Surfboard Travel Cover
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Surfboard travel cover, surfboard cover, board cover, board bag, call it what you like, what are they and do you need one.
A surfboard cover; well covers your surfboard (obvious isn't it) and do you need one? Yep.
You’ve spent a small fortune on your board and you don’t want to screw it up by frying it in the sun or dinging it in the back of the Ute.
Do you buy a day bag, a cover for local travel or are you heading off overseas and need something a bit more meaty.
Day Covers:
Day covers are generally made of light material (usually PE woven material) and thin padding (around 3mm), great for sticking your gun in after an early morning session and heading home on the pushy or bus; or for that matter a ute (every Australian surfers dream) if you can afford one.
Generally, they’re low priced surfboard covers and will last around 12 months before the UV starts trashing the bag, but at least it’s better than UV trashing your surfboard.
Another form of day cover is the sock, which is basically a “terry towelling” (bulked acrylic and nylon knitted material) tube with a drawstring and sewn at the nose and then reinforced. No ding protection at all, but at least it'll keep the wax off the back seat.
Light Weight Travel Cover:
These surfboard travel covers are the foot soldiers of board bags, made of nylon, high-density padding and reflective material for high UV protection. (Although some bags are nylon on both sides)
This style of cover usually has around 5mm high density foam sandwiched between a nylon outer lining and a reflective PE outer lining. You'll usually find a padded shoulder strap, a smaller carrying handle and a long zip for easy opening. Internally the cover will have a PE lining and accessory / wax pocket.
Unless you’re heading off OS these should be the cover of choice for travel within Australia.
Wheelies:
These are the mother of all surfboard covers, ideal for international airline travel (Some airlines are starting to ban surfboards!) they come in a number of flavours, double, triple, and mega board covers.
Like a suitcase, wheelie surfboard covers have wheels to help drag your quiver from the south terminal to the north terminal and back again without raising a sweat.
The foam is industrial strength and around 10mm thick; inside the bag, you’ll usually find all the niceties of home, a pocket here, a pocket there.
Although designed for international travel, still make sure to pack as many clothes and wetties around the boards as possible.