Three things: a leash that matches the board, the right wax for the water, and a bag if the board travels by car. Everything else can wait.
| Board | Leash |
|---|---|
| Shortboard, fish, under 6'6" | 6 ft |
| Midlength 6'6" to 8'0" | 7 to 8 ft |
| Longboard 8'6" and up | 9 to 10 ft |
| Soft-top | match the length; a thicker cord forgives whitewater yanks |
Roughly the length of the board. Too short and the board hits you on a wipeout; too long and it drags. A 7 mm cord for bigger surf or whitewater, 5 or 6 mm for small waves.
A base coat first, then a top coat for the water temperature: cold below 58 °F, cool 58 to 68, warm 64 to 74, tropical above 75. Use the wrong one and it either smears or goes slick. Soft-tops with a textured deck do not need wax; most do.
Replaces wax under the back foot on shortboards and hybrids. Optional on a longboard or midlength where your back foot moves. Width should match the tail.
A day bag or sock for the car and the garage pays for itself in dings avoided. A travel bag only if you fly. Buy for your longest board plus a few inches.
Leashes → Wax → Traction pads → Board bags →
More guides: Beginner board size · Soft-top or hard board · How many liters is too many · Foamie to fiberglass.