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.
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Accessories are where surf shops make their margin, and most of what is on the wall you do not need. This is the short list of things that are cheap, small and actually used.
TL;DR: Buy wax for the water temperature at your destination, a wax comb, a mineral sunscreen stick and a tube of UV-cure ding repair. That is the whole kit.
Wax is graded by water temperature. Cold-water wax is soft and sticky. Tropical wax is hard so it does not melt off the deck. Use cold wax in Bali and it turns to grease. Use tropical wax in Portugal and it feels like a candle.
Sold by water temperature: tropical, warm, cool and cold. Buy the one that matches where you are going, not where you live.
Numbered from soft cold-water formulas to hard tropical ones, so it is easy to grab the right bar.
| Product | Best for | Type | Use | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surf wax comb with scraper edge | Cheapest useful accessory | Comb and scraper | Every wax job | View on Amazon |
| Solarez UV-Cure Epoxy Ding Repair | Quick ding fix | UV-cure resin | Small dings and cracks | View on Amazon |
| Sun Bum Mineral SPF 50 Face Stick | Sun protection that stays on | Mineral sunscreen stick | Face, ears, back of hands | View on Amazon |
| Hooded surf changing poncho | Car-park changing | Towelling poncho | Changing and drying | View on Amazon |
How we picked: we compared construction, sizing range, availability and long-term owner feedback. We have not tested these side by side, so treat this as a researched shortlist rather than a lab ranking. Model names and specs change each season, so check the current listing before you buy.
Roughs up old slick wax in seconds and scrapes it off when the board needs a fresh coat.
Cures in sunlight in a few minutes. Get the epoxy version, which is safe on EPS and epoxy boards as well as fibreglass.
Water getting into a ding is what kills boards. A small tube of UV resin lets you seal a crack on the beach and keep surfing the same day.
A zinc-based stick is easier to apply on the beach and holds up better in the water than regular lotion.
You will be in direct sun with reflection off the water for hours. Regular lotion washes off in the first twenty minutes. Zinc does not.
A towel you can change under. Not essential, but it makes cold, windy car parks much less miserable.
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Wax is cheap and sold everywhere surfers go, including around camps like Canggu Surf Villa, so do not waste luggage space on a year's supply. Check the destination packing lists for Bali, Portugal and Morocco, and make sure your leash is in good shape before you fly.
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Maya Torres
Founder & Surf Travel Editor
Maya has surfed in 34 countries over 15 years, reviewed 60+ surf camps in person, and now leads the Surfstore.com editorial team. Her mission: zero bad surf trips.
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