What is a Mid length and What Waves Is It Suitable For
There are many types of surfboards. From the sharpest and thinnest high performance surfboards to big and heavy boards designed to slay the biggest waves this world has ever shown. As surfers, the dream is to have a surfboard for all possible conditions, but that's not always an option. The space and cost for a big quiver is something that's not approachable for everyone. BUT! There are certain surfboards that cover for a large variety of conditions. Those boards are what we call "one board quivers". Mid length surfboards for example, are a great option suitable for many wave conditions and for different surfing levels.
Curious fact: Mid lengths are surfboards built to be surfed in larger sizes but, for some reason the European surfer tends to surf mid-lengths in smaller sizes ranging from 6'4" to 6'8" mainly, while in the US for example, surfers are used to surf them in much bigger sizes.
WHAT IS A MID LENGTH SURFBOARD?
Mid length's are known to be surfboards that have a longer and wider shape than shortboards but without going all the way to a longboard or a beginner surfboard. Measurements vary can from 6'4" (which would be considered a rather small mid-lengths) all the way up to 8'6". The shape of mid length surfboards provides a great combination of maneuverability and stability, which finally turns into easier paddling (good for both, beginners and advanced surfers), more comfort during take off and great speed.
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There is a wide range of different approaches to mid-lengths and narrowing it down to something basic is nearly impossible. Each brand has its own mid-length in their quiver. Some are technical and sketchy to surf while others are shaped to be user-friendly to any surfer, no matter the level. |
SOME OF THE MOST WANTED MID LENGHT SURFBOARDS
When it comes to choosing your mid-length you will find a big variety of different options.
· Easy to surf Mid Length's:
This selection is thought for any level surfer. Doesn't matter if your a beginner or and advanced surfer, these mid length's will bring you nothing but joy in the water.
Channel Islands CI MID - This board by Channel Islands Surfboards is a modern classic design resulting from a fun collaboration with Devon Howard, a southern California surfer that has spent the past two decades riding and refining egg-inspired designs that are in a category of boards many refer to as mid-lengths.
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Inspired by the clean, longer-railed lines drawn by traditional eggs and single-fins, the CI Mid infuses that timeless vibe with the crispness, sensitivity, and freedom made possible by modern features synonymous with Merrick design principles. Boasting a sleek, egg-like template with low entry rocker and foam a tad forward for ease of paddle and effortless trim speed, the CI Mid scoots, squirts and swivels thanks to contemporary features like double-barrel concave, gradually accelerated rocker, and hard, slightly tucked rails through and off the tail. |
Pukas LA CÔTE - A jaw-dropping mid-length by Pukas Surfboards. What does everyone expect from a mid-length? Joy without too much of an effort. The La Côte is one of the most user-friendly mid-lengths you will lay your eyes on. Fun assured. Easy paddeling assured. Good pivoting? Also assured.
| Most of us move forward when standing still on a mid length but have a hard time to move it. That’s what inspired Axel Lorentz when shaping a board with his daughter. Both wanted a beauty of a board that would allow them to surf together in all type of conditions. |
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More about the Pukas LA CÔTE here.
Js EL BARÓN - The so-called head honcho of the Baron Family by JS Industries surfboards, is a mid length performance surfboard. Born taking the Big Baron’s lead, the fine tuning of its design has ended up bringing you a performance surfing pushed into a mid length. So popular requests to create a new performance mid length have been answered.
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El Barón handles more speed and versatility and features a “reverse concave”, one of Jason’s favourite designs. How would we describe its anatomy? Well, it features a stretched out Big Baron outline but it’s ridden narrower and has slightly more rocker and modern concaves. It comes with a subtle single to double concave. That “reverse concave” helps with water flow for maximum drive, thanks to its deeper concave in the middle and shallower concave in the nose and tail. |
Js BIG BARON - An instant classic, the Big Baron is inspired by the mid lengths that generations before us rode on the infamous Gold Coast points. This is paired with a more modern bottom contour and twin fin placement, then complemented by a neatly pulled in round tail for extra hold. Because on this board, you’ll be burning speed and burying rail. A lot of it.
An overall flat rocker generates and holds momentum in even the weakest conditions, while vee throughout the board from nose to tail with added double concave through the fins helps it rock from rail to rail and retain its manoeuvrability. The plan shape holds a generous distribution of volume throughout, with relatively low rails allowing you to still turn at high speed.
More about the BIG BARON here.
Lost SMOOTH OPERATOR - This is Lost Surfboards' modern twist on the classic mid-length, double ender. Matt became more interested in not only designing and building this genre of board, but also inspired to really learn how to ride them. It was sparked by previous dalliances with mid-length, semi-performance boards, like the “Lazy Toy” and “EZ-UP”. These boards, with their Wayne Lynch/Evolution inspired vee bottoms and rounded noses, were forgiving and easy to ride, but essentially glorified fun boards.
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More about the SMOOT OPERATOR here.
Indio MID LENGTH - This board from Indio Surfboards is designed to maximize fun and progression. The shape is similar to a longboard but smaller and more maneuverable. The width and volume of the board turns it into a great surfboard option for beginners that want to swap their soft-top fir their first hard top.
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Depending on your level this surfboard will either help you get better or provide easy and fun sessions when waves are too small for your daily short board. You can walk on the board or just surf the midpoint. It will perform wherever you stand thanks to its flat midsection rocker, tail rocker and 60/40 rails. The Indio Mid-length comes in 3 different sizes. Ranging from 7'0" all the way up to 8'0" (full dimensions listed further on in this profile), this mid-length is built with progression, fun and ease of use in mind. If you have doubts while choosing the correct size for your needs, contact our team of surfboard specialists. |
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And the list goes on. Other mid-lengths such as the Haydenshapes Mid Length Glider, the Torq ModFish or the Pyzel Mid Length Crisis are also a great option if what you're looking for is a user-friendly mid length to enjoy and progress in surfing.
· More technical Mid Length's:
Pukas LADY TWIN - A channeled mid length twin fin? Yes please. If you like surfboards you will probably love twins, you will also presumably love channeled surfboards and appreciate the beauty of long drawn high lines. Well, how does the aesthetics of the Lady Twin do for inspiration? Day dreaming on surfing with class is a must. The moment you stand up on a craft like this your movements transform and you can reach those levels of clarity and lucidity. It does take a stylish surfers to do so and a proper board design helps.
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Classic Wide Outline: The Lady Twin was built with an outline that's not only sexy but makes the board as handy and user friendly as it gets. Making it slightly wider it gives you paddling power and stability. Channels: If you're looking for speed and drive, these channels will become your closest friends. The reactivity of the board will make it an easy task to perform some beautiful open turns on this craft. Twin Fin Setup: Twin fins still sound like something complicated and unstable to many people. The thing is Axel Lorentz managed to combine the loose twin fin feels we all love, with a shape that actually holds. So, in this case, you get the best of both worlds. |
More about the LADY TWIN here.
Pukas MAGNETIC - Introducing the MAGNETIC - a groundbreaking surfboard meticulously crafted through a fusion of innovative concepts from surf enthusiasts passionate about alternative boards and the dynamic essence of NEW SCHOOL surfing.
| Designed to resonate with the contemporary surf culture that embraces a diverse range of styles, including classic, high-performance, alternative, or whatever label one may choose, the MAGNETIC embodies a seamless integration of these elements. It encapsulates fluidity, inertia with speed, and the characteristics of an everyday board, enhanced by the agility of twin fins, all within a medium-to-long board design. | 
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More about the Pukas MAGNETIC here.
Christenson C-BUCKET - What a mid-length the Christenson Surfboards C-Bucket is. A single fin fantasy. A design that needs no description. The outline of this board is pure magic. An ode to shaping. That pintail surfs a huge range of conditions from soft and mushy to hollow and fast. It also feels like cheating when paddling on it.
This is what Chris has to say about his best design: "The C-Bucket is the oldest mid-length in my lineup. It's probably about 25 years old and I haven't changed it at all. It's a timeless mid-length and one of my best selling surfboards ever. And still is."
Christenson LONG PHISH 2.0 - The Long Phish 2.0 is Chris’ latest design upgrade validated by continuous R&D between Chris and team rider Beau Cram to make this surfboard the most versatile long fish in the water for the novice to the pro. “This is a great model for the longer rail enthusiasts that like high lines, top speeds with style, and ease at trim.” - Chris Christenson
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Low rails, low rocker, and a complex bottom contour, this board can handle a variety of conditions. This is more or less the mini-version of Chris' glider design. Great for trim and glide keeping it smooth and casual for the expert and also a great design for the novice (order it 8' or 9') to cruise on and gain style points. This design also rides the barrel well on those stiff offshore days and the added length will let you sit deeper than the rest of the pack. |
Fantastic Acid ROUNDED HULL - Good for everyday, the Fantastic Acid Rounded Hull is the classic design of hull with wide point, pushed one foot above the centre of the board, that you will want to have in your quiver. The tail tightens and stretches in the last foot, allowing to maintain the width and, therefore, floatation on the rear foot placements. While having a narrower tail for better grip and versatility in turns. The most classic of hull bottom shapes, with a pronounced belly vee over the entire front two-thirds of the board, transitioning to a flat bottom in the rear third and behind the fin.The taut and almost flat tail rocker increases speed, due to the more present gliding surface. The nose rocker is much more pronounced.
More about the ROUNDED HULL here.
ADVANTAGES OF SURFING A MID LENGTH
1. Maneuverability and SpeedMid length surfboards are thought to be surfed in larger sizes than the usual everyday shortboard. The volume they offer traduces in a decent amount of speed and maneuverability alongside great paddling power, which always comes handy. The rocker and contour they feature, allow surfers to turn quickly and fluidly by generating speed effortlessly. However, remember that these surfboards are not built for high performance surfing. Many people make the mistake of attempting to surf their mid length like its their shortboard and end up getting frustrated. |
2. Versatility in Different Wave ConditionsMid length surfboards' versatility is one of their key points. These boards perform in either small and mellow waves and can handle up to medium-sized waves and more pushy conditions. You will be able to surf in a wide range of different spots and try out a lot of different waves with you mid-length, and this is why they are a popular choice. |
3. Easy Paddling and StabilityMid length surfboards buoyancy makes paddling and balancing easier. Surfers can paddle more easily towards waves and catch them easily, gaining more take off time on the wave and more possibilities for maneuvers. |
WHAT TYPE OF WAVES CAN I SURF WITH A MID-LENGTH?
Due to their versatility, mid lengths perform in pretty much any conditions. But what's the best? Well, average conditions make them shine even a bit more. When its nor really big nor really small is when they really perform. Longer, open waves or shorter quick session are super doable with mid length thanks to their speed and gliding power. There's little you can do wrong when taking a mid length to the water.
Make sure you're choosing the right leash and fins for your board. Specially the leash shouldn't be too long or too short. Mid length's range from 6'4" up. We recommend a 6" leash for boards under 6'8", a 7" leashes for boards between 6'8" and 7'5" and a 8" leash for everything bigger than 7'5".
Do I need a grip on my mid length?
This is a very frequent question. Usually mid lengths are surfed without a grip but some people still want to have that little help on the tail to know their are placing their feet in the right position.
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HOW TO CHOOSE AND BUY A MID LENGTH ONLINE
Buying a mid length surfboard online is easy if you know how. Here are some key factors to consider when choosing to buy a mid length surfboard:
1. Choose the Right Volume
The volume of a mid length surfboard is a crucial aspect to consider. If you're a beginner we suggest you go for something with more volume. Why? Well volume equals stability and paddle power so, the "bigger" the board the easier it'll make things for you in the water. If you're an advanced surfer the volume depends 100% percent on your likings. You can either go for a smaller mid length to have more reactivity or for a big one to get that full mid length vibe as soon as you're standing up on your board.
If you're not sure which sizes or volume are the best for you reach out to us any time, our team of experts will be happy to guide you through the process of choosing the correct surfboard.
2. Thinking about Fins and Fin Systems?
The fin system for mid length surfboards is also an important factor to consider. Some surfers prefer traditional single-fin setups for a smoother and classic feel in the water. However, twin fin, 1+2 and thruster fin set ups are also common in mid-lengths.
Remember that single fin mid length's tend to be more technical to surf, so if you're a beginner and want something easy, better stick to twin or thruster set ups.
3. What about shipping of mid length's?
Delivery may take a bit sometimes depending on where you would like us to send the mid length surfboard or any other surfboard for that matter. Our stock surfboards are ready for immediate dispatch and worldwide insurance covered shipping. The price depends on the region we need to ship the board to and the size of the package. For exact price quotations you can either do the check out simulation online at our shop or contact our team. More about our shipping conditions here.
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Mid length surfboards’ stability, maneuverability, length, volume and overall quality are key factors to take into account when thinking about buying one. Make sure to purchase a brand that you like, ask for assessment if needed and do not forget about having fun and respecting your environment.
¿Are you looking for a mid length? Take a look at our collection of mid length surfboards.