As their name suggests, the biggest feature of a soft top board is the soft material covering the rails and deck of the board. These boards are typically made from a type of EPS foam that doesn’t need to have a resin glass over it to be watertight and buoyant. Foamies have resurfaced with growing demand in recent years and there are now many companies that only build soft-top surfboards like Catch Surf, Wave Bandit and Softech
Soft tops are generally cheaper than their fiberglass counterparts. Since they have a soft outer shell, they are less likely to ding or crack when hit with objects like your elbow or the sand.
Soft-top surfboards are easier to learn on than fiberglass boards. Since they are often thicker, they float a lot more than fiberglass boards which makes the board more stable. More flotation and stability mean you’ll have an easier time standing up and surfing on one of these!
Not only are soft tops great for learning, but they are usually safer than fiberglass boards. Fiberglass boards can be hard and can have sharp edges, especially fins. Soft tops usually have flexible fins along with rounded rails and a soft deck all around. This makes the board less likely to lead to injury if you fall on it or if it hits you in the white water.
