One of the biggest questions I get is what's the difference between epoxy, fiberglass, and this NexGen I've been hearing about? In this post I'm gonna go through what the pros and cons to all them are so you can hopefully make a better educated decision.
Your traditional fiberglass construction (also referred to as classic or PU or poly or glass) is the classic construction of the surf industry. It's what boards have been made out of for the last 60+ years. PU construction starts with a polyurethane foam blank and a wood stringer. These boards are then traditionally shaped by hand and wrapped in fiberglass and polyester resin.
Epoxy boards, although they may appear to be new to the surf industry, have been around for quite a while. It has only become mainstream recently as the foam/glass/resin combo has been perfected. Epoxy boards will typically start with an Expanded Poly Styrene (EPS) foam blank with a PVC foam stringer. These boards are usually shaped by either a machine or by hand. (We choose to have all ours shaped by hand. It keeps people employed, and the art of surfboard shaping alive. Nothing quite like hand built if you know what I mean.) The board is then wrapped in fiberglass and covered in epoxy resin.
NexGen is an exclusive here at Degree33 that we are pretty proud of. It has the benefits of poly and epoxy without most the drawbacks. It really is the Next Generation in epoxy construction. NexGen starts like most epoxy surfboards with an EPS foam core. However, with our shorter boards (typically under 7'6"), you will notice that they're stringerless. This keeps the weight down and is unnecessary on the shorter stuff due to the strength of the resin. On the longer boards, they will have a wood stringer like the poly boards do. The other main difference is with the glass and resin. The resin is an epoxy resin but its strength to flexibility properties are drastically improved. This allows us to use much less fiberglass than other epoxies (see the benefit below).
Here's the bottom line, it ultimately comes down to your personal preference. Around the warehouse we like NexGen and Poly. One of the things that is really attractive about our fiberglass boards is that they're all built right here in San Diego, and personally hand shaped by Bill. This is a major bonus to have a master like him be the hands behind your craft. All our epoxies and NexGen's are still designed by Bill, but he doesn't shape them personally. All constructions have their pros and cons though. Really it's just your call.
Nexgen sounds good, but what is its construction? I’m a shaper/glasser for myself and i got a little curious when i heard nexgen and epoxy being thrown around. if i am reading this right, nexgen boards are made from eps, fiberglass, and epoxy resin. are the epoxies you are referring to are the tuflite type that has the blank glassed then wrapped with divinycell and then glassed again.
since i shape/glass epoxy too i was wondering if any of your boards use closed cell eps, the water resistant kind. i made a longboard with poly-like flex and the ding resistance and lightness of an epoxy. it also hasn’t yellowed in the hot hawaiian sun.
i would really like to know what makes nexgen, nexgen.
Surfing off Oregon coast…Crazy waves..any suggestions
I would agree that when you come out with the next gen long boards I think that will make a big difference in surfing for everyone.
I know there are many surfers who choose short boards but the older generation and some younger ones still love the long boards. I personally like my 8.5 board and it works great for me.
I’m 57 years old and still surf in Hawaii when I go to visit family.
When I was 16 years old I took 3rd place in a Maui competition and could surf very well so I know the tricks we do on our surfboards and know my boards each one off us needs to be comfortable with what we ride. Aloha! Clyde
This was a very good blog. I liked how you broke everything down. Starting off with the type of boards and then the pros and cons of each. It was very well written.
Never used NexGen, EPOXY all the way. I would like to try the newist edition.
NexGeneration (Go for it! Check it out!)
Basically, if your like me and have to pay for your boards! your obviously going to want something that will last and also is durable! No matter what level of surfing your on! Right? Yes. Ok good me too! You should Go for the NexGen material (Degree33)boards! Im not telling you what to do, but i bet you will be satisfied! This NexGen material there talking about is awsome!
Nobody wants dings or pressure marks on there boards, Its a bummer! almost like putting a dent in your own car! I dont know everything, and Im not a surfboard material genius! but im not stupid either!Ha. I have ridin a few boards my time, so I do know what I want! An after trying out some of my friends boards that were made from materials that were similar, actually pretty much the same as the NexGen material(Degree33) type boards, I felt I could relate to the NexGen type material.
It was NICE!! finally! i got to use a board that had some good smooth durablility to it! And now knowing that the NexGen stuff is even better!! Wooh Ya!! This means that the NexGen will produce an even more durable better riding longer lasting board!! Sweet! I know!
So thats why I signed up for there free surfboard give away! I wish I had the money right now! but you never know!
You all should sign up! you might as well try! whats it gona hurt? all its gona do is promote the company!
Do It!!!
Right now all i’ve ever tried was a fiberglass board. I am fairly new at surfing, and have tried both a fish and a longboard, with the fish I just ate it over and over again, haha (due to my lack of skills) but the longboard I was able to ride the wave for quite awhile, just straight towards the beach, still have yet to learn how to turn. But I met a fellow surfer who offered to let me try their epoxy board, it felt much more durable. I get nervous every now and then when I get slammed by a wave, hoping to pop up and not find the board broken in two. Trying this persons board I didn’t have that fear at all. I am curious to see what a combination of the two would be like. I will have to save up and try one of your boards. I bought a soft top shortboard for my first board, with no knowledge of what I was doing, and lost about $400. I resold it on ebay, but got slammed with shipping. So I’m still in the market for a new board, the right board, and your company seems to be perfect! I’ll start with a longboard for sure, as i’ve had the most luck on them. Thanks for all the info and emails! I appreciate it, glad to see a company that actually cares about the customer! Hope all is well.
The last board that I had made was a FRY Model A noserider 9’6" (Pasadena, Texas) 2005 and it was an epoxy board – I like the light weight and the ride. I would not be opposed to trying a NexGen in the future – Great article – Bill
Well, Im curious how it will handle in the unpredictable northwest. Its sloppy and choppy alot up here from the random direction winds. Also, is there any difference in bouyancy for the bigger guys???
Ryan,
:) I know there is a few people out there that would like to know exactly what we are doing with NexGen. As you can imagine some of that info is proprietary. But the construction differences between our standard epoxies and our NexGen is-
- Both use an open celled EPS blank (Yes we did try using closed cell, and when we did it on a large scale, we had problems with delams. The closed cells didn’t provide a porous enough surface to adhere to… it surprises me that people even use closed cell foam. Must not be making enough boards to really see the impact with a bunch of them.)
- We use different glass on the boards. Different weights and different qualities.
- The main difference is in the resin. The epoxy resin we use for the NexGen is our secret sauce. :)
Cheers.
Eric,
We can do custom renditions of our shapes. Right now we don’t do all out customs. If there is one of our boards that you like and you want to do something a little different with it then we can do that. Cheers.
I’m a traditionalist. Learn to ride on an old wood board long board in 1972. Would love to find another.
I recently purchased a 7’6" epoxy mini long, and i find the epoxy to be durable-especially since my 2 kids (7 and 5) are trying to learn. The only draw back to epoxy is- it weighs more and it’s very ridgid (no flexibility). The NexGen sounds like a fine board, if I ever get around to buying another board , I’d definitley try one. Thnx for the good info.
Good article, I like the comparisons.
Great site with a lot of great content.My next board will definetely be a NexGen!
Being a Northeast sufer I would really like to see the NexGen as a longboard. How come there has been one made up?
Been surf’n 31 years, my recommendation is have one of each, the surf will let you know which is right.
Nothing wrong with swapping boards when conditions change.
Save yer money, build a quiver
Thanks for the clarification guys/gals. Ive already read this information n your website however its good to be reminded what goes into making your boards!
I like the information in the article. However, I find it hard to believe you sent this to me at 3AM est. Are you a bot Luc?
If you are…then riddle me this LucMan….if you have 4 men in a boat with 4 cigars…and no matches….how do they smoke?
Answer: Who cares….surf is up in NJ
will it float my top heavy body? that is my question regaurding the new foam, sounds like the new glass is the way to go. can’t wait to find out about both.
Sounds like nexGen. Especially with all the stuff that went down in the Foam industry.
I would always choose the board that will last. Great blog
Mike
Definitely NEXGEN. I tried using an epoxy the other day….don’t plan on doing that again…
the nexgen seems really ideal but for feel it seems lik glass is just right
Hey thanks for the info. Enjoy reading.
Jon (and everyone else who keeps axing :) ),
We have NexGen longboards arriving this week. YES! Give us a ring and reserve one. We will only have a few of each to start out with. So hurry if you want one!
Justin,
I don’t know who you are but thanks for helping me talk everyone in to it. Cheers. :)
Dirk,
It sure should. If you want specifics give us a ring at the warehouse and we’ll get your questions answered.
Blink… I’m really here. No bot!
being a person that has not Surfed alot but does enjoy i have used the fiberglass and epoxy boards before, and i really enjoyed the rides of both of them, but the nextgen sounds and looks really cool and it sounds like it is Environmentally Friendly and thats a plus. i look forward in rideing on one of these borads.
This is really helpful. NexGen all the way!
For the last 30 years Iv lived in Jaxs Bch Fl before that V-bch ,SF bay & Oaha Hawaii so from stubbs to Longs but Iv not had the op to go try NexGen I guess 51 is old school ,but this old dog-town loves new trick.SHAKA
Luc, the NexGen looks incredible. Your blog, however, did not address the strength/fragility of NexGen vs Epoxy. Is NexGen as strong?
Thanks for offering an alternative to the 3 phase epoxy “junk” boards that Global Surf Industries sells. Hopefully NexGen will live up to it’s name unlike the WALDEN 3 phase epoxy that buckled in less than a year of having it. It’s hard to know who to trust when buying a new board…..and I appreciate you posting the pros and cons of all the different types of board materials. As soon as I recover from spending $800 on a board that didn’t make it a year after only riding it a couple dozen times then having to spend another $100 to fix the defect…..then I would love to try out a NexGen board. Hopefully I will win one in the contest!!!
Peace!!
Ps. Great info and blog. Very much appreciate your time and effort.
Looking to invest in new longboard for east coast doldrums…would try nextgen.
Dirk- It’s a different strength. If you’re talking about breaking a board in half then yes they are very similar. But the NexGen will pressure dent and ding a little more than the standard epoxy but not nearly as much as a glass board. It’s a juxtaposition between flex/performance and strength.
Great review, id like to know how bamboo holds against traditional methods of shaping, i’ve ridden one for a season and enjoyed it thoroughly, the flex, the weight, the natural feel, one paddle stroke and the nose was in the air, and in my eyes the most eco friendly. Keep rippin!
~Donny
P.S. Just broke my Al Merrick in storm surf, could really use a miracle right now cough cough
I’ve been surfing most of my life and the best boards I have ridden have been epoxy boards- so if it’s really the next best thing then- Nexgen will be my choice!
Thanks for the info…..still sticking with fiberglass, but NEXTGEN may be the next thing I´ll buy…
The nexgen boards sound awesome! I carry a lot of gear in my veahicle that seems to ding up my boards quite often I have not switched to apoxy yet but now I doubt I will. Nexgen here I come.
I just got back to surfing after more than 30 years and I made a 9 6 board that was close to the detentions of my 64 hobie, 3 stringer and all. I succeeded in getting the fell of the board I remembered but having a hard time getting the old body to do its part. I would like to try the new generation of long boards it would be interesting to see the deference.
Has anyone surfed a NexGen longboard yet?
NexGen Ultimate longboards are IN!!! Come and get ’em!
I’ll try out one of the new boards for you if you want and let you know. You can send me a free board to keep and I’ll rip some waves. Email and I’ll give you my info.
Robert,
As you can imagine since NexGen is brand new we don’t have a lot of longevity experience with them yet. I have been riding mine for 3yrs and its as responsive as it was day 1. When you are talking about longevity are you referring to surfing a board until it’s dead? Meaning it still may be water tight and surfable, but there’s no life in it. Or are you talking about durability, meaning until it breaks?
Durability wise it will out last an equivalent glassed PU board. Longevity is another issue. Right now the oldest one out there is 3yrs old, mine, and going strong. Typically the life of a board, depending on how many days a week you surf it, is about 5ish years before is will loose its energy. Based on mine, my gut says they’re going to last about double the time, but only time will tell.
I love surfing as dose anyone who has ever stood up on a wave. I have to say I like the idea of a lighter board. One step closer to standing on the wave.
I purchased my board in 79 Harbor 6’2 and used it for 14 yrs, took a few yrs. Off due to Geographic’s but returned a couple yrs. Ago and just recently snapped it (broke it), I’m looking for a replacement in the 6’2, 6’4 range but durability and maneuverability is a must, I have read here that the NexGen is in the middle of the road for pressure dings but what about longevity how’s it stand up next to the older boards?
Hey Luc,
Sounds like you got a pretty good design. Ever since I heard about it I’ve been itching to get in the water with one. Maybe someday. Haha. I’m a little short on cash right now. I’ll stick with my fiber board til I decide to treat myself.
Peace dude,
Nathan
it depends on where you ride and your style, I know that sounds crazy, but there is a difference
t spears
Hey Holley! We’ve just recently launched our NexGen longboards. :)
glad you sent me this letter i have always wondered what the diff was with all 3 keep up the good work 33
NexGen sounds great! Can’t wait until it comes out on the long boards.
what’s the next big Idea in Surfing?
Classic construction is my VOTE.
the nexgen boards seem better and i think ill go with that
but my only question is
are they as strong as an epoxy board?
What do you think about NexGen in a snowboard?
i would have to say that custom hand built Epoxy boards are the way to go.
classic wood stringers, strong foam- feels best, strong, and responsive.
ride m all, love m all, since 62 I’ve been thru a lot of boards and priveledged to ride some great shapes in outstanding conditions which sits in the memory bank under bliss, imfo on construction is good, I wonder what the conductor prefers? WOOD
YES READING THE EMAIL, INFORMATIVE…THANKS
I’ve ridden a lot of styles and constructions since ’63, but not your NexGen. Living in Lahaina, Maui, we have all conditions, so it is a great place to put it to test. I ride old school longboard, mostly, but also fish, and guns, depending on surf. Looking forward to trying one of your NexGens…
Ok surfing is not the best here in Colorado but for a Cardiff by the Sea boy man I would love to try out a stronger lighter board. I spending New Years back in Cardiff- 7 days yes yes! I used to produce a sports show for Cox called Board With Sports which was a surfing show that had some of the greats back in the early 90’s. Maybe a few turnst will favor me on your board who knows. Not looking to replace the Cardiff kook but I do want to see it. Cheers and god bless the board makers. John.
I ride an 8’6" epoxy funboard. I would def like to try a nexgen just to see the contrast, preferably a fish
Hello, just stopped by doing some research for my North Face website. Can’t believe the amount of information out there. Wasn’t exactly what I was looking for, but good site. Have a great day.
NexGen is an epoxy board. It’s a new generation of epoxy. To answer your question it depends on the epoxy you’re comparing it to. Surftech makes a super strong epoxy board but also stupidly stiff. NexGen won’t be as strong as that but will flex so far better that it doesn’t even compare.
Thanx guys, it is great to get all this pertinent info at just one place. I have contrasted your points and have found you to be definitely sound and straight to the matter.
In my case, I ain´t lucky enough to live close to S.Diego. Still, I am going to be getting your Ultimate 10´ at a bit more than 3 times it´s price (transport and customs to Gran Canaria). Why? because after researching, yours has the best tech around; you guys are probably making the best boards in the world.
So, my advice to all you lucky people that live across the atlantic ocean is: Take advantage of your position and buy more than one.
Luc & Holly, please keep up the good work, you have made a great change in the surfing scenario. Pura Vida!
Great info.
Lets get feedback in one year on the ‘next Gen’ boards and see if they are really as good as they sound.
Looking to buy a 9’6" Next Gen, do they go that long yet?
Andrew- We have all our sizes available in NexGen now. http://www.degree33surfboards.com/surf-gear/surfboards-by-construction/nexgen-epoxy-surfboards/index.html
Hey nexgen sounds like the way to go! but seriously guys, I don’t like surfing anything smaller than 7.5ft, so bring on the longboards! Lets get some 10 footers going.
I think its just a matter of how you like your board. For example if you like to ride long, but you don’t want to deal with weight, i would get a long board with nex gen. But if you really like riding short, but you like control and density, go with glass. It really is all a matter of time before you realize just how you like it :)
Extended UV exposure to ANY construction is bad for the board. Specifically though, I haven’t seen one of our NexGen boards delam yet, but I wouldn’t leave mine laying on the beach. Not worth the risk.
So, will the nexgen boards delaminate in the sun like epoxy ones do?
Gustavo- Of course we can send you a board there. Send you question to our customer service dept and the will help you out. Their email is surf @degree33.com.
HELLO, I answered your questions about were to send the surfboards so you oould give me an aproximated price for the sending costs to LONDON ( Ontario) and Keflavik ( Iceland). I´m from the Canary Isl. have been surfing for more than 30 years now. Pleae answer me to my email because I regularly get emails from you but not the answer I´m still waiting for so I can proceed with the purchase of one of your surfboars. If you are not interested in selling surfboards to the destinations above mentioned please, let me know. THANK YOU.
Kevin- Sure, give the warehouse a call and if they have your size in they can sell you one over the phone. Cheers.
I purchased a Longboard from another Company last October.
Just found your website this January. Wish I had found you first.
You have given me a lot to think about.
Would like to have a T-Shirt with your Logo to add to my collection
do you have them for sale ???
Awesome article! I’ve read TONS of articles and always seemed alittle hazy at the end but this explains alot! Most of my questions are solved. I guess if I dont win that free surfboard, my best bet is to save up the cash for a NexGen :)How much are graphics in addition to the board cost?
@Miguel- The reason we just do clear right now for the NexGen is strictly a inventory management decision. We can do anything that we do with a standard epoxy on a NexGen but it becomes tough when there are so many graphics and constructions to build and carry. If you want something with some style we can certainly do a custom for you. We hope to add more color to the NexGen line in the future. If it trends that NexGen is what most people want we will do it even sooner.
I gotta say your nexgen longborads sounds to be amazing, but why do you just have them in white o transparent, is it not posible to add any cool graphics, i wan´t to give an 8´6 ultimate to my sister but she liked better the ones that have graphics (epoxy) or the one that has some pink flowers.
I know it´s what inside that counts but loving the shell is part of the game too.
@Dono – I’m sorry I wasn’t more on the ball here getting back to you sooner. I believe your daughters boyfriend came and picked up your board today. You went with exactly what I would have recommended, NexGen. So far superior. Here is a lot of good info about NexGen Epoxy.
Luc:
So I’ve ridden a Fish recently coming off a Fun-Shape. Incredible. Simply stated, what’s the better solution for the aging (mid 50’s) surf dog who’s losing some upper-body paddle strength and carrying an extra 20lbs? BTW, I’m not looking for a gym or diet recommendation….Epoxy or NexGen??
It may be less glass but the materials that go into NexGen cost more because they are higher quality. Higher quality glass, and higher quality resin.
Hey Luc, Born and raised on Malibu beach…Celebrating 50 Years of surfing this year…From talking to a lot of old school surfers the fiberglass resin boards still are favored due to the weight and ease of repair. The weight is to an advantage for momentum on and going through the waves usually in bigger surf.I personally like the epoxy boards due to the lightweight and shredding capabilities.I just want to know why does the Nexgen boards cost more if you are using less material? Less glass, less labor,less time usually equals less cost…Educate me so I can understand… Thank You…
Tom,
All great questions. I will make this real simple for you… go with the 9’. You won’t grow out of it. I ride a 9’ Ultimate and I love every wave with it. I am about the same size as you (10lbs heavier is all). As for the shipping, unless you are in CA that’s what it costs us. I know other companies have different shipping rates but they are either loosing money on the shipping or having been able to negotiate rates that we haven’t yet. Believe me, if we could ship it for less we would. Hope that helps. Let us know if we can do anything else for you.
-Luc
P.S. Don’t you dare buy that Bic. It’s a piece of junk. FYI.
I’m a 43-y-o novice surfer, 6’0" 170lbs. I found a great deal on a used custom Robert August “Corky Carroll” 8’0 board. I knew it would be challenging, but it’s way too thin and unstable for me. I’m not afraid to say I’m a novice and need a novice board. But I still don’t want to buy a longer board than necessary. I’m going back and forth between the 9’ and the 8’6" Ultimate, probably Nexgen. You put them in two separate categories, longboard and mini-longboard, but I figure that’s somewhat arbitrary. Do you have any sort of guide or guidelines re: which Ultimate boards are ideal for beginners depending on their height and weight? When I bought the RA 8’0 board, I was looking for something that I could “grow into.” I’m pretty much over that. It would be nice to have some of the maneuverability and progression potential of a shorter board, but the beginner suitability is more important to me. Definitely don’t want to make the same mistake twice. So, what would you recommend?
Also, your board prices seem good, but the shipping cost pretty much negates the value aspect. Does the money actually represent your cost to ship it, and is there no way to ship it for cheaper? I wouldn’t care how long it took. I realize the Ultimate is a significantly nicer board, but it’s hard to ignore the Amazon price for a Bic 8’4" Magnum: $278 shipping included. It almost seems like a mistake, but I’ve seen other surfboards with much cheaper shipping charges. I suppose you could argue that they’re just making more profit on the surfboard itself, but $150 for shipping does seem a bit out of control. Care to explain? Thanks.
If you want to put graphics on the NexGen you would need to go the custom route. To do a custom it’s about $100 more. Cheers. Good luck in the surfboard giveaway.
Dear all, I will be buying my first surfboard, and I’m not sure whether to get a nexgen or an epoxy. Would it be possible to get a nexgen with the patterns of an epoxy or they come just clear??? Thanks you for your help
Had a NexGen RapidFire – Loved it!!! (see Degree33 Google+ page and see me on a triple overhead day on that thing:
https://plus.google.com/113841768196961555455/about?hl=en
I now surf an epoxy Retro Fish in everything. I have done everything I can to destroy it and it is still my go to after two years.
There are many things to take into consideration and being able to say I know what I am doing on a board, I have tons to learn about what is best.
To be honest I think the fragility issue of fiberglass boards is a double edged sword. While they are more prone to stress cracks and dings that will rupture the glass, they also (in my opinion) are much easier to repair than epoxy or nexgen. Fine sanding is easier, also the resin seems to bind to the board much better. Im a little biased too. I prefer a heavier board in the water for (as listed above) the conservation of momentum. I just prefer the way they surf over the others. I know others feel the exact opposite. Go with what feels best. Plus if its windy enough a super light weight board can blow out from under you. Of course if its that windy its probably not that great anyway.
Hey Woody. I wouldn’t man… especially in TX. The surf is so micro there that you will want the extra float the 8’6" will provide. Cheers.
Luc,
I’ve looked at just about all of your stuff (videos, guides, etc.), and am truly impressed. I haven’t tried to surf since High School, and was a total failure. No help, and a crappy board. Your guide recommends what I believe to be an 8.6 for my size (5’6" @ 160#). I’m 54 Y.O., and not in the greatest of shape, but am wondering if you think I would be okay with an 8.0? I’d really like the savings over the 8.6, what with shipping and all. I’m in Texas, and our surf is usually not much, but at times, it can be. Help a brutha out here please. Just need to know if you think I’d be okay with an 8.0.
Thanks
Holly,
You have had the BEST customer service I have EVER experienced. You took the time to explain the different sizes I needed for each person in my family. My son is really excited about getting a CUSTOM NEXGEN VERSION 2 Longboard. My 4 board order was flawless. We can’t wait to hit the waves on our new Ultimate Version 2 boards. Thank you for ALL your help.
I have read all the pros and cons to all the different boards. Pretty sure what i need or should I say would like to get but with the 30 day warranty ride it I think I will wait till next spring to order. But all the info has been a great help for a new comer.
Man I wish I had a next gen!.definitely
on my Christmas list haha
We stock them only in clear.
Comments will be approved before showing up.
DALLAS PFISTER
May 07, 2014
MR. LUC,YOU EXPLAINED THE DIFFERENCE IN FLOATATION BETWEEN THE TRADITIONAL AND EPOXY BUT HOW ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE EPOXY AND NEXGEN. I WAS AN AVID SURFER IN MY EARLIER DAYS . BUT SINCE IVE MOVED FROM SAN CLEM. AND ONLY GET OUT A FEW TIMES A YEAR AND HAVE PUT ON SOME POUNDS. SO IM LOOKING FOR SOMETHING THAT I CAN GO OUT AND CATCH SOME WAVES AND HAVE GOOD TIME WITH LESS EFFORT. I"M NOT GOING TO BE COMPETING ANY TIME SOON.