What Surfboards to Take to the Mentawais: Quiver, Step-Ups and Travel
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What surfboards to take to Mentawais? Most surfers bring two to four boards. Pack your everyday shortboard, a step-up roughly 3 to 6 inches longer with a little more volume for powerful reef waves, and a small-wave groveler or hybrid for softer days. Add spare fins, leashes, tropical wax and a ding kit, all in a padded coffin bag.
Board choice matters more in the Mentawai Islands than on most surf trips. The waves are fast, hollow and break over shallow reef, so a board that gets you in early and holds a line in the barrel is the difference between making sections and eating coral. At the same time, you will snap boards, ding them on reef and lose fins, and a resort repair shop or rental rack is not a guaranteed backup. This guide covers what to pack, how to size it, how to fly with it and what you can get locally.
What surfboards to take to Mentawais: the core quiver
Think in terms of jobs, not models. Each board in the bag should cover a different range of conditions.
| Board | Typical size vs your shortboard | Job on a Mentawai trip |
|---|---|---|
| Everyday shortboard | Your normal board | Head-high, clean reef waves; the board you will ride most |
| Step-up | About 3 to 6 inches longer, a touch more volume, more pulled-in tail | Overhead days at HTs, Rifles, Kandui, Bank Vaults; early entry and hold in the tube |
| Groveler or hybrid | Shorter and wider, more volume | Small or weak swell days, softer waves, wet-season sessions |
| Optional second shortboard or second step-up | As above | Backup when one breaks; experienced surfers chasing big swell |
If you can only take two, take the shortboard and the step-up. Mentawai swells in the main season (roughly April to October) are usually powerful enough that the groveler is the board you can most easily live without. In the wet season, from about November to March, swap that logic: a groveler and a shortboard make more sense.
Choosing a step-up for reef barrels
The step-up is the board people most often get wrong. A few principles:
- Length: 3 to 6 inches over your shortboard is the common range. Bigger, heavier surfers and those planning to surf larger days go toward the longer end.
- Volume: add a little, not a lot. You want paddle speed into steep take-offs without a board that feels corky in the barrel.
- Rails and tail: slightly fuller rails and a narrower, pulled-in tail (pin or rounded pin) help the board hold high in a fast, hollow wave.
- Fins: a thruster or quad setup you trust. Bring fins with more hold for the step-up.
- Construction: standard PU or epoxy both work. Pick what you know; this is not the trip to test an unfamiliar build.
Talk to your shaper and tell them exactly where you are going. Saying “Mentawai, mostly HTs and Macaronis, overhead days” gives them far more to work with than “a step-up for Indo”.
Accessories that save sessions
- At least two leashes per board size, including a slightly thicker one for the step-up.
- Spare fins and a spare fin key; fins get lost on reef and keys go missing on boats.
- Tropical wax (warm-water grade) and a base coat.
- A ding repair kit with solar-cure resin, which works well in the tropical sun.
- Tail pads you have already ridden.
- Board socks or day bags for boat transfers inside the main bag.
For everything that is not a board, such as reef booties, rash vests and first-aid supplies, see our full Mentawai surf packing list.
Flying with boards to the Mentawai
Most international routes reach Padang (airport code PDG) via Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur or Singapore, then continue by fast ferry or speedboat to the islands. That means at least one long-haul flight, often a domestic or regional connection, and a ferry, each with its own baggage rules.
Airlines generally treat surfboards as checked sporting equipment or oversized baggage, but limits and fees differ by carrier, fare and route. As examples of published policies: Qantas requires boards to travel in a board bag and generally caps them at 32 kg and 277 cm; Jetstar charges an oversized-item handling fee when a packed side exceeds 1 metre and counts the item toward your purchased checked-baggage weight. Garuda Indonesia, AirAsia and Singapore Airlines apply their own sports-equipment rules. Always check the operating carrier’s current policy for each leg, and measure the fully packed bag. If you are flying from Australia, our Mentawai surf from Australia guide covers routes and connections in more detail.
Packing the coffin bag
- Remove fins and pack them separately in a fin wallet.
- Wrap rails and noses with foam pipe or towels, and put each board in a sock.
- Use soft items such as towels and clothing as padding, but watch the weight limit.
- Put the heaviest board on the bottom and the most fragile on top.
- Label the bag with your name, phone number and final destination.
The ferry leg
The fast ferry from Padang to Tuapejat has its own luggage rules, and they vary by operator and ticket. One published allowance is 15 kg of standard luggage plus one board bag up to 25 kg, while other schedules charge board fees by weight. Ask your camp or the ferry operator before you travel. Many resorts and charters include transfers that handle boards for you, which removes most of this headache.
Can you rent or buy boards in the Mentawai?
Yes, but do not rely on it. Several resorts keep rental or backup quivers, and some advertise dozens of boards across sizes, while others have only a handful. A few resorts can also arrange custom boards from known brands to be delivered before you arrive. Walk-in surf shops with a wide range of performance boards are not something to count on in Padang or the islands. Bring your main boards and treat local options as a safety net, especially for a step-up in your exact dimensions.
If you are comparing places to stay, it is worth asking what their rental fleet looks like and whether a ding repair service is on site. Our Mentawai surf camp guide lists the questions to ask.
Quick facts
- Boards to bring: two to four.
- Essential pair: everyday shortboard plus a step-up 3 to 6 inches longer.
- Season shift: more step-up in April to October, more groveler in November to March.
- Bag: padded coffin bag, fins removed.
- Airlines: policies vary by carrier and fare; check each leg.
- Local rentals: available at some resorts, but limited; treat as backup.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a step-up for the Mentawais?
If you plan to surf during the main swell season, yes. Many of the famous waves are fast and hollow, and a slightly longer board helps you get in early and stay in control on bigger days.
How many boards should I take for a 10-day trip?
Three is a good number for most surfers: shortboard, step-up and either a groveler or a backup shortboard. Advanced surfers chasing big swell often bring four.
Should I bring a longboard or mid-length?
Only if that is what you ride well. A few softer waves suit mid-lengths, but most Mentawai reef waves are steep and fast, so a shortboard-based quiver is more useful.
Will my board get damaged on the reef?
Dings are common. Bring a solar resin kit and fix dings the same day to keep water out of the foam.
Can I buy a board when I arrive?
Some resorts sell older rental boards or arrange custom boards in advance, but walk-in purchases are not reliable. Order ahead through your resort if you want a new board waiting.
For an overview of trip formats, seasons and regions, visit our Mentawai surf holidays homepage.
Plan your quiver and trip
We are an independent planning guide, not a resort or boat operator. Tell us where and when you are surfing and we will help you match your quiver to the waves and connect you with suitable operators. Message us on WhatsApp or email bd@juaraholding.com.
