Surfboard rentals: pick the right board for the day.

Airlines charge $75–$200 each way for a board bag, and rental cars rarely fit a 9' longboard. Renting from a local means you show up with a leash and wax and paddle out the same afternoon — no oversized baggage, no dings from the flight, no scrambling for a shaper when it happens anyway.

On Cache, most boards run $20–$50 per day. Soft-top foamies sit at the low end, high-performance shortboards and longboards toward the top. A weekend usually lands between $40 and $120 all-in, plus a refundable hold on your card — released automatically after a clean return.

First time out or paddling back after years off? Rent a 7'–9' soft-top. It paddles easily, is stable under your feet, and won't hurt when it hits you. Intermediate riders should try a mid-length (7'6"–8') for small, mushy days and a shortboard when it's overhead. Ask the owner what's been working at their local break — they know.

Most rentals include a leash and fins. You bring wax (match it to the water temp), a rash guard or wetsuit, and reef-safe sunscreen. If you're renting a shortboard in cold water, confirm whether traction pads are already installed — a bare deck is miserable without wax prep.

Boards get dings. Small pressure dents don't matter; a cracked stringer or open fiberglass does — water gets in and the foam delaminates. If you snap or seriously ding a board, tell the owner immediately and photograph it. Cache holds a deposit that covers reasonable repair costs; owners aren't out of pocket, and you don't pay retail for a used board.

Browse boards near your break, send a request with your dates, and the owner accepts (or doesn't) before any money moves. Deposits sit as a hold and release automatically after return. A quick photo handoff at pickup and drop-off is the whole flow. How Cache protects renters →