Soft Top vs. Hard Board: Which Surfboard Is Right for You?

Choosing between a soft top and a hard surfboard can feel like a bigger decision than it needs to be. The truth is, both have a place in surfing. The right choice depends less on whether one construction is “better” and more on who is riding it, where they are in their progression, and what they want out of a session.

For kids and newer surfers, a soft top is usually the best place to start. For intermediate and advanced surfers, a hard board opens up more performance and responsiveness—but that doesn't mean you should get rid of the soft top.

At Degree 33 Surfboards, we make both. Our goal is to give surfers the right tool for the way they actually surf.

Soft Tops: The Best Starting Point for Kids and Beginners

If you're teaching a child to surf or you're catching your first real waves, a soft top is hard to beat.

Beginners are going to fall. A lot. That's part of learning to surf. A soft deck gives beginners a more forgiving surface when they are figuring out their pop-up, balance, positioning, and wave selection. It can also make the early stages of learning feel less intimidating.

For kids especially, a soft top is an excellent choice. They are still developing coordination and board control, and a softer deck provides a more forgiving learning environment. It is also a practical option for families who know the board is going to see plenty of use on the beach, in the car, and in the water.

But there is an important distinction between a basic foam board and a high-quality hybrid soft top.

Not All Soft Tops Ride the Same

Traditional foam boards are great for learning, but many surfers eventually outgrow the way they handle. They can feel bulky, have thick rails, and offer limited performance once a surfer starts trying to turn harder and surf more critically.

That's where the Degree 33 Hybrid EpoxySoft construction comes in.

The EpoxySoft combines a fiberglass-and-epoxy surfboard construction with a soft EVA foam deck. The result is a board that keeps many of the benefits of a soft top while riding much more like a conventional surfboard. Degree 33 describes the construction as having a rigid bottom, fully shaped rails, and a fiberglass surfboard construction beneath the soft deck.

In other words, you aren't simply riding a giant foam board.

You get:

• A soft, grippy deck

• No wax required

• A rigid epoxy bottom

• Shaped rails for better turning

• A durable construction

• A more traditional surfboard feel

• A board that can continue to be useful as you improve

That makes the Hybrid EpoxySoft especially interesting for surfers who want a beginner-friendly board without feeling like they're buying something they'll immediately have to replace.

Why Beginners Should Consider a Degree 33 Hybrid Soft Top

The biggest mistake a beginner can make is choosing a board that is too small or too performance-oriented too early.

Surfing is difficult enough without fighting your equipment.

A beginner needs a board that makes it easier to paddle, catch waves, stand up, and maintain stability. A larger soft top gives you more forgiveness while you're developing those skills.

Degree 33's Hybrid EpoxySoft lineup includes options ranging from longboards to funboards and other shapes, including the Ultimate Longboard and Poacher Funboard.

For a beginner, the goal shouldn't be to impress anyone with the board under your arm.

The goal is to catch waves and have fun.

And catching more waves is one of the fastest ways to improve.

Soft Tops Aren't Just for Beginners

Here's where the soft-top conversation gets interesting.

Once you've been surfing for a while, there is no rule saying you have to graduate from a soft top and never touch one again.

In fact, intermediate and advanced surfers should consider keeping one in their quiver.

Why?

Because sometimes surfing isn't about chasing your best turn of the year. Sometimes you just want to go surfing.

Maybe the waves are small and weak. Maybe you're surfing with friends. Maybe you're taking your kids out. Maybe the lineup is crowded. Maybe you want to mess around, try different lines, catch everything that comes your way, and not worry about every little ding.

That's where a durable soft top can be one of the most fun boards in your garage.

The “Mess Around” Board

Every surfer should have a board that reminds them why surfing is fun.

A Hybrid EpoxySoft can fill that role.

You don't have to wax it. You don't have to treat it like a fragile piece of glass. You can take it out on a smaller day and look for waves you might normally paddle past. You can share it with friends. You can take it on a family surf trip.

And when you fall, bump the board, or accidentally land on the deck, you don't have to immediately start thinking about repair costs.

Degree 33 specifically highlights the durability, travel-friendly construction, no-wax deck, and versatility of its Hybrid EpoxySoft boards.

For an experienced surfer, that combination can be incredibly freeing.

Sometimes the most fun board isn't the one you're trying to surf the best. It's the one that lets you stop taking surfing so seriously.

Hard Boards: When You're Ready for More Performance

For intermediate to advanced surfers, hard boards are where the performance conversation really opens up.

A traditional hard surfboard gives you a more direct connection between your feet, the rail, and the wave. As your surfing develops, you begin to notice smaller differences in rocker, rails, outline, bottom contours, fins, and construction.

That's when choosing the right hard board becomes much more important.

An intermediate surfer may be ready to move from a large beginner soft top into a hard midlength or funboard. A more advanced surfer may want a fish, groveler, performance shortboard, or high-performance longboard depending on the conditions and style of surfing they enjoy.

Degree 33 offers hard-board constructions including Premium Epoxy and Traditional Poly, along with a broad range of longboards, midlengths, fishes, grovelers, and shortboards.

Why Intermediate Surfers Might Make the Switch

Once you're consistently catching unbroken waves, controlling your takeoff, trimming down the line, and beginning to turn, a hard board can help you continue progressing.

A hard board gives you more precise feedback from the wave.

You can begin working on:

• More precise rail-to-rail surfing

• Bottom turns

• Cutbacks

• Pocket surfing

• Generating speed

• More controlled turns

• Surfing steeper sections of the wave

This doesn't mean that every intermediate surfer should immediately jump onto a shortboard.

In fact, that can be one of the easiest ways to make surfing frustrating again.

The better progression is usually to choose a hard board that matches your current ability and the waves you actually surf.

For many surfers, that means starting with a midlength or funboard before eventually moving toward a smaller, more performance-oriented shape. Degree 33's Poacher, Easy Rider, Over Easy, and Speed Egg are examples of the company's midlength and hybrid designs aimed at making the transition easier while maintaining maneuverability.

So, Which One Should You Buy?

Here's the simple version.

Kids

Start with a soft top.

A soft top gives young surfers a forgiving platform while they learn balance, paddling, pop-ups, and wave awareness.

Beginners

Start with a soft top, especially one with enough length and volume to make catching waves easier.

If you want something that can remain useful as you progress, consider a Degree 33 Hybrid EpoxySoft rather than treating your first board as disposable learning equipment.

Intermediate Surfers

Start looking seriously at hard boards, but don't feel like you need to go small immediately.

A midlength, funboard, or other stable hard board can provide more performance while still giving you plenty of paddle power and wave-catching ability.

And keep a soft top around for the right days.

Advanced Surfers

Your primary boards will probably be hard boards designed around your preferred style and conditions.

But keep a soft top in the quiver.

You'll find plenty of days when the board you want is the one you can throw in the car, paddle out without waxing, catch a ton of waves, and have fun on without worrying about every ding.

The Bottom Line

Soft tops and hard boards aren't really competing categories. They're different tools.

For kids and beginners, soft tops make learning more approachable and forgiving. For intermediate and advanced surfers, hard boards provide the responsiveness and performance needed to continue progressing.

But there is also a middle ground.

Degree 33 Hybrid EpoxySoft boards bring together the convenience and durability of a soft top with many of the ride characteristics of a traditional epoxy surfboard. The soft EVA deck, rigid bottom, shaped rails, and no-wax design make them a particularly versatile option for newer surfers and experienced surfers who simply want more fun out of smaller or less serious sessions.

So don't think of it as soft top vs. hard board.

Think about what you want to do in the water.

If you're learning, get the board that helps you catch waves.

If you're progressing, get the board that helps you surf better.

And if you've been surfing for years, keep a board in your quiver that lets you forget about all of that and just have fun.

Sometimes, that's the best board of all.