Travel broadens the mind…or something like that. On our recent trip to Java, I was very excited to come across some surfing innovations that make a gidgets’ life a whole lot easier. Ok, they might not be new new but newly discovered anyway. Here’s what we found and why we love them.
Pocket Booties
I hate surfing in reef boots. They feel funny on my feet and it’s just not quite the same like surfing without. It’s usually a bit of a trade-off though. It’s better without in the surf. But then it’s an absolute pain in the butt (actually foot) to walk across the reef without. I had serious reef-boot envy when I saw a guy wearing pocket booties. You just fold them up and put them in your pocket while you surf and then slip them on when you need them. Slight problem – unlike boys with surf-shorts – a lot of girls don’t have a ‘pocket’ in their bikini. If you wear a swimsuit though or rashie I’m sure you could stick them inside somehow.
Clip-in Fins
Gone are the days where you desperately have to scramble for a fin key to get your fins back into the board after a plane trip to some tropical surf destination. Or you get to your perfect break only to realise that one of your fins is lose and no fin key in sight (yes, it happened to me before and yes, it’s very annoying if it happens).
I didn’t think much about the FCS 2 fin system when I got my new board before my overseas trip. I was like: ‘ok, different fin system…so what…’. But oh my god…I only realised how amazing it is when I was travelling with my new board. The FCS 2 system simply and securely locks the fins into place with one click. No need for screws or fin keys which makes it super easy and quick when travelling. Love it. Thumbs-up for the smarty-pants who came up with this one.
Paddle Air Inflatable Rash Vest
Someone told me about this one in Java and I’m so going to get one for the next trip. Every gidget who’s been on a surftrip and surfed its little gidget heart out will know this feeling. The feeling of sore ribs after lying for hours and hours on a surfboard. And once they start hurting, the only thing that helps is no surfing for a few days. i.e. so far the options have been – surf with pain or no surf. But who wants to have non-surfing days on a well-deserved surfing holiday with limited time? Some dude came up with another option. He invented an air inflatable rash vest, not the ones the tow-in surfers use for rescuing purposes, one for the average surfing person to pad your little precious ribs on the surfboard. Admittedly, they are not the most attractive things on the planet. Maybe that’s another challenge to the surf companies. Make one of these that look good.
Have you come across any awesome gadgets for gidgets lately? Let us know, we would love to hear about it. E-mail us >>
Happy Surfing,
Claudia x
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