If you marry the thrills of waterskiing, jetskiing, and snowboarding into one sport on some flat water, you end up with wakeboarding. It’s a great option to have in the summertime if you can’t hit the ocean with your surfboard or the mountains with your snowboard. To pick the best wakeboard, you should first take a look at its size. If it’s too small, you’ll sink and if its too large you won’t be able to maneuver very well. You should also consider what kind of rider you are. If you like riding the wake like a slalom-style skier, go for single tip. If you plan on riding your wakeboard like a snowboard, then search out a double tip wakeboard.
You can find what we reviewed and what we think are the Best Wakeboards for 2022-2023 down below.
Safe riding!
Our Top Rated Wakeboards
| Size | 125 | 130 | 135 | 140 | 145 |
|---|---|
| Ability Level | Beginner – Intermediate |
| Rocker Type | Abrupt Continuous Hybrid |
| Core | Fiberglass | Foam |
| Base Type | Standard |
| Mount Pattern | M6 Inserts |
| Fins | 2 1.3″ Disorder Fins |
A complete entry level deck, the Hyperlite State 2.0 Wakeboard is an asymmetrical all ability level shape that advances your skills quicker with advanced shape technology. The asymmetrical design leverages your natural body positions to help give you a proper stance and assist in your carving ability. And the Abrupt continuous rockerline carves with small amounts of drag and hits the wake with the perfect amount of pop. The Hyperlite State 2.0 Wakeboard has been and proven to be the best choice for a rider looking to master the foundations of wakeboarding.
| Pros |
|---|
Foundational Board |
Molded-in Fins |
Best in Class Control |
| Cons |
|---|
Advanced/Experts should look elsewhere |
Durability can be an issue |
Powderheadz Rating
Overall
Cost
Control | Ride
Weight
Durability
| Size | 130 | 134 | 138 | 142 |
|---|---|
| Ability Level | Intermediate – Advanced |
| Rocker Type | Progressive Three-Stage Rocker |
| Core | Polyurethane |
| Base Type | Standard |
| Mount Pattern | M6 |
| Fins | 2 molded-in fins |
The Liquid Force Classic Wakeboard is a timeless design that’s extremely user-friendly. The aggressive 3-Stage Rocker will pop you up high and the Spiral V with a Double Concave Mid-Section gives you a soft landing. It also allows for quicker and smoother turn initiation and rolls while the quad vented channels at the tips lift you without hindering water flow, allowing you to maintain speed and hold at simultaneously.
| Pros |
|---|
Playful, Responsive Ride |
Lots of Pop |
| Cons |
|---|
May be too much for beginners |
Powderheadz Rating
Overall
Cost
Control | Ride
Weight
Durability
| Size | 134 | 139 | 144 |
|---|---|
| Ability Level | Beginner – Intermediate |
| Rocker Type | 3-Stage |
| Core | Mod Pour |
| Base Type | Low Friction |
| Mount Pattern | M6 |
| Fins | 2 1.7″ Fiberglass Hook Fins |
The Ronix Vault Wakeboard is an innovative design that maximizes what you’re able to do off the wake. By changing the profile, the Vault will get the most grip to the wake, giving you all the power you need to lift high off the water. The Toeside Fins give you a stronger and more stable edge hold by being longer, deeper, and closer to the thinned out Toe-side rail which sits deeper in the water which creates additional grip. And the heelside will have a rail that’s softer and fuller for a mellow transition and fins that are shorter for a quick release while allowing you to pull off some spin tricks.
| Pros |
|---|
Thin Profile for Control |
Grip and Release Channels offer Superior Traction |
Low Friction for a Fast Glide |
| Cons |
|---|
Board is a bit of a challenge for newbies |
Powderheadz Rating
Overall
Cost
Control | Ride
Weight
Durability
| Size | 145 | 150 | 155 | 160 |
|---|---|
| Ability Level | Intermediate – Advanced |
| Rocker Type | Continuous Rocker |
| Core | Vertically Laminated Wood |
| Base Type | 0.7mm Ballistic Standard |
| Mount Pattern | M6 |
| Fins | 4 .75″ x 6″ Wake Fins |
If you’re looking for a single board that everyone- from first-timers to pro riders- will enjoy, the Slingshot Nomad Wakeboard is your board. It has inspired the birth of a whole new category of casual and more mellow wakeboarding. Its enhanced buoyancy makes it much easier to get up and stay up, giving you a leisurely, stress-free ride. And it’s Ballistic grade base gives it the durability you need to crash around the dock and/or rails.
| Pros |
|---|
Explosive Pop |
User Friendly |
Buttery Smooth Ride |
| Cons |
|---|
Not Scratch Resistant |
Powderheadz Rating
Overall
Cost
Control | Ride
Weight
Durability
| Size | 129 | 134 | 138 | 143 |
|---|---|
| Ability Level | Intermediate – Advanced |
| Rocker Type | Three-Stage Continuous |
| Core | Foam |
| Base Type | Standard |
| Mount Pattern | M6 |
| Fins | 4 Fiberglass 1.0″ Ramp Fins |
The Ronix District Wakeboard is a great wakeboard that you can evolve with as it’s made for beginners but can hang with those who eventually get more advanced skills in their riding. It provides a good grip and release tech that provides enough traction without too much resistance. And the variable rails will help you with your jumps and turns.
| Pros |
|---|
Predictable Take-off |
Solid Carving Turns |
| Cons |
|---|
Not for the faint of heart |
Powderheadz Rating
Overall
Cost
Control | Ride
Weight
Durability
| Size | 130 | 135 | 139 | 144 |
|---|---|
| Ability Level | Beginner – Intermediate |
| Rocker Type | Continuous Rocker |
| Core | Precision PU Core |
| Base Type | Standard Base |
| Mount Pattern | M6 |
| Fins | 6 |
The Liquid Force Trip Wakeboard is a tried and true classic shape that continues to impress. It has a smooth, forgiving feel and its durability make it an unmatched entry level all terrain board for beginners and mid-level riders looking to advance their riding that won’t break the bank. It’s a great wakeboard to help develop you into a more aggressive rider as well as learning a new trick or too.
| Pros |
|---|
Great Learner Board |
Easy to Control |
| Cons |
|---|
A bit costly for beginners whose heart isn’t in it |
Powderheadz Rating
Overall
Cost
Control | Ride
Weight
Durability
| Size | 128 | 134 | 138 | 142 |
|---|---|
| Ability Level | Beginner – Intermediate |
| Rocker Type | Continuous |
| Core | Fiberglass Foam |
| Base Type | Standard |
| Mount Pattern | M6 |
| Fins | 4 0.8″ Poly A-Wing |
The Hyperlite Franchise Wakeboard has an innovative shape with a continuous rocker that allows you to really carve edge-to-edge while you’re at speed. It gives you that predictability when you pop off the wake so you know what tricks you can pull off mid-air. And the Tapered Channels and Dual Fin Configuration offers great board edge as you head to the wake and its thinner profile minimizes swing weight for simple rotation and inverted spins.
| Pros |
|---|
Lightning Fast |
Thinner with Less Friction yet Durable |
| Cons |
|---|
Jack of All Trades, Master of None. |
Caters to everyone, but Experts may be left wanting more |
Powderheadz Rating
Overall
Cost
Control | Ride
Weight
Durability
| Size | 134 | 138 | 142 |
|---|---|
| Ability Level | Advanced – Expert |
| Rocker Type | Three-Stage |
| Core | Carbon Fiber | Fiberglass |Foam |
| Base Type | Standard Base |
| Mount Pattern | M6 |
| Fins | 4 |
The Liquid Force Remedy Aero Wakeboard is the medicine you need to cure your wakeboarding woes. This aggressive as hell board comes with a three-stage rocker profile and some stiff flex to give you some insane pop while maintaing full control. It has Liquid Force’s Premium Aero construction – a weightless Divinycell core covered top to bottom with some C4 Carbon Fiber for excellent durability.
| Pros |
|---|
Harley Clifford Approved |
Lightest Board in Liquid Force’s Arsenal |
| Cons |
|---|
EXPENSIVE |
Experts Only, or you’re going to break something. |
Powderheadz Rating
Overall
Cost
Control | Ride
Weight
Durability
| Size | 131 | 136 | 141 | 146 |
|---|---|
| Ability Level | Beginner – Intermediate |
| Rocker Type | Three-Stage Hybrid |
| Core | Foam |
| Base Type | Standard Base |
| Mount Pattern | M6 |
| Fins | 2 |
The CWB Reverb Wakeboard is a favorite of the Connelly team and is made to work with anyone’s riding style. The Three-Stage Rocker is subtle and has a deep channel for maximum edge control. The board is prepared to send you flying behind the boat and touch down like a seasoned pilot.
| Pros |
|---|
User Friendly and Forgiving |
Great Edge Hold |
| Cons |
|---|
CWB says its Intermediate | Advanced, but really for Beginners |
Powderheadz Rating
Overall
Cost
Control | Ride
Weight
Durability
| Size | 134 | 139 | 144 |
|---|---|
| Ability Level | Intermediate – Advanced |
| Rocker Type | Continuous |
| Core | Mod Pour Foam | Modello |
| Base Type | Dimpled Base |
| Mount Pattern | M6 |
| Fins | 4 1.0″ Fiberglass Ramps Fins |
The Ronix Parks Modello Wakeboard gets its vibe from golf balls of all places. It’s dimpled base creates a loose, playful, easy-going ride and is paired with a consistent, continuous rocker profile. The four fiberglass ramp fins can help bring you back down to the wake so you can take off once again. Be the Billy Madison to everyone else’s Shooter McGavin.
| Pros |
|---|
User Friendly and Forgiving |
Dimples on the Bottom helps reduce Friction |
| Cons |
|---|
Dimple Base can be weird for some |
Powderheadz Rating
Overall
Cost
Control | Ride
Weight
Durability
And there you have it! Our current list for the Best Wakeboards of the 2022-2023 Season. There are literally hundreds of Wakeboards out there and finding the right one can be a challenge, so hopefully you agree with our choices. Do you think a certain Wakeboard deserves a spot on our Top Rated Wakeboard list? Let us know? Email us at info (at) powderheadz.com and we will do our best to give it a thorough testing! Need more tips? Look below for a thorough guide on how to determine which Wakeboard is right for you.
As always, happy riding!
How-To: Buy the Best Wakeboards
There are a few things to consider when choosing a wakeboard. Size, Ability Level, Rocker, Riding Style, etc. Keep in mind that there is no perfect, one-size-fits-all wakeboard. But getting the right wakeboard can vastly improve your abilities and skill levels quickly.
Before you consider purchasing a wakeboard (it can be a pricey investment), take time to familiarize yourself with what types of wakeboards are out there and some of the terminology.
Length:
The size of your wakeboard will depend on your riding style and your weight. Most wakeboards will have their own specific guidelines for their weight. A general rule of thumb is to buy the wakeboard suited for either the heaviest person in your group or the person who rides the most. It can be extremely frustrating if a board is not long enough that the rider can’t float over the wake.
| Wakeboard Length | Rider Weight |
| < 130cm | < 100lbs |
| 130cm – 134cm | 90lbs – 150lbs |
| 135cm – 139cm | 130lbs – 180lbs |
| 140cm – 144cm | 170lbs – 250lbs |
| > 144cm | 200lbs – 275lb+ |
Short Wakeboards – Some Wakeboarders prefer to ride a board that’s shorter than their suggested size because they are easier to maneuver and spin in the air as you flip around across the wake. However, they are generally slower and take more energy to ride on the water. Also, the shorter board has a much greater chance of the nose digging into to water, causing you to crash when you really don’t want to.
Long Wakeboards – Longer boards are generally much easier to learn on and therefore ride. They are also heavier and harder to work with if you’re airborne. Longer boards have an increased surface area which helps it sit on top of the water easier and you require less energy to keep it afloat.
Ability Level:
Beginner | Intermediate – Most of these wakeboards will have a continuous or shallow 3-stage rocker and geared for those who have never ridden before or ride occasionally.
Intermediate | Advanced – If you can cross the wake in both directions and can clear it, you’ll want one of these.
Advanced | Expert – If you can spin, invert, or just attempting new tricks, look for these. These wakeboards will have 3-stage rockers or aggressive continuous rockers and are less forgiving.
Wakeboard Rocker:
Continuous – Continuous rockers have a smooth, curved shape. They provide fast, smooth rides and allow you to turn easily. You can build up a lot of speed and height when you hit the wake and it will shoot you farther out into the flat water. Continuous rocker wakeboards are also great for carving on smooth flat water.
3-Stage – 3-Stage rockers will respond with more height when you hit the wake. They also feel a little slippery and loose on the surface water. It also can drag the water more than a continuous rocker, making your riding a bit slower.
Wakeboard Base Shapes:
Base Material – Nearly all wakeboards are made of either wood core or foam wrapped in fiberglass. Few will be made with graphite, but most likely, it will be fiberglass around foam. They are cheaper, lighter, last longer, and are more durable, but don’t have the response or lift that wood core wakeboards do.
Channels – Channels are like long extruded fins on the bottom of the wakeboard that helps breakup surface tension
Concaves – Concaves are special dents on the bottom of the wakeboard that help creates lift and reduces suction so the board sits higher in the water
Featureless – Featureless boards have no fins or channels and makes the shape of the wakeboard dictate its performance on the water.
Grind Base – Grind bases were built due to the popularity of rail riding. The base is much stronger and has more durability to withstand the beatdown it gets from riding over PVC, Metal, or docks.
V-Shape Spines – V-Shape Spines are often added to wakeboards with 3-stage rockers to soften landings. They allow you to roll from edge to edge like some v-shaped boats do.
Fins:
Molded-in fins are stuck to the wakeboard and do not come off while removable fins can be unscrewed and, well, be removed. Most wakeboards will have molded-in fins towards the outside of the board and removable fins on the inside towards the center. Removing the fins will give you more options to change the type of riding you want to get out of your wakeboard.
Longer fins give you a more stable ride but reduces your ability to perform any tricks as the fins kind of anchor you into the water. They are more beneficial to beginners as they learn how to wakeboard but eventually you’ll want to remove fins or select another wakeboard.
This is our current list of Best Wakeboards for the 2022-2023 Season. However, there are tons more Wakeboards out there and we will be updating this list often with the most current information. Think we missed a Wakeboard and that there’s one that deserves a spot on the Best Wakeboards List? Let us know! E-mail us at info (at) powderheadz.com.
As always, happy riding!
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