona makes really good and affordable surfboards and accessories. There’s a wide variety of nice-looking surfboards and all kinds of types at the best possible value!
PRODUCT LINE
- Surf
- SUP
- Skate
- Apparel
- Custom apparel
- Custom surfboards
SURFBOARDS RANGE
- Longboards
- Shortboards
- Hybrids
- Fish surfboards
- Midlength
- Grovelers
- Groms
- Softboards
- Bodyboards
LOST SURFBOARDS
Mayhem
Shaper – Matt “Mayhem” Biolos
Main Focus – Shortboards
Lost Surfboards is the largest manufacturer of surfboards in the United States.
The company’s story is rather interesting as they’ve specialized in one certain niche while having the best board riding background. Read more from Wikipedia
SURFBOARDS RANGE
- Performance shortboard
- Fish
- Gun
- Mid-lengths
NSP
New Surf Project
Aesthetic value with durability and utility are the main keywords describing the NSP surfboards.
NSP stands for New Surf Project and this surfboard company has experienced rapid growth from their earlier years to what they are today as one of the leading shapers of high-quality epoxy surfboards in North America today. The NSP surfboard brand has also come to be synonymous with surfing schools and instructors as they go to beginner surfboard brands.
Product line
- Surfboards
- Accessories
- Apparel
SURFBOARDS RANGE
- Longboards
- Hybrids
- Fish
- Funboards
- SUP
- Race
- Airwing
- Foil
- Grom
- Shortboards
ODYSEA SURFBOARDS
A.k.a Catch Surf is a new kid on the block who has taken the market by storm. The brand has released a bunch of soft-top surfboards for the fun-loving surfers out there.
SURFBOARDS RANGE
- Beater boards
- Soft Top – Hybrids, Fish, Mal, Longboard, Shortboard
PYZEL SURFBOARDS
Head Shaper: Jon Pyzel
Main focus: Surfboards
Factories in North Shore and Oceanside, California
Pyzel surfboards have licensees available in 7 countries: Australia, Europe, Brazil, Japan, Indonesia, South America, and California. Pyzel sponsors a ton of professional surfers.
SURFBOARDS RANGE
- High Performance
- Daily Drivers
- Fun
- Performance
- Guns
- Grom
- Custom
PUKAS
Surf Eskola
Pukas is a family-run company that is known in the surf industry for making high-performance surfboards and custom bikinis.
Product line
- Custom performance shortboards
- Bikinis
SURFBOARDS RANGE
- Easy performance
- High performance
- Barrels & Good Waves
- Big Wave – Guns
- Mid-lengths
- Longboards
- Kids
- Softboards
RUSTY
We give a nod to those who came before us, who laid the groundwork 35 years ago for our fundamental being. To chase the fire, to push the limits to the brink of chaos, to come out challenged and victorious
#ourkind”
Founder – Rusty Preisendorfer
Shapers – Rusty Preisendorfer, Mike Russo, Rick Hamon, Hoy Runnel, Pedro Battaglin
Main focus – Surfboards, Apparel, Accessories
Rusty is an alternative surf lifestyle brand that draws inspiration directly from indie music, contemporary art & cutting-edge fashion. The surf brand is also known to sponsors many pros, amateurs, and many more like-minded surfers.
SURFBOARDS RANGE
- Performance shortboards
- Hybrid / Funboards
- Step-up surfboards
- Step-down surfboards
ROBERTS SURFBOARDS
Shaper Robert Weiner
Robert Weiner of Roberts Surfboards has been awarded the “Shaper of the Year” for 2011 by Surfing Magazine.
SURFBOARDS RANGE
- High-performance shortboards
- Step-ups
- Guns
- Shortboards
- All-rounders
- InBetweeners
- Diamonds & Derivatives
- Grovelers
- Modern Classics
SHARPEYE SURFBOARDS
Founder – Marcio Zouvi
Main focus: Performance Shortboards
SURFBOARDS RANGE
- Pro
- Shortboards
- Fish & Small wave
- Hybrid
- Step-ups
STEWART SURFBOARDS
Founder – Bill Stewart
MAIN FOCUS
- Surfboards
- Accessories – Fins, bags, pads, leashes, etc.
- Wetsuits
- Apparel
SURFBOARDS RANGE
- Shortboards
- Longboards
- Midlengths
- Custom
- Surftech
TORQ SURFBOARDS
Torq manufacturers a range of innovative Epoxy Surfboards, some of the most known technologies being used:
ACT – Advanced Composite Technology
TEC – Torq Epoxy Composite
X-Lite
TET – Torq Epoxy Technology
Soft Deck
SURFBOARDS RANGE
- Shortboard
- Fish
- Funboard
- Midlength
- Longboard
Best Technical Surf Gear Brands
CREATURES OF LEISURE
Creatures of Leisure makes a wide range of surfing gear. Quite many figures as brand ambassadors to trust the brand:
Creatures Of Leisure sponsors the following athletes: MICK FANNING, GRIFFIN COLAPINTO, STEPHANIE GILMORE, JACK FREESTONE, ETHAN EWING, JOAN DURU, MITCH COLEBORN, NAT YOUNG, FINN MCGILL
PRODUCT LINE
- Auto accessories
- Leashes
- Fins
- Grom range
- Traction pads
- Earplugs
- Surfboard covers
- Bodyboards
- Surf essentials, and much more.
DAKINE
- Founder – Rob Kaplan
- Based in – Hood River, Oregon
- Main focus – Surf/Snow/Wind/Bike
American outdoor clothing company specializing in sportswear and sports equipment for alternative sports. Dakine also sponsors athletes from the lifestyle and sporting fields of skiing, biking, windsurfing, kiting, snowboarding, surfing, and skateboarding.
PRODUCT LINE
- Bags & Luggage
- Surfboard accessories
- Travel accessories
- Racks
- Apparel
FCS
Main Focus: Sporting equipment & FINS
PRODUCT LINE
FINS & Finbox range for
- Surf
- Longboard
- Kite
- SUP
Other products:
- Leashes
- Covers
- Traction pads
- Bags & packs
- Auto accessories
- Travel accessories
- Accessories
FUTURES FINS
Main focus: Surfboard fins, Fin boxes, Traction pads, Shaper tools, Apparel, Accessories
FINS SELECTION:
- Single
- Twin
- 2 + 1
- Thruster
- Quad
- Quad rear
- 5 Fin
- Big wave
- PAddle
Best Surf Shops
JACK’S SURFBOARDS
Founder – Jack Hokanson
“Across from the Huntington Beach Pier”
Surf / Skate store. Men’s, Women’s, Youth’s, Kids’ gear
SHOP SELECTION:
- Apparel
- Wetsuits
- Accessories
- Surfboards
- Sun Protection
Founded in 1959, Ship Bottom, New Jersey
RON JON SURF SHOP
Founder – Ron DiMenna
Specializes in surfing & bodyboarding + surf & skatewear and gear. Everything for men, women, youth, and kids’.
Ron Jon’s Surf Shop in Cocoa Beach, Florida Surf Shop is currently the world’s largest surf shop!
IN-STORE
- Surfboards
- Apparel
- Accessories
Best Surf Companies
Billabong, Catch Surf, Channel Island Surfboards, Chilli Surfboards, Creatures Of Leisure, Deus, Dakine, DHD Surfboards, FCS Futures Fins, Firewire Surfboards, Haydenshapes Surfboards, Hurley, JS Industries Surfboards, KONA, LOST Surfboards, NSP Surfboards, Nixon, Oakley, O‘Neil,l Patagonia, Pyzel Surfboards, Pukas Surfboards Quiksilver, Rip Curl, Roberts Surfboards Roxy, Rusty, RVCA, Stüssy, VANS, VISSLA, Volcom, XCEL.
HISTORY TIMELINE
1952 – O’Neill
1957 – Jack’s
1959 – Bing, Harbour, Ron Jon
1966 – Vans
1969 – Quiksilver, Rip Curl, Channel Islands
1970s – Kona
1973 – Billabong, Patagonia
1975 – Oakley
1978 – Steward,
1979 – Hurley, Dakine
1980 – Stüssy
1981 – Firewire
1982 – Xcel
1984 – DHD,
1985 – Lost, Rusty
1987 – Creatures of Leisure
1990 – Roxy
1991 – Volcom
1992 – Sharpeye
1994 – Roberts
1995 – Chilli, Pyzel, FCS
1996 – Futures
1973 – Pukas
1997 – Nixon, Haydenshapes
1999 – RVCA, JS
2001 – Album, NSP
2006 – Deux Ex Machina
2007 – Catch Surf, Almond
2012 – Torq
2013 – Vissla
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About the author
Ermo Joeleht
I created Nulltuul to share my experience, knowledge, and analysis with other surf enthusiasts out there. If I'm not surfing on my travels, I like to photograph waves, surfers, and the surf lifestyle in general.