So you know you can go surfing, but how do you do it in style?
It can be a daunting experience, especially if you’ve never done it before, so finding the best surf clothing brands can help you look great and make you feel confident.
It makes sense to start planning ahead. You surf, you’re going to need surf clothing. Surf clothing is a really big deal to some!
You may have heard the saying “Every wave is a chance to perfect your craft”. Surfers take that saying seriously and want to look as good as they feel when they’re surfing.
| Name | Category | Product |
|---|---|---|
| Billabong Men's Classic Short Sleeve Premium Logo Graphic T-Shirt | Best Overall |  |
| Volcom Men's Crisp Stone Short Sleeve Tee | Budget Pick |  |
| Oakley Men's Oo9096 Fuel Cell Rectangular Sunglasses | Upgrade Pick |  |
1. Billabong Men's Classic Short Sleeve Premium Logo Graphic T-Shirt
Pros:
- This tee is made of 100% cotton
- This short sleeve shirt is available in black color
- It features a Billabong logo at left breast
- This sport T-shirt is sold in a package of 1
Cons:
- The packaging of this shirt is completely plain and simple
- The color of the sport T-shirt is just black
This Billabong Men's Classic Short Sleeve Premium Logo Graphic T-Shirt is an ideal addition to your collection of sport clothes. The cotton that is incorporated in it makes it highly comfortable and soft to wear. This short sleeve shirt can be worn while jogging, exercising, playing basketball, etc.
2. Oakley Men's Oo9096 Fuel Cell Rectangular Sunglasses
Pros:
- Oakley sunglasses are known for its high quality features and reasonable price.
- It comes with polarized lenses to make it usable under water as well as on land, which will make the sunglasses serve as a good pair for fishing purposes as well.
Oakley has a great reputation for producing high quality sunglasses that will be useful for any activity. The Oakley Fuel Cell is no different.
The design of the glasses makes them lightweight making them light and easy to wear. The frame is also relatively durable.
Although the lenses are made from impact resistant materials, they are not made to completely stop high impact collisions from harming your eyes. Be careful when wearing these sunglasses while taking part in activities that could damage the lenses.
3. Hurley Men's One & Only Textured Short Sleeve Button Up
Pros:
- This shirt will hold up to a lot of wear and tear
- Movement is easy as the material allows for it.
- Amazing quality for the price
- Slightly oversized and very comfortable
- Traditionally fit
- Machine washable
- The button detail on the placket is a really nice detail
- Looks great both casual and a little dressy
- The length is perfect
- Performs really well both in the board and on land
Cons:
- Unisex shirt could be for a slim person
- Available in only one color, grey
The Hurley Men's One and Only textured short sleeve button up is a really great Hawaiian shirt. The fabric is smooth with a great feel and its slightly oversized which makes it great for wearing casual. The material has enough casual style that will work for a lot of different scenarios. It will go from looking great on the beach to under a sweater and a pair of jeans when doing errands.
4. Dakine Stacked Boardshorts
The one-inch side elastic waistband of these Dakine shorts ensures that you have a secure fit. The board short length provides extra coverage and warmth during colder water temperatures. These board shorts are made from a polyester fabric that is fast drying for comfort.
These board shorts feature Triple Threat construction for flexibility and have a loose fit throughout. The 11-inch board short length is comfortable for swimming, surfing, and exercising.
This pair of board shorts for men is made for surfing and swimming. The board short length provides extra warmth and coverage during cold swims. It has a 7-inch inseam with an elastic waistband.
5. Outerknown Apex 2.0 by Kelly Slater Board Short
Pros:
- 100% organic
- Made from recycled plastic bottles
- Sustainable materials
- Eco-friendly creation of goods
- Free Assorted Socks and Mini Skateboard with Purchase
Cons:
- Not all colors available
- Hard to find – only sold via the website
Outerknown is devoted to offering high-end organic apparel for men and women. The Apex 2.0 by Kelly Slater Board Short seems to be their flagship product, designed with eco-friendly materials, made right here in the USA.
Sustainable materials that are free of chemicals, bleach, or heavy metals make these shorts safe for the ocean, the sand, the rocks, and the mountains. These completely recycled shorts are made from bottle cap material that has been upcycled and cleaned up, assuring that you’re diving into some of the most environmentally friendly apparel that you can buy.
Highly versatile, you can wear these in the water, at the beach, at the skate park, on the trail, or just off to the side from the skate park. With the soft hand feel, the board short for men combines versatility with comfort.
6. O'Neill Men's Basic Skins UPF 50+ Short Sleeve Sun Shirt
Pros:
* Affordable
This shirt protects you from harmful ultraviolet rays with its UPF 50+. Though UV rays are usually only around during the hotter times of the year when the temperature is at its peak and when you are most likely going to be out in the sun in which you might spend your days at the beach.
This is the shirt that you would grab to wear over a bathing suit to keep the sun's harmful rays from developing your tan or when you might be out and about and dealing with the intense sun as well as keeping yourself from getting too warm. It’s a basic shirt with 100% polyester flatlock seams.
7. Rip Curl Men's Mirage Core 20" Stretch Performance Board Shorts
Pros:
- Multi-stretch, durable fabric
- Solid colourway
- Above-average fit
Cons:
- Rubber waistband
- Less stylish than some boardshorts
Rip Curl is a well-known retailer of surfing clothing and accessories, and – as we’d expect from one of the top brands – the Mirage Core Men’s Stretch Performance Boardshorts look great and are made from amazing materials.
From the vibrant orange colouring of the waistband to the Rip Curl branding on the front of the boardshort, these shorts look fantastic. The fit is tight enough to look good, without feeling restrictive, and because Rip Curl have opted for a multi-stretch fabric, the boardshorts are comfortable enough for a day of surfing, or when spending time in the surf shop.
The boardshorts fit nicely without feeling too tight or too loose, and there’s an impressive amount of stretch in the fabric which ensures excellent range of motion, and a good level of protection from the sun. The boardshorts also feature a sweet drawstring at the leg hem which you can pull to make the boardshorts even longer than usual.
8. Roxy Women's Bayshore Slip On Shoe
Pros:
- Comfy shoe
- Wider toe box
- Free heel and toe bumper
- Board strikers
- Reliable grip on the board
- High quality, durable shoe
Cons:
- Takes a while to be broken in
- Heavier than competitors
- May feel too stiff for some people
Best Surf Shoe Award goes to this shoe by Roxy. Roxy makes quality stuff, and this slipper doesn’t disappoint.
The padded upper and tongue mean that it can carry you from the beach straight to the bar without blisters. All the comfortable cushioning in the sole means that long days hiking and standing are a breeze.
It weighs virtually the same as a tennis shoe, but offers many more features that will improve your experience.
9. Quiksilver Men's Molokai 3-Point Flip Flop Sandal
Pros:
- Floats like a boat shoe, feels like a flip-flop
- Cool, sexy design
- Good for guys with larger feet
These uber comfy and stylish Molokai flip flops are the ultimate sandal for summer fun. The waxed canvas upper and rubber soles ensure that these sandals are as durable as they are fashionable. As a bonus, they float, so your feet will likely still be where you put them if you accidentally fall asleep in a hammock. Even better, the 3-point straps allow you to adjust the fit for a completely custom feel, making for a truly personal sandal.
10. RVCA Men's Ledge Hoodie
Pros:
- Decent fit and design
- Good quality for an affordable price
- The RVCA Ledge hoodie is stylish and functional for chilling out, working in the yard as well as casual wear
- It will also keep you warm on cool mornings
- The hoodie has a brushed fleece lining inside which is very soft and comfortable
- The hoodie is also functional as the neck can be adjusted snugly
- The hoodie is made from a breathable and water repellent fabric, which is designed to keep you dry even in the most intense rain
Cons:
- You are going to have to be careful as it can shrink in the dryer
- Can shrink
If you are in the market for a trendy and extremely comfortable hoodie then you should look at buying RVCA Ledge hoodie. This comfortable hoodie comes in a great color range and stands out from the crowd. With good care, the RVCA Ledge hoodie will give you years of wear. The hoodie is versatile and can be ha een with or without a shirt as it looks good on its own anyways. One feature that contributes to comfort and function is the wicking material that draws moisture away from the body.
11. Vans Unisex Old Skool Skate Shoe
Pros:
- Great for skateboarding
- Suede upper
Cons:
- Unisex sizing means you have less choice of the size that best fits a specific foot
- Canvas material
The Vans Old Skool Skate shoes are a great design for skateboarders. The uppers are made from suede and the outsole features some great grip for moving the board. I actually wore my first pair of Vans for skateboarding and they lasted me for years!
12. Volcom Men's Crisp Stone Short Sleeve Tee
Pros:
- Affordable
- Lightweight and very breathable
- Quick drying and retains shape well
- Has many cool designs
- Large selection of colors
- Quality customer service
- Comfortable and great fit
- Washes well with no color run
- Will keep you cool in hot weather
- Sleeves are a good length
Cons:
- Runs small
- This tee shirt is not very long
- Gotta love the unique designs
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the best surf brand?
It’s no surprise that surfwear brands are a huge business. A lot of the big name brands spend tons of money each year on advertising. What’s the best surf brand? Curious surfers can choose from a wide variety of premium, mid-range, and budget brands.
Surf brands are often derived from the place of their origin or the popularity of their location. Rip Curl comes from the famous surf location in Australia. Quiksilver is from the most popular surf location in California; many surfers are familiar with the waves of Northern California and the rich history of surfing on the famous Pacific coastline.
There are also apparel and accessories companies which are not necessarily related to surf but they draw on the same iconic, California-inspired beach lifestyle. These companies include Gold star, Billabong, and Volcom.
What is the biggest surf brand?
Billabong is widely considered the biggest surf clothing brand, followed closely by Roxy. Billabong alone owns a wide collection of brands that span from active wear to swimwear. They also have a very large range of apparel for just about anyone with prices for every need and most importantly every occasion.
What surf brands are Australian?
Surf brands in Australia have an intrinsic bond with surf culture. And many have been in production for several decades. The reasons are simple: a love for the sport, a love for making surf clothing and a love for making the best surfing gear in the world. Having so many Australian surf clothing companies all under one roof as well as being the gear sponsor for the Australian surf team really puts the EPIC Surfware headquarters on the map. When it comes to surfing, the EPIC Surfware headquarters is a mecca. Thousands upon thousands of surfboards, wetsuits, surf accessories and over 50 Australian surf clothing brands under one roof.
In Canada, you’ll often hear people say that cold winters and frigid waters mean that Canadians are their own best surfers. Quiksilver may beg to differ. The Quiksilver brand has reached just about every corner of the world.
What clothes do surfers wear?
Surfing is one of the most active sports around. For this reason, surfers tend to either get really fit and toned from doing it or consume hamburgers for every meal. Yet, the clothes they tend to wear aren’t geared for keeping them either one of these things. If you’ve ever seen a surfer, then you’re probably familiar with their attire: brightly colored rash guards, board shorts, and/or a backwards baseball cap.
Surfers love to wear bright and fun colors (like yellow or neon green), and equally bright and fun patterns. But, for many, it’s not just a fashion statement. Surfing is an especially tough sport, and clothing that catches eyes can make the difference between catching a wave or getting swallowed by one.
Conclusion
No longer is surfwear just for the guys or for former international model surfer chicks. Yes, pro surfers still rule the waves and do it effortlessly, but the world of surfwear has exploded and now there’s something for everyone. Whether you’re a casual surfer or an aspiring professional, there is surfwear to meet your needs. Our list contains best rated brands, and we hope that it can help you find the brand that’s right for you.
Our Recommendation
| Name | Category | Product |
|---|---|---|
| Billabong Men's Classic Short Sleeve Premium Logo Graphic T-Shirt | Best Overall | |
| Volcom Men's Crisp Stone Short Sleeve Tee | Budget Pick | |
| Oakley Men's Oo9096 Fuel Cell Rectangular Sunglasses | Upgrade Pick | |