Live Your Best Life on the Water With These Expert Recommended Wakeboards

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There’s fun to be had on just about every body of water as long as you have a wakeboard under your feet. In the past few years, wakeboard brands have been going head-to-head to see who can come up with the most innovative designs for the season—the wakeboard market has never been more exciting.

Whether you’re looking for the best model for clearing the wake behind a boat or preparing for a day out at a cable wake park, I’ve selected the best wakeboards for every budget and skill level.

Best Wakeboards

• Best Overall Boat Board: Ronix One Blackout

• Best Value Boat Board: Liquid Force Trip

• Best Women’s Boat Board: Ronix Quarter ’Til Midnight

• Best for Beginners: Best for Beginners

• Best Overall Park Board: Hyperlite Pleasure

What to Consider

Length and Shape

Length is one of the most important factors when choosing the right wakeboard. Most wakeboard brands release a size chart that correlates a rider’s weight to the most suitable board length. “If you’re taller and heavier, you will want a bigger board (150 to 153 centimeters),” professional wakeboarder Liam Peacock says. “If you’re a little kid who is learning, you’ll want something like a 128 to 132 cm size board.” A rider who is between 130 and 180 pounds should look at a wakeboard in the 135 to 139 cm range. When in doubt, err on the larger size of the scale.

The curve of the bottom of the board, called the rocker, influences how a wakeboard will ride. Wakeboards tend to come in two rocker types: continuous and three-stage. A continuous rocker connects edge-to-edge in a smooth arc. A three-stage rocker has a flat base with upturned edges. Continuous rockers are generally more predictable to carve, track well, and are easier to land jumps with. Three-stage rockers are ideal for getting extra height when popping off the wake and can have a more playful feel on the water.

Like on a snowboard, bindings secure your boots to your wakeboard. Some wakeboards come as a package with boots included, but others are sold as the board only. Make sure to budget for the additional cost, and purchase boots within the size range of your running shoes.

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Boat vs. Cable Park Board

Gone are the days where you need a boat to go wakeboarding. As cable wake parks become increasingly popular, wakeboard brands are adapting their boards to suit different terrains. Boat wakeboards tend to be stiffer and have molded fins that help the rider track behind a wake. Cable boards tend to have a flexible wood core and reinforced grind bases for durability on boxes and rails.

Skill Level

Professional wakeboarder Harley Clifford advises wakeboarders to choose a board with features that match their skill level: “Do you want a board that feels fast on the water, do you want a board that tracks into edges easily, or do you want a board that’s forgiving?” Answering these questions will point you in the right direction. Beginner wakeboards tend to be stable and easy to maneuver. Intermediate to advanced boards allow more flexibility in riding style, catering to tricks and jumps—though they’re not the most forgiving if you land at a wrong angle or encounter chop.

How We Evaluated

These board choices reflect my years of expertise and experience, podium-winning models used by pros, best-selling models from trusted brands, as well as wakeboards that have scored high marks at outlets such as Alliance Wake. I also checked wakeboard forums to ensure I considered all the top models. During my evaluation, I factored in durability, brand reputation, value for the money, and how accurately each wakeboard performed within its type.

One Blackout

Ronix made quite the splash in the world of wakeboarding when it released a line of wakeboards with a confidential (and still under wraps) construction it has deemed Blackout Technology. Ultra-sleek, modern, and responsive, the Ronix One Blackout is shaped with a three-stage rocker and is designed specifically for boosting off the wake.

If you like the lightweight and high-tech aspects of the Ronix One Blackout but want a board that’s faster, consider the Ronix RXT.

Liquid Force Trip

If there is one wakeboard model that has withstood the test of time, it’s this one. The Liquid Force Trip has held the throne as one of the most popular wakeboards over the past 20 years, largely because of its versatility. The latest model has a fuller tip and tail to help riders handle bigger wakes.

Beginners will love the stability and predictability from its continuous rocker and center fins. When it’s time to level up, the center fins can be removed for added agility.

Quarter ’Til Midnight

Versatility is the name of the game for the Ronix Quarter ’Til Midnight, thanks to its hybrid three-stage continuous rocker—where the tip and tail are not as curved as a traditional three-stage rocker.

If you’re a beginner looking for a wakeboard you won’t quickly outgrow, this is a top contender. Tracking is predictable, and turns on this board are smooth. When it’s time to launch off the wake, the board can handle that, too. Landings are surprisingly comfortable.

Pure Venza Board

Designed with beginner wakeboarders in mind, the Connelly Pure is an affordable and reliable board that can take you on your journey from popping up to popping off the wake. This package includes Connelly Venza bindings with an open toe boot and thick, comfortable foot bed.

The board has a three-stage rocker that rides a bit on the slow side, and a removable center fin to help stabilize the board. Because it can also handle jumps and looser riding with the fins out, this is an ideal board for families who share one board and have a mix of skill levels within the group.

Pleasure

Board sport athletes will get a kick out of how similar the Hyperlite Pleasure rides to a snowboard or longboard skateboard. It falls around the mid-range mark in flexibility and is forgiving on turns and landings thanks to its exaggerated beveled edges.

The lightweight woodlite core adds extra boost for jumps. Beginners shouldn’t be put off by its nontraditional elongated shape, and intermediate to advanced riders will enjoy how fast and responsive the board is underfoot. Because of its narrow profile, size up if you’re in between length recommendations.

Rusty Pro

The signature model of pro Rusty “Bone Crusher” Malinoski, the Hyperlite Rusty Pro shows that wide doesn’t have to be synonymous with heavy when it comes to wakeboards. Malinoski collaborated on the design to help Hyperlite develop a lighter board-to-size ratio.

This is a great pick for experienced wakeboarders. It tracks predictably, boosts easily off the wake, and offers a soft landing even if you’re a larger rider—like Rusty. The latest model has integrated fiberglass layers for added durability on rough landings.

Spring Break

The Spring Break is a playful board made for the park. For riders who want a board on the bendy side, this is one of the most flexible options in Ronix’s park board lineup.

Durable grind base and sturdy rails can handle ride after ride on all park obstacles. Although this board shows its power under the feet of an experienced rider, it’s still a top pick for beginners hoping to progress in the park.

Space Raider

Slingshot has taken up the torch when it comes to directional boards, and its latest model, the Space Raider, caters to progressive and experimental riders. Directional boards are asymmetrical, built with a distinct nose and tail, whereas most wakeboards have an identical nose and tail.

This board has an aggressive scoop nose and skate-style tail rocker, making it ride similarly to a skateboard. It’s highly flexible with a laminated wood core, plus carbon inserts add durability. It has the potential for multiple stance options–in the unlikely chance you get bored with your current setup, a radical stance change is a quick change away.

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Any advice for wakeboard newbies?

New wakeboarders usually struggle with standing up. When you’re in the water with your board and the rope, keep your knees bent, almost as if you’re sitting in a chair. Wait until you’re directly behind the boat with the rope resting between your knees and over the board. Once there’s a little tension on the rope, signal to the boat driver to hit the gas.

Keep your knees bent as you come out of the water—this will help you stand up without toppling over the board. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t get it the first try—it can take a few attempts to get the technique down. Consistency and persistence is key to learning how to wakeboard.

What’s the one must-have feature or criteria you have when shopping for a new wakeboard?

I always prioritize the size of the wakeboard when shopping for a new one. While there’s a general range most wakeboarders will be able to use in correlation to their height, weight, and skill, a wakeboard that’s either too large or too small will be difficult to control. It will limit what you can do on it.

Likewise, if the board’s bindings are too tight, they’ll be painful to wear and will inevitably cut your wakeboard session short. If they’re too big, you’ll lack control over the board. If one foot falls out of a binding, both legs are more prone to injury as they receive uneven pressure and torque from the impact of the water.

Besides a board, what other gear do you need to wakeboard?

You’ll need wakeboard bindings to secure your feet to the board, and a life jacket to keep you buoyant in the water. A helmet is a great idea as well, especially for those who plan to wakeboard over any park features. If you’re wakeboarding in cold water, a wetsuit will keep you toasty as you ride.

Some wakeboarders also find it more comfortable to wear gloves to stave off chafing and blisters from holding onto the rope. Of course, you’ll also need a rope to tow you and a boat to pull you. Aside from the boat driver, a safety person should also be onboard to alert other boats and the driver when you fall.

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