The POD Handboard Range
POD has shaped handboards since the late 1980s. The range now covers eight models, and each one extends the lift your hand already generates on a wave face. The differences come down to size, weight, buoyancy and how much care the board needs.
Which material suits you?
- Polyurethane - WOW 13" - around 330 to 350 grams, lighter than the 12-inch WOO even though it's an inch longer. Raised palm support, dent and crack resistant, and no maintenance.
- Polypropylene - Original Classic - moulded, neutrally buoyant and hard-wearing, with an EVA pad under the palm. In continuous production since 1993.
- Cedar and walnut - EGO 9", WOO 12", FLO 15" and the Duo - CNC-shaped timber with natural buoyancy and the feel of wood under your hand. Raised palm support, recessed retainer plugs and marine-grade stainless hardware.
- Australian cedar - Original Handcrafted - the original POD signature shape, hand-coated up to eight times and made in limited numbers.
- Cottonwood - DIY kit - a 15-inch board you finish and assemble yourself, and it rides in either direction.
Raised palm support or the original deck?
Every POD handboard has a concave bottom, and every model except the DIY board has an integrated keel fin. The difference is on the deck. The WOW 13" and the cedar and walnut range have a raised palm support shaped into the deck. It fills the hollow of your palm, and together with the double-padded neoprene strap over the back of your hand, it holds your hand in place on the board. The Original Classic, Original Handcrafted and DIY board keep the original convex deck, with a flat EVA pad under the palm on the Classic and the DIY. The pad adds comfort, but it can't hold the hand in position the way the raised shape does. The raised palm support came from Classic riders asking for exactly that.
Which size do I need?
Smaller boards suit steep, hollow waves and smaller hands. Larger boards carry more surface area for fuller waves and bigger riders. The EGO 9" is compact and quick to turn, the WOO 12" covers the widest range of conditions, the WOW 13" sits between the WOO and the FLO, and the FLO 15" gives the most surface area for powerful surf.
One board or two?
Most riders use one board on the leading hand. Some prefer one on each hand for a balanced stroke, much like hand paddles in the pool. The Duo pairs two EGO 9" boards for riders of average build. Riders from around 85 to 90 kg often prefer a pair of WOW 13" boards for the extra surface area.
For sizing, technique and how to choose, read How to Choose a Bodysurfing Handboard.
