The Best Surfboard Racks for Display and Storage

Photo: StoreYourBoard

If you’re anything like me, you have a haphazard collection of surfboards stacked up in your garage and yard. When I first got into surfing, it wasn't a big deal stashing a single board, even two, but as my quiver's grown I’ve had to get more strategic with my storage solutions. After testing out different racks, I’ve found what works well for me. Here are my favorites.

Best Freestanding: Grassracks Vertical Freestanding Rack ($294)Best Horizontal Wall Rack: StoreYourBoard Metal Wall Rack ($80)Best Vertical Wall Rack: StoreYourBoard Vertical Surfboard Wall Rack ($75)Best Display Rack: COR Surf Bamboo Surfboard Display Stand ($100)Unique Pick: Rado Racks The Drop In ($200)Unique Pick: StoreYourBoard Surf Ceiling Storage Rack ($85)

Surfboard racks tend to fit into one of three different categories.Surfboard display racks are a great way to turn retired surfboards, or the more eye-catching boards in your collection, into pieces of functional art. They tend to either be a set of padded hooks that screw into the wall, or small stand that sits on the floor and holds the board vertically.As for board storage, surfboard wall racks are a space-efficient (and cost-efficient) way to organize your boards and tuck them out of the way – you’ll just need a wall to screw the rack into. These come in both horizontal and vertical configurations, and are a super easy DIY project, too. When done right, they can look pretty nice.Freestanding surfboard racks tend to be a bit more expensive, but don't need to screw into a wall, and as long as you don't stuff it full of boards and use it as a wetsuit-drying rack as well, can be fairly aesthetically pleasing. Freestanding racks are usually vertically oriented, but there are a few horizontal options out there as well.

AssemblyI am no MacGyver, so having something that is easy to put together is important to me. If it requires pages upon pages of instructions, paired with YouTube videos, and a phone call to my dad, I’m not going to be a big fan. But, if the directions are simple to follow and assembly is quick, then I’m all about it.

AppearanceBecause displaying my surfboards is like displaying art, I want racks that look good. You wouldn't house a beautiful painting in an ugly frame, same goes for my boards. Personally, I’m a fan of the natural woods but if it's a sleek metal design I can get onboard with that too.

ReliabilityHaving reliable racks is super important, because if they’re not, your surfboard may come crashing to the ground. I want racks that I know I can trust to keep my boards safe and everything I have stored below them.

PaddingWhen it comes to surf racks, padding is important because you don't want to accidentally ding your board while putting it away. Make sure the points of contact are padded to ensure your board stays in tip-top shape.

PortablePortable is a loose term as I don't necessarily need to be able to pick up my racks and move them, but it's nice if moving them is an option. I’m after racks that either you can pick up or they’re easy to unscrew and screw back in somewhere else. After investing in racks, I want the option to move them to different locations in my home or bring them with me if I move.

AdaptableMy surfboard quiver is ever changing and as such, it can be nice to have racks that are capable of accommodating different sizes and numbers of boards. For example, if you have a wall rack with three board slots, it's nice if you can easily add or take away a slot to house your increasing (or decreasing collection).

Assembly: 5Appearance: 5Reliability: 5Padding: 5Total: 5/5

If you rent, move a lot, or simply don't want to drill into your walls, a freestanding rack is a great option. Designed with the environment in mind, Grassracks’ freestanding rack is made from bamboo, one of Earth's most sustainable resources. Putting this rack together was super easy, everything just snapped into place, and it was good to go. The padding on the bottom is ultra-plush and the padding between each compartment is soft as well, ensuring your board will stay ding free. Despite being freestanding and portable, this rack feels super solid and can accommodate both short and longboards. It also works well for storing guitars, snowboards, and paddles. The design is eye catching and is a great way to show off your boards in your home or your shop – I’m a big fan.

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Assembly: 4Appearance: 4Reliability: 4Padding: 4Total: 4/5

StoreYourBoard's metal wall rack is one of the most classic surf rack designs. The rack features four, adjustable levels, so you can arrange it to fit shortboards, mid-lengths, longboards, or a combination of all three. Made from solid steel components, the rack can support up to 25 pounds per level for a grand total of 100 pounds. Assembly is straightforward, with all the hardware included — the racks mount directly into wall studs, so a stud finder can be helpful. The racks come in black and white, which is nice for coordinating with your wall, and they have rubber padding on each level. These racks aren't an eye sore, but they aren't eye catching either – they’re a simple, straightforward design that gets the job done.

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Assembly: 4Appearance: 5Reliability: 4Padding: 3Total: 4/5

I promise you, dear reader, that this review is not simply a StoreYourBoard promotional piece. They just make darn good products for, as the name suggests, storing your board. Their vertical wall rack brings a bit more style to the table than the metal wall rack, above, being made of oak with cork inlays on the arms to protect your boards. Minimal and well-priced, this is a great option for storing up to six surfboards. That being said, it might be worth looking into some sort of matting to protect the tails of your board against the floor, unless you plan on installing the rack in a room that already has a carpet.

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Assembly: 4Appearance: 4Reliability: 4Padding: 4Total: 4/5

For my birthday, my boyfriend shaped me a board and it's so beautiful I want to show it off. If you too have a board you’re looking to display in your home, the COR Surf display stand is a solid option. Assembly was comparable to putting together something from Ikea, with instructions and no additional hardware required. The stand is adjustable, so you can easily switch between short and longboards by adjusting the width. The stand is constructed from polished wood grain, so it's eco-friendly and looks good too. The display stand includes a rubber base and lining that's not super cushy but keeps your board safe from scratches and dings. For indoor use the stand is great, but I wouldn't trust it for backyard displays in case wind or rain rolls through.

Assembly: 4Appearance: 3Reliability: 4Padding: 4Total: 3.5/5

A unique concept, The Drop In doubles as a storage rack as well as a work bench on which you can wax and repair your boards. The racks feature two spaces on the side, a middle drop-in slot, and a top workspace, allowing for a total of four boards to be stored at a time. The racks include adhesive pads for contact points and removable wheels, so you can move the racks around your garage or station them in one place. The racks are well made and it's an interesting concept that they serve as both a work bench and racks—perfect for someone with limited space. For waxing it's fine but as far as repairs go, the racks are a little unstable for precision work, especially if you have them on the wheels. These racks are designed more for function than to display your boards, but I like the fact that they’re versatile and easy to move around my garage. Made from precision cut Baltic birch, the racks are extremely durable and feel like something that will serve me well for years to come.

Assembly: 4Appearance: 3Reliability: 4Padding: 4Total: 3.5/5

Another unique option, this surfboard rack keeps extra boards out of sight and out of mind. Perfect for those with a garage, hanging deck, our outdoors overhang, this board storage solution makes the most of space that's often left unused. It perhaps isn't the best for boards that see daily use, as, depending on the height of the ceiling, it can be difficult to get boards up and down from the rack (you might need to invest in a stepladder as well) but otherwise, this rack gets the job done for a niche use-case.

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Do It Yoursef! Photo: RP

Assembly: 3Appearance: 4Reliability: 5Padding: 5Total: 4.25/5

Building your own racks is simple way to custom tailor the racks to exactly what you’re looking for. Oftentimes, it's the more affordable option as well. My family made racks to house our stand-up paddleboards and longboards in our garage using SteelTek structural pipe from the local hardware store and lined it with pipe insulation for padding. Building it was pretty easy and we went for a horizontal stacking design since the boards are so tall. The structure looks sleek and is super sturdy and we can easily add extra sections should our quiver grow. I’ve also seen racks built from PVC pipe, bamboo, and wood – get creative and make your vision come to life!

Editor's Note: For more gear reviews and features on The Inertia, click here.