Best surfboards for big waves

Overhead surf punishes a board that cannot hold its line. These surfboards are rated for overhead waves and bigger, where length, rail and a pulled-in tail matter most.

Every board family is in the running here — shortboards, fish, grovelers, mid-lengths, longboards, step-ups and guns.

Top 20 of 150 qualifying models

  1. 1
    Buzz Gun by Stretch Boards

    Buzz Gun

    Stretch Boards

    Gun

    Wave sizeOverhead → Double-overhead+
  2. 2
    Carrera by Chris Christenson

    Carrera

    Chris Christenson

    Gun

    Wave sizeOverhead → Double-overhead+
    SkillAdvanced → Expert
  3. 3
    Channel Bottom Twin by Night Train Surfboards

    Channel Bottom Twin

    Night Train Surfboards

    Twin

    Wave sizeOverhead → Double-overhead+
  4. 4
    Cheater 5 Gun by Rawson Surfboards

    Cheater 5 Gun

    Rawson Surfboards

    Gun

    Wave sizeOverhead → Double-overhead+
  5. 5
    CI Pro Step Up by Channel Islands Surfboards

    CI Pro Step Up

    Channel Islands Surfboards

    Step up

    Wave sizeOverhead → Double-overhead+
  6. 6
    Classic Gun by Rawson Surfboards

    Classic Gun

    Rawson Surfboards

    Gun

    Wave sizeOverhead → Double-overhead+
    SkillAdvanced
  7. 7
    Comp Gun by Stretch Boards

    Comp Gun

    Stretch Boards

    Gun

    Wave sizeOverhead → Double-overhead+
    Wave powerHollow / powerful
  8. 8
    Crotalus by Chris Christenson

    Crotalus

    Chris Christenson

    Shortboard

    Wave sizeOverhead → Double-overhead+
  9. 9
    Crt by Sauritch Surfboards

    Crt

    Sauritch Surfboards

    Wave sizeOverhead → Double-overhead+
    Wave powerPunchy
  10. 10
    Design by Maurice Cole Surfboards

    Design

    Maurice Cole Surfboards

    Wave sizeOverhead → Double-overhead+
  11. 11
    Double Up by …Lost Surfboards

    Double Up

    …Lost Surfboards

    Wave sizeOverhead → Double-overhead+
    Wave powerHollow / powerful
  12. 12
    Dragon Slayer Step-Up by T&C Surf Designs (Town & Country Surf)

    Dragon Slayer Step-Up

    T&C Surf Designs (Town & Country Surf)

    Step up

    Wave sizeOverhead → Double-overhead+
  13. 13
    Edge Board by Furrow Surf Craft

    Edge Board

    Furrow Surf Craft

    Wave sizeOverhead → Double-overhead+
  14. 14
    Fang by Misfit Shapes

    Fang

    Misfit Shapes

    Wave sizeOverhead → Double-overhead+
    Wave powerHollow / powerful
  15. 15
    Future Form by Jim Banks Surfboards

    Future Form

    Jim Banks Surfboards

    Wave sizeOverhead → Double-overhead+
  16. 16
    G-Money II XL by Jeff “Doc” Lausch

    G-Money II XL

    Jeff “Doc” Lausch

    Gun

    Wave sizeOverhead → Double-overhead+
    Wave powerSoft → Hollow / powerful
  17. 17
    Goldie by Channel Islands Surfboards

    Goldie

    Channel Islands Surfboards

    Wave sizeOverhead → Double-overhead+
    Wave powerHollow / powerful
  18. 18
    Gun by Misfit Shapes

    Gun

    Misfit Shapes

    Gun

    Wave sizeOverhead → Double-overhead+
  19. 19
    Gun by Tyler Warren

    Gun

    Tyler Warren

    Longboard

    Wave sizeOverhead → Double-overhead+
    SkillAdvanced
  20. 20
    Happy Traveler by Channel Islands Surfboards

    Happy Traveler

    Channel Islands Surfboards

    Wave sizeOverhead → Double-overhead+
    Wave powerHollow / powerful

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