The 7 Best Surfboard Travel Bags for 2024

A surfboard travel bag is essential when it comes to a successful surf trip. Finding the right bag for your needs is key to less stress and more fun on your next mission. There are a lot of different options available with different features, materials, gadgets, specs, and so on. We’ve done the research for you by reviewing the seven best travel bags on the market to cover every surfer’s needs and budget. Let's take a look at 2024's best surf travel bags below.

Surfboard Travel Bags Reviewed

• Dakine Mission Surfboard Bag - $150+
• Pro-Lite Rhino Travel Surfboard Bag - $230+
• VEIA 3/2 Convertible Travel Surfboard Bag - $259.95+
• Pro-Lite Smuggler Series Travel Surfboard Bag - $270+
• FCS Travel Series Surfboard Bag - $274+
• Pro-Lite Finless Coffin Travel Surfboard Bag - $274+
• Db Surf Pro 3-4 Coffin Travel Surfboard Bag - $449

These bags are listed in order from the simpler, lightweight offerings to the heavier-duty options available. I think there’s something in this list for every surfer, from the weekend warrior to the sponsored pro. These are the seven travel bags we found to offer the greatest features, value, and quality.

Dakine Mission Surfboard Bag - $150+

“Reliable Heat Protection”

Do you travel to tropical surf destinations where the sun melts your wax within minutes of your board sitting outside? Check out the Dakine Mission surfboard bag. Dakine is a well-known name in the surf industry producing high-quality goods such as traction and leashes, and their board bags continue the legacy. This travel bag protects your board from heat damage and the typical dings during travel.

The Mission surfboard bag is padded with 10mm of closed-cell foam, ensuring your board is protected. The bottom of the bag heat uses reflective material and TPU venting to help regulate airflow, preventing your board from cooking inside. This travel bag is built to last using a heavy-duty YKK coil zipper and metal hardware.

The Mission bag is available in a thruster and hybrid shape up to 7’0 in length and a log shape up to 10’2 in length. We highly recommend this board bag for anyone traveling with a heavy midlength or log because of the extra padding and reinforced hardware. A comfortable strap and strong features are key to a longboard bag. For example, the strain from carrying that extra weight through an airport or down a trail will quickly wear out a board bag, leaving you with ripped seams or broken straps, quickly ruining a good time.

If you’re a fan of the Dakine Mission travel bags, be sure to check out the Dakine Recon Double Thruster Surfboard Bag. With a similar construction in mind, the Recon is a rad choice for the surfer trying to get another board to their destination without the extra airline fees.

Features and Highlights:

• TPU Venting doesn’t trap heat in the bag
• Padded shoulder strap
• External stash pocket
• 10mm closed-cell foam
• Zippered fin slot
• Available in 5’8 - 10’2
• Thruster, Hybrid, and Longboard models

Shop By Model

Dakine Mission Thruster Travel Surfboard Bag - $150+
Dakine Mission Hybrid Travel Surfboard Bag - $150+
Dakine Mission Noserider Travel Surfboard Bag - $185+

Pro-Lite Rhino Travel Surfboard Bag - $230+

“The Best Value in Basic Travel Bags”

If you had to own only one board bag to cover everything from day-to-day use to weeks abroad, we’d go with the Rhino Travel Bag by Pro-Lite. The Rhino is a 1-2 board bag suited for the week-long trip, the sketchy hike-in spot, and trips abroad. It’s a pretty slim and light bag, making it very easy to travel with and store when you’re home. But this doesn’t mean it can’t hang with some of the heftier board bags.

The Rhino has 10mm of protective padding and an extra reinforced nose, typically only found on bags twice its price. It fits two boards effortlessly and has enough space to pack some clothes in for extra padding. Even with the shortboard-specific Rhino bag, we could stuff a few different wider hybrid-style boards in with no problems. This bag also includes a sturdy, non-corrosive zipper, a large accessory pocket, a burly handle, and a vent to air the bag out in summer heat.

If you’re packing a wide-shaped board, I recommend the Rhino Fish/Hybrid/Big Short Travel Bag. Check out the Rhino Longboard Travel Bag for those looking to take a bigger log overseas.

Features and Highlights:

• Holds 1-2 boards
• Collapsible gusset
• Padded shoulder strap
• 10mm foam
• Reinforced nose
• Available in 6’0 - 10’6
• Shortboard, Fish/Hybrid, and Longboard models

Shop By Model

Pro-Lite Rhino Shortboard Travel Surfboard Bag - $230+
Pro-Lite Rhino Fish/Hybrid/Big Short Travel Surfboard Bag - $234+
Pro-Lite Rhino Longboard Travel Surfboard Bag - $270+

VEIA 3/2 Convertible Travel Surfboard Bag - $259.95+

“Rockered Shape”

John John Florence’s new line of VEIA products have become a quick hit: specifically his 3/2 Convertible Travel bag that’s quickly climbing the ranks as one of our best selling options. The bag is chock full of thoughtful features made from high-quality materials. As the name suggests, it’s made to safely carry 2-3 surfboards.

Something to note is the Multiband Outer Loop that has multiple handles for grabbing. JJF even went so far as to make the top grab handles Red so it’s obvious to the baggage handlers. Another unique selling point is the rockered shape only found in VEIA bags. This shape better accommodates boards than competitor bags by reducing the pressure points on the nose of the board. 

The 3/2 Convertible also includes the industry standards of a padded shoulder strap and durable YKK zippers. In addition, the end caps are reinforced with extra padding and plastic. The inside mesh pocket is perfect for that pair of wet board shorts or rashguard, while the zippered pocket on the outside is home for your fins, wax, and other smaller surf accessories. Interested in a VEIA travel bag that holds 4 surfboards? Check out the 4 Board Travel Surfboard Bag.

Highlights and Features

• Holds 2-3 boards
• 10mm padded top panel and sides
• 20mm padded bottom panel
• Unique rockered shape
• Padded shoulder strap
• Strategically placed grab handles
• Available in 6’0 and 6’6

Shop By Model

VEIA 3/2 Convertible Travel Surfboard Bag - $259.95+

Pro-Lite Smuggler Shortboard Series Travel Surfboard Bag - $270+

“Pays For Itself After One Trip”

We think this is easily one of the most ingenious designs ever for a board bag, especially for the traveler who is getting crushed by “per board” airline fees. If you’re flying thousands of miles to surf, the last thing you want to do is spend a huge chunk of change before you even touch down. The Smuggler bag doesn’t make it free, but it helps in a big way.

Using a false bottom, the bag appears to hold only two boards when you have three packed in, no matter which side you look at it from. This illusion allows a free third board to be stored out of sight. Aside from its magic trick, the Smuggler bag is well-built and has a bunch of quality features you come to expect from Pro-Lite. A reinforced nose, extra rail protection, and a heavy-duty handle help this bag feel ready for the abuses of travel. We also really appreciate the strong, non-corrosive zippers on Pro-Lite bags. If you’ve ever had a zipper seize up or break, you know it’s usually at the least convenient time.

The Smuggler is also a pretty wide bag (26.5” for the Fish/Hybrid/Mid-Length and 24” for the Shortboard), so you don’t have to worry if your groveler or fish will be able to sneak in. Overall, we’re all very stoked about the Smuggler bags here at Cleanline, and the more you travel with it, the quicker it pays for itself.

Features and Highlights:

• Fits up to 3 shortboards
• False bottom hides 3rd board
• 10mm AIR-LITE foam
• Padded shoulder strap
• Large exterior pocket
• Available in 6’0 - 7'2

Shop By Model

Pro-Lite Smuggler Series Shortboard Travel Surfboard Bag - $270+
Pro-Lite Smuggler Series Fish/Hybrid/Mid-Length Travel Surfboard Bag - $294+

FCS Travel Series Surfboard Bag - $274+

“Protect is its Middle Name”

The FCS Travel series has been a fan favorite of our team riders for many years. If you’re in need of ultimate protection for your dream surf trip, these are the bags for you.

FCS is a staple in the surf industry, and its board bags have also become a popular choice for travelers. They make excellent double and triple bags called Travel 2 and Travel 3. Both are nearly identical except for the fact that they hold only 2 and 3 boards, respectively, and have 10mm of padding with 5mm extra in the nose.

The FCS Travel bags are built to last because they are designed with a heavy-duty nylon material that not only resists rips but also repels moisture. That means storing your bag in between trips will be worry-free from the threat of mold. It is also built with a PK Derlin Zipper that can withstand salt and sand during your travels to elongate the life of your bag. 

Features and Highlights:

• 10mm high-density padding
• Extra 5mm in the nose
• Expandable fin wing
• Padded rail
• Internal strap
• Available in 6'0 - 7'6
• Travel  2 and 3 models

Shop By Model

FCS Travel 2 All-Purpose Cover Travel Surfboard Bag - $274+
FCS Travel 2 Funboard Travel Surfboard Bag - $300+
FCS Travel 3 All-Purpose Travel Surfboard Bag - $360+

Pro-Lite Finless Coffin Travel Surfboard Bag - $274+

“Well Designed and Built To Last”

For total peace of mind that your travel bag is going to withstand any long trip, I’d go with the Pro-Lite Finless Coffin Bag. The Finless Coffin is lighter but definitely still as road-worthy as Pro-Lite’s Wheeled Coffin bag.

Inside the Finless Coffin, your boards can be separated by an internal divider and held together snugly by interior “seat belt” straps. On the outside, there are four compression straps to pack the bag down nice and tight. Pro-Lite also reinforced the stitching at stress areas and box-stitched the handles. This is worth noting because if you’ve ever had a handle rip out, you know how much of a bummer it is.

The coffin design of this bag works well as it allows you to fully open up the bag. This feature ensures that your boards are protected from all angles when you’re cramming in board shorts and tees. Some other features of the Finless Coffin are two external pockets for accessories and convenient tie-down loops. The Finless Coffin is available in double and triple/quad models; the only difference is that the triple version has a separate light day bag.

Features and Highlights:

• 10mm foam
• One internal divider
• Interior belt straps
• Non-corrosive zippers
• Available in 6’6 - 7’6
• Available in Double and Triple/Quad models

Shop By Model

Pro-Lite Finless Coffin Double Travel Surfboard Bag - $274+
Pro-Lite Finless Coffin Triple Travel Surfboard Bag - $352+

Db Surf Pro 3-4 Coffin Travel Surfboard Bag - $449

“The Future of Surf Luggage”

Working directly with professional surfer Jordy Smith, the Db team created the Surf Pro bag that not only guarantees the protection of your gear but also takes into account the other elements of travel, such as storage and mobility. This bag is the bag you need if you’re going on a month-long mission and need to bring 3-4 boards out of your quiver. When reviewing all the features of this travel bag, you can tell a ton of thought about the entire travel experience was put into the design.

Using 100% recycled fabric, the bag has a patented Ribcage technology that ensures the safety of your boards and allows the bag to adjust to the size needed (up to 6’6). This design also comes with board separators to prevent wax from spreading to places it shouldn’t. It could even double as a changing mat if you’re in a pinch. The Djarv bag is built with wheels and adjustable straps throughout the exterior of the bag to accommodate the awkward structure of a surfboard bag.

For folks who have had to navigate airports with a surfboard bag and all their other luggage, it is not the most graceful experience. Db has changed that with their patented hook system that allows you to layer other Db luggage on top of one another for easy transportation. No more balancing your board bag on a trolly with your suitcase and backpack. Not to mention, storing these board bags is a piece of cake with Db’s rolling system. Simply empty out your gear and roll up the bags along the seams, and you’ll have a compressed, easy-to-store board bag that does not take up your entire hotel room. The Surf Pro is an absolute luxury in the world of surf and travel. 

Features and Highlights:

• Holds 3-4 boards up to 6'6
• Wheel housing
• Internal board dividers
• Compressible for easy storage
• Includes Db’s hook-up system

Shop By Model

Db Surf Pro 3-4 Coffin Travel Surfboard Bag - $499

Relevant Blogs We've Written

• How To Size A Surfboard Bag
• 5 Best Surfboard Day Bags For 2023
• Best Fish and Hybrid Surfboard Bags of 2023
• Best Shortboard Surfboard Bags of 2023
• Pro-Lite Smuggler Travel Bag Review
• Best Surfboard Car Racks, Pads, and Straps

Final Thoughts

Having the perfect surf travel bag is essential for anyone looking to take a surf trip in 2024. From the durable Db Surf Pro to the cost-saving Pro-Lite Smuggler, there are so many options and styles to choose from. Whether you're heading on a long weekend getaway or chasing waves around the world, one of these seven reviewed travel bags will have your back. 

Make sure you do your research and pick a model that's best suited for your needs; after all, the right bag can make all the difference on a surf trip. So think it through and consider all the factors before making a purchase. That way, you'll be ready when that perfect swell rolls in—so what's the best travel bag for your next trip?

If you have any questions about a specific surfboard bag, you can always call us at 1-888-546-6176, drop a comment below, or send an email to support@cleanlinesurf.com

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Sarah Originally from the rolling hills of New Hampshire, Sarah now calls Oregon home. She started at Cleanline Surf in 2019 and, since then, has grown into the role of the Customer Service and Blog Manager. When she’s not at work helping dial in customers with surf gear, Sarah is happiest out adventuring. From mellow summer surf sessions to winter splitboard missions to ripping down her favorite mountain bike line, Sarah is always ready to go at the drop of a hat.