Best Surf Accessories Under $50

Match to water temperature: Cold (below 58°F), Cool (58–68°F), Warm (68–75°F), Tropical (75°F+). Wrong temperature wax either melts off or stays too hard to grip. Brands: Sex Wax, Sticky Bumps, Bubble Gum.

Used to refresh and remove wax. The comb side creates texture in existing wax; the straight edge scrapes wax off cleanly when you want to start fresh. Small, cheap, easy to lose — buy two.

Fiberglass ding repair resin with cloth patch. Fixes small cracks before they let water in and waterlog the board. Not needed for foam boards — foam dings can be left or patched with foam filler.

Protects your board from UV damage (melts wax, fades deck) during car transport. Stretch-fabric socks fit most boards. Buy once and use for years.

Match leash length to board length (9ft board = 9ft leash). Lightweight comp leashes are for experienced surfers — beginners want a standard or big-wave style with more durability. Check the cuff and swivel for wear before every session.

Required to install Futures fins and some FCS fins. Keep one in your board bag at all times. Losing a fin key mid-trip is a fixable problem with a spare key and an unfixable one without.

Cold water and wind cause surfer's ear (exostosis) — bony growths in the ear canal that eventually require surgery. Purpose-made surf plugs (Doc's ProPlugs, SurfEars) allow hearing while blocking cold water. Start early — this condition takes years to develop but cannot be reversed.

Non-negotiable. See our full surf sunscreen guide for ingredient details. Stick format for the face — does not run into eyes.

Lips burn fast on the water and most people forget them entirely. Keep one in your boardshorts pocket. Sun Bum, Banana Boat, and Raw Elements all make surf-friendly SPF 30+ sticks.

For post-session sunburn recovery and general skin hydration. Pure aloe (not aloe-with-alcohol formulas) cools and soothes salt-dried skin.

A changing robe with a hood for changing in parking lots. Also warm between sessions. Hugely popular with regular surfers — you will use it every session if you live near the coast.

Packs small, dries fast. Buy two so one is always dry. Standard cotton beach towels are impractical for regular surfing — they take too long to dry and smell fast.

For your phone, keys, and wallet at the beach. A basic 5L dry bag from any outdoor brand costs $10 and lasts years. Or a waterproof phone pouch if you want to take your phone into the water.

A small combination lockbox that attaches to your car. The standard solution for solo surfers who cannot hand keys to a companion. Attaches to your wheel arch or towbar.

Paddling in heat dehydrates you more than it feels. Especially relevant on a surf trip where you are doing 2–3 sessions per day. Nuun tablets or any sports electrolyte sachet in a water bottle post-session.

A proper wide-shoulder wetsuit hanger protects the neck and shoulders from stretching out. Hanging your wetsuit on a narrow clothes hanger will deform the neck collar over time. Cheap fix for an expensive piece of kit.