The Journal
Guides & Articles
First-hand destination guides, honest camp reviews and the practical skills that make trips better.
Best Beginner Surfboards 2026: Soft-Tops Worth Buying
The right first board is big, soft and boring. Here are the soft-tops worth your money, what size to get, and when to move to a hard board.
November 15, 2026
Best Wetsuits for Beginners & Intermediate Surfers (With Thickness Guide)
Five wetsuits that make sense for your first few years of surfing, plus a thickness chart so you buy the right one for the water you will actually surf.
November 15, 2026
Best Surfboard Leashes: Straight vs Coiled, and What Length to Buy
A leash is cheap and it is the only thing connecting you to your board. Here is which type to buy, what length you need and when to replace it.
November 15, 2026
Best Surf Wax & Accessories: The Small Stuff That Matters
Wax, a comb, sun protection and a ding repair kit. A short list of cheap accessories that make a real difference, and the ones you can skip.
November 15, 2026
What Surf Gear to Pack for Portugal
Portugal's water is colder than its weather suggests. Here is exactly what to pack by season, what your camp will provide and what to leave at home.
November 15, 2026
What Surf Gear to Pack for Bali
No wetsuit, but plenty of sun and reef. A realistic packing list for a Bali surf trip, including what is cheaper to buy when you land.
November 15, 2026
What Surf Gear to Pack for Morocco
Warm days, cool water and rocky point breaks. What to pack for Taghazout and Imsouane, and what to wear out of the water.
November 15, 2026
Beginner Surf Setup Checklist: Board, Wetsuit, Leash, Wax & Extras
Everything a new surfer needs in one list, in the order you should buy it, with a clear line between essential and nice to have.
November 15, 2026
Best Rash Guards and Water Shoes for Surfing
For warm-water trips a rash guard replaces the wetsuit, and reef booties save your feet. Here are the ones worth packing and how to choose between them.
November 15, 2026
How to Choose Your First Surfboard: Volume, Size, Soft-Top vs Hard
Volume, length, width and construction explained in plain language, so you can walk into a shop knowing exactly what to ask for.
November 15, 2026
Surfing in Portugal: The Complete 2026 Guide
Everything you need to plan a surf trip to Portugal — the best towns, seasons, costs and camps, from Ericeira's World Surfing Reserve to the winter sun of the Algarve.
June 9, 2026
The 5 Best Surf Camps in Bali (Tested & Reviewed for 2026)
We spent six weeks testing Bali's most popular surf camps. Here are the ones actually worth your money in 2026 — for beginners, intermediates and reef-break chargers.
June 6, 2026
How to Pop Up on a Surfboard: The Technique That Actually Works
Master the pop up in a weekend with this step-by-step breakdown used by surf coaches worldwide — including the 3 mistakes that keep most beginners stuck.
June 3, 2026
Wetsuit Thickness Guide: What to Wear in Every Water Temperature
3/2 or 4/3? Booties or not? This no-nonsense wetsuit thickness chart matches every water temperature to the right rubber, plus fit tips that matter more than brand.
May 31, 2026
Surf Fitness: 10 Exercises That Transform Your Paddling Power
Paddle fitness is the #1 limiter for travelling surfers. This 25-minute routine — used by surf coaches before bootcamp weeks — fixes it in four weeks.
May 28, 2026
Morocco Surf Guide: Taghazout, Imsouane & the Right-Hand Point Paradise
Mint tea, €30-a-day budgets and right-hand points that peel for hundreds of metres. Here's how to plan a Morocco surf trip, from Anchor Point to Imsouane's Magic Bay.
May 25, 2026