Which Thomas Surfboards Longboard Surfboard Is Right for You?
Buying a longboard surfboard is one of the better decisions you'll make as a surfer - and can be one of the easier ones to get wrong. Not because the boards are hard to understand but because there are a lot of them, and the differences are subtle enough that choosing without guidance can be tough. At Thomas Surfboards, we make a range of longboards - from pure noseriders built for tip time to gliders that work in waves twice your height. This guide is designed to make your choice a lot simpler. Whether you're after a classic Australian log, a modern noserider with a bit more drive, or something that gets you out there when it’s 8 feet, there's a Thomas longboard surfboard for the job. Let's help you find yours.
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The Keeper 2.0 — The Classic Australian Log
The Keeper 2.0 is our most iconic surfboard model. It’s a user-friendly take on the traditional Australian log that shines in quality, under-head-high surf. If you want a smooth and flowing ride, with traditional longboard feels, it’s hard to go past the Keeper 2.0. A wide concave and generous surface area through the nose provide stability and confidence for noseriding, while slightly pinched 50/50 rails, which are foiled out through the tail, provide responsiveness. It’s a lovely balance of traditional longboard design elements. View stock.
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The Keeper 2.0 - At a Glance
Best for: Surfers chasing smooth and flowing traditional log feels - someone after a classic Thomas Surfboard.
Specialty: Well-rounded, traditional logging in head-high and under surf. Works in average conditions but best for clean surf i.e. defined beachies & point breaks.
Key features: Plenty of surface area in the nose with a wide concave for stability. 50/50, slightly pinched rails that are foiled out through the tail.
Feel: Traditional log feel. Responsive without sacrificing stability on the front half. Easy to walk up and down the board.
Fin: Bowl Cut or Thomas Fin.
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The New Faithful — The Modern Noserider
The New Faithful is our most contemporary log — a modern noserider that blends traditional Thomas design elements with one forgiving addition: a hard edge through the last two inches of the tail. The result is a livelier, easier-to-ride board that's more manageable in average surf and safer in crowded lineups. A deep nose concave creates an "apex" that draws water under the nose for suction and lift, making noserides more stable and locked-in. The wide, balanced outline — less hip than a typical log — combined with a flip and scoop in the tail means that once you find the spot, you'll know it. View stock.
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The New Faithful - At a Glance
Best for: Beginners to experts. Anyone wanting noseriding and turning to feel as easy as possible without sacrificing the log aesthetic - and surfers who want more control over their board.
Specialty: Noseriding and manoeuvrability in everything from knee-high to head-and-a-half-plus.
Key features: A wider, balanced outline with less hip than our typical logs makes turns open-faced rather than pivot-driven. A hard edge through the tail adds drive off the bottom and quicker reaction through turns, while the scoop in the tail and deep nose concave keep things controlled when you're on the nose.
Feel: Fast and responsive - spicier through transitions and turns than your average log.
Fin: Malibu
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The Malibu — The Most Versatile Longboard in Our Range
The Malibu is our most versatile log — effortless on the nose, but with enough life through turns to keep things interesting. It's got more of a California feel than most of our boards, though it's far from a Nuuhiwa. Works equally well in mushy beachies and peeling point breaks up to head high. A wide outline through the nose and tail provides stability and glide, extra concave makes noseriding forgiving — you don't have to be perfectly in the pocket — and pinched rails through the tail keep things lively when you push through turns. Stable and agile in equal measure. View stock.
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The Malibu - At a Glance
Best for: Surfers chasing a classic, versatile log that noseriders well and handles anything up to head high.
Specialty: Noseriding and power turns.
Key features: Wide outline for stability and glide. Extra concave with a chamfered edge through the nose for forgiving noserides. 50/50 rails through the middle, pinched through the tail for drive.
Feel: Effortless on the nose. Stable but agile. Classic log.
Fin: Malibu, Thomas, or Bowl Cut.
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The Scoop Tail: The Pure Noserider
The Scoop Tail is the purest noserider in our longboard surfboard range - built to cruise, slow things down, and maximise time on the tip. The wide square tail is scooped out on the deck to hold you in the wave, while exaggerated roll and tail flip encourage smooth, controlled turns. A wide outline through the nose and tail paired with full 50/50 rails keeps things stable and forgiving in everything from mushy runners to clean point breaks, knee to shoulder high. It's slower than our average log, easier to noseride, and (just quietly) won a World Title at pumping Malibu. View stock.
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The Scoop Tail - At a Glance
Best for: Surfers focused on noseriding. Knee to shoulder high, slopey waves and point breaks.
Specialty: Lift, stability and maximum time on the nose.
Key features: Wide nose and scoop tail create drag and hold you in the wave. Exaggerated rolled bottom through the tail encourages smooth turns and stalls.
Feel: Slower and more stable than your average log. Easy to noseride.
Fin: Noserider or Malibu.
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The Harrison — For Critical Surfing in Quality Waves
Designed for critical surfing and fast-flowing trim, the Harrison features a pulled-in nose, generous concave, and 60/40 rails that create suction up the face and lock you into steep sections. A pulled-in tail balances confident noseriding with agile turning. Lively and reliable in waves with some bite, the refined outline and rocker allow for serious glide. Best paired with a Bowl Cut or Greenough 4A fin. View stock.
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The Harrison - At a Glance
Best for: Surfers with a refined approach to positioning or surfers wanting to focus on trim.
Specialty: Critical and traditional longboarding.
Key features: Pulled in nose with a generous concave and 60/40 upturned rails. This rail shape combined with the pulled in tail allow for a nice balance of noseriding and turning.
Feel: Agile/lively underfoot. Fast down the line speed.
Fin: Bowl Cut
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The High Heel — Karina Rozunko’s Pro Model
The High Heel is the result of a fruitful collab between Thomas and Karina Rozunko. The best way to sum it up would be that Karina came in and added her personal touch of effervescence to a classic Australian old mal design. The result is a much more fun and lighthearted ride. The High Heel is great for those who want old mal feels but don’t want the difficult-to-ride baggage that comes with them. View stock.
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The High Heel - At a Glance
Best for: Surfers who want the classic aesthetic in a forgiving ride. Knee to head high. Points & defined beach breaks.
Specialty: User friendly involvement-era style surfing.
Key features: A pulled in nose plus hippy back paired with subtly pinched 50/50 rails. The nose has a subtle concave which blends nicely with a rolled bottom.
Feel: Forgiving take on the classic Aussie old mal.
Fin: Thomas or Bowl Cut.
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The Hariot — An Involvement-Era Log for Advanced Surfers
The Hariot is built for in-the-pocket ‘involved’ surfing and works best in clean peeling waves up to shoulder high. Refined 50/50 rails and roll through the belly means the board fits best in tight/steep sections. This log is best suited to advanced surfers who are chasing classic Australian old-mal feels. It’s one of our least forgiving models but when it’s surfed in the right place at the right time, it’s hard to beat. Best paired with a Thomas or Bowl Cut fin. View stock.
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The Hariot - At a Glance
Best for: Surfer chasing an old mal experience. Good waves; pointbreaks or down the line waves with defined pockets. Knee to head high surf.
Specialty: In-the-pocket, involved surfing.
Key features: Refined, pinched rails with plenty of roll through the belly for nimble surfing in tight sections. The outline pairs a pulled in nose with hip through the back and a thumb tail.
Feel: One of our least forgiving models, but the most rewarding when it is put in the right place at the right time.
Fin: Thomas or Bowl Cut.
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The Bill Pin — For Surfers Ready to Push Their Rail Work
The Bill Pin is designed for connected, flowy and critical surfing. By no means is it a difficult board to ride - it will work for any surfer wanting to experience a pin tail - however to get the most out of the design we suggest a minimum intermediate level of skill. The pintail and pinched 50/50 rails, combined with a pulled in nose and hippy, rolled bottom back half, mean that it’s best for surfers who are looking to push themselves with regard to positioning and rail work. Paired best with a Thomas or Bowl Cut fin. View stock.
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The Bill Pin - At a Glance
Best for: Those wanting to surf in-the-pocket. Waist to just overhead high waves, particularly where the whole rail line can be used.
Specialty: Fast flowy surfing and critical noserides.
Key features: Pintail and pinched 50/50 rails. Subtle concave with pulled in nose. Hippy, rolled bottom back half.
Feel: Smooth and connected between turns, good trim speed and hold in steep, fast sections.
Fin: Thomas or Bowl Cut Fin
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The All Rounder — When the Waves Get Overhead
The All-Rounder is our take on the best of the 2+1 longboard era and allows for long, flowing lines on any wave canvas. It’s not a log but it retains traditional design features to promote clean and stylish surfing. View stock.
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The All Rounder - At a Glance
Best for: Surfers with an appreciation for the traditional aesthetic but want to ride longboards in overhead conditions. Shoulder to double-overhead-high +.
Specialty: Works best in waves that are big enough to allow for the use of the whole rail line and 2+1 style carves.
Key features: 2+1 fin setup on a pintail with a subtle edge through the last 6 inches. More rocker than our standard longboards allows for quicker transitions between turns.
Feel: Feels as agile as a midlength.
Fin: Thomas side bites plus the A. Bex fin, a small Bowl Cut fin, or Finger fin.
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The Big Dreams — A Versatile Glider
If elegance is what you’re after, the Big Dreams ticks all the boxes. This beautiful design maintains all the elements of a glider while its size and rocker make it a more manageable and versatile ride. Designed initially for big, clean and juicy conditions, we’ve been pleasantly surprised how enjoyable it is in small surf. Used everywhere from 2 foot Noosa to 10 foot Bells, for all levels of surfers. The sleek outline has a wide point that’s 5-6” forward from centre, depending on length, which provides you with the option to bottom turn from way up toward the middle of the board. It’s got a pulled in pin tail for extra hold through long, carving rail turns, and a speed-shape nose to reduce wind resistance and the risk of catching a rail. The bottom contours move from a subtle roll through to a slight panel V. View stock.
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The Big Dreams - At a Glance
Best for: Surfers wanting a versatile and maneuverable glider.
Specialty: Trim and drive.
Key features: Widepoint 5-6” forward from centre creates a beautiful teardrop outline. Subtle rolled entry in the nose blends through the middle into a panel V in the tail.
Feel: Glider that can be put on rail when it’s big.
Fin: Custom Big Dreams single fin available on request.
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The Postie: For Surfers Who Want to Experience Pure Glide
The Postie is inspired by and designed for the glide - it’s the ultimate trim machine. It’ll work from knee high to double overhead or suffice if you’re looking for something to use on smaller day tandem sessions with the babe. The Postie has a soft rolled V through the nose that flows through the middle and leads to a soft panel V through the tail. The rocker is smooth and consistent over the entire length of the board, with just the right amount to offer the optimal amount of glide. Some people cross step all the way to the nose but for the most part the Postie likes to be surfed from the back two halves of the board. View stock.
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The Postie - At a Glance
Best for: Surfers wanting to experience the inertia and momentum of a glider.
Specialty: Trim and glide.
Key features: Soft rolled V through the nose that flows through the middle and leads to a soft panel V through the tail. The rocker is smooth and consistent over the entire length of the board.
Feel: Glider.
Fin: Bowl Cut or custom fin on request.
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That’s a Wrap, Folks
Reaching the end of this guide suggests you are either incredibly meticulous or deeply committed to finding your next longboard surfboard - both qualities we appreciate. Each model in the Thomas Surfboards lineup is crafted for a distinct rider and a specific approach, and finding that alignment is what transforms your experience in the lineup. If the choice still feels unclear, please reach out. We live and breathe these designs and would rather spend a few minutes ensuring you end up on the right craft than have you struggling on the wrong one. Give us a shout or come in and rent one of our demos and the cost of the rental will be taken off your new board's price. There are few things in surfing more rewarding than a perfectly matched log. Let's find yours.
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Written by Harrison Roach & Mason Schremmer.
Harrison Roach is the 2022 WSL World Longboard Champion and a surfboard design expert.
Mason Schremmer is a World Tour level professional longboarder and experienced surf industry retailer. |
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