Should You Be Riding a Poly or Epoxy Surfboard?

Poly or epoxy? This ongoing debate surrounding surfboard construction can be traced back to the '90s and gained traction in 2005 when Clark Foam, an industry giant and producer of polyurethane foam blanks for fiberglass surfboards, shut down.

Surfboard shapes, types of foam, and surfboard blanks are polarizing subjects for some modern-day surfers and entirely irrelevant to others. Many large-scale surfboard manufacturers like Lost, Channel Islands, Pyzel, and Hayden Shapes offer their models in both traditional PU (polyurethane) and EPS (epoxy) constructions to appease all surfers. Before examining the benefits and disadvantages of poly and epoxy foams, it's crucial to understand what they are.

What is a Polyurethane or Fiberglass Surfboard?

Polyurethane (PU) surfboards, colloquially referred to as "traditional surfboards," are comprised of polyurethane foam, fiberglass cloth, and polyester resin. PU surfboards often feature a strip of wood that runs down the center of the board from nose to tail, called a stringer, which serves to reinforce, stiffen, and strengthen the foam blank. PU blanks are flexible and when combined with a wood stringer, fiberglass cloth, and resin, the result is a dense yet responsive surfboard.

PU surfboards are generally heavier than epoxy boards due to their construction. PU foam blanks have historically been the preferred choice for handshapers as their compositional qualities allow shapers to use power tools, planers, and other shaping instruments to make custom surfboards. That said, PU blanks are increasingly receiving criticism due to the carcinogenic chemicals in polyester resin and the consequent negative environmental impact involved in their production.

Some companies, like Hayden Shapes, make PE surfboards. Like PU boards, PE surfboards have polyurethane foam cores but are glassed with epoxy resin rather than traditional polyester resin — resulting in a stronger final product that still possesses the lively flex pattern and responsiveness of a PU board.

What is a Polystyrene Surfboard?

Polystyrene (PS) surfboards have polystyrene foam cores and, while still dense, are lighter than traditional polyurethane boards. PS blanks are not as strong as their polyurethane counterparts but are glassed with epoxy resin to increase durability. Polystyrene blanks are recyclable and significantly more environmentally friendly than polyurethane blanks.

What is an Expanded Polystyrene Surfboard?

Expanded polystyrene (EPS) blanks are made of an open-celled beaded foam version of polystyrene commonly known as Styrofoam. Epoxy surfboards combine an EPS blank with fiberglass cloth and stiff epoxy resin. EPS is extremely lightweight but also delicate — not ideal for hand-shaping, and generally used by surfboard manufacturers that use CNC and CAD equipment to design, shape, and create surfboards at high volume.

Boards constructed with EPS foam are lighter weight, produce fewer VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds), and are often more buoyant than traditional fiberglass. Firewire has pushed the limits of epoxy surfboards further with environmentally sustainable constructions including Helium, Linear Flex Technology (LFT), and Timbertek. Firewire is the only global surfboard manufacturer whose entire production has received ECOBOARD certification from Sustainable Surf. Also worth exploring: Torq surfboards, which use their own TET and TEC epoxy construction systems across a wide range of shapes.

What is an Extruded Polystyrene Surfboard?

Extruded polystyrene (XTR) surfboards are made of polystyrene foam that undergoes an extrusion process. XTR foam is a 100% closed-cell polystyrene foam glassed with epoxy resin. Extruded foam blanks are extremely buoyant, durable, and water resistant.

XTR boards come in a variety of custom flex constructions including Stringerless (XTR SL), Carbon-Kevlar® (XTR SL-CK), and Carbon Rails (XTR FX-2). This construction is ideal for the experienced surfer who has developed hyper-specific surfboard construction preferences.

So, Should I Ride a Poly or Epoxy Surfboard?

The answer is still not a simple one. Here are the key factors to consider when determining what surfboard construction is right for you.

Weather conditions

If your local break is windy, you may want a board with more weight. PU boards with wood stringers handle wind chop better than epoxy boards and allow you to keep your board down on the face of the wave. Lost has developed C4 construction, which laminates cork between the EPS core and fiberglass to dampen and smooth out surface chatter — a good middle ground for surfers who want the lightness of EPS without the wind-sensitivity.

Type of break

EPS boards are buoyant and sit higher on the surface of the water than PU boards. They're a great option for catching mushier waves at deep-water breaks that require extra paddle-power and glide — soft top surfboards and many midlength surfboards use EPS construction for this reason. When surfing steep and hollow waves, many surfers prefer the weight of PU boards, which sit deeper in the water and tend to feel more engaged with the wave face. This is why most performance shortboards from Channel Islands and Pyzel are offered in PU as the primary construction.

Skill level

To some beginner surfers, the minutiae of board construction makes no impact on their experience. To an experienced surfer, the flex, drive, speed, and pop of a board might make a world of difference in a critical section. On a base level, beginner surfers can benefit from the enhanced buoyancy, durability, and light weight of an EPS board — many of our soft top surfboards use EPS foam for exactly this reason. But that's not to say you couldn't just as easily learn on a traditional fiberglass board.

Repair considerations

One practical difference worth knowing: PU and epoxy boards require different repair resins. Using polyester resin on an epoxy board will cause delamination. If you're not sure which construction your board uses, bring it in — we offer professional ding repair at our Venice Beach shop and can assess the right repair approach. We also stock DIY repair kits for both PU and epoxy boards.

Whether you're a new surfer stepping off a soft top or a veteran with hardened opinions, try both. Rider Shack carries a large selection of new and used PU and EPS surfboards from Channel Islands, Lost, Firewire, Pyzel, Torq, and more at our Los Angeles shop in Venice Beach.

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