What exactly is the Isle Epoxy Surfboard Difference?

Other Epoxy Surfboard brands explained

We understand that many epoxy-type surfboard products exist in todays marketplace, so before we get further into Resin8, we want to bring these to your attetion so you know and understand the brands.

Website: www.surftech.com
Surftech Tuflite: Surftech Tuflite is Surf Tech's bread and butter and is an epoxy sandwich that combines various layers of EPS foam, high density foam, fiberglass, and epoxy resin. It currently dominates the marketplace.
Positive: Light, environmentally friendly, strong, and relatively inexpensive with lots of models.
Negative: Highly increased buoyancy over traditional PU, edges and rails typically not sharp and refined, extremely rigid feel.
Price: Shortboards in the $575-650 Range, Longboards $750 +

Surftech TL2: Surftech's new high-tech lightweight board has more flexible EPS, to cater to more high performance surfers.
Positive: Floating and flex resembles more closely a traditional PU surfboard, but with added strength and less damage to the environment.
Negative: Very Expensive.
Price: Shortboard in the $650-800 range, depending on shaper

Website: www.firewiresurfboards.com
Firewire: Epoxy Composite technology with high density outer core, and also features a balsa stinger running on the rails of the board.
Positive: Advocated claim increased flex response and acceleration while maintaining speed in critical maneuvers.
Negative: Limited Quantity and shapes, price is SKY HIGH
Price: Shortboard in the $750-800 range

Website: www.avisosurf.com
Aviso: Carbon Fiber Surfboards built from high tech materials used in missiles and jets.
Positive: Carbon shell makes the board indestructible and pressure ding resistant. Flex pattern can be tuned to a surfers preference. Go figure on that one..
Negative: Expensive, hard to repair, and performance is yet to be validated at surfings higher levels.
Price: Shortboards over a $1000.00

Website: www.boardworkssurf.com
Boardworks: Same as Surftech Tuflite above

Website: www.lost.com
Lost Placebo: Same as Surftech Tuflite above.

All the brands listed above are the Epoxy Type Surfboards prominent in todays marketplace. Each has a variation of an epoxy based technology. Most described above involve a mold or some vacuum compression. Most shapers now offer a hand shaped EPS board glassed with epoxy resin. The hand shaped versions of epoxy lack the strength of a traditional molded epoxy described above, and are slightly more expensive than your traditional PU boards with shortboards.

So what's the Isle difference? Here are 4 reasons why we think you should make a Isle Surfboards Epoxy Surfboard fit in your quiver:

1. Isle is totally focused on producing a high quality performance epoxy shortboard. With multiple shortboard models to choose from, we have a dimension to suit you.
2. Isle Epoxy surfboards have good flex properties, finely tuned by hand to the master plug. The rails and edges retain sharpness.
3. Isle is priced competitively at $300-$400 for all shortboards in the quiver.
4. Isle can be purchased on the web at Islesurfboards.com for immediate delivery to all 50 states in the continental USA.

The Isle Surfboards focus specifically on high performance shortboards. All our shapes have high performance shortboarding in mind, and we feel our dimensions and size range is unparralled in selection. We have a dimension to suit you as a shortboarder, longboarder or anyhting in between.

But before we continue, let us say a few more words about 2 of our competitors.

Surftech TL2 Technology

The First is Surftech…Surftech Tuflite is known by the masses of good surfers to not have flex, the edges and rails are plain and unrefined, and they're in every surf shop you set foot in. They have made millions off the epoxy craze and dominate the marketplace. Yes they have cloned the master plugs of every shaper on the planet in Tuflite technology, but what good is a master if has no flex, lame edges, and floats like a cork? Well if you really can't surf that well, what do you care as long as it's extremely durable so you get more bang for your buck? All you want to know is that AL Merrick shaped the master and it looks shiny on the shelf with all the marketing and buzz and Al's logo. We have to hand it to those guys at Surftech. They are marketing geniuses and tapped a niche in the market that has exploded by offering a durable, shiny, kayak shaped board, modeled from a legendary shapers master plug. Great job guys…… but what about the segment of the market who really wants to get the added durability and PERFORMANCE……well here ya go…

Recently Surftech has taken heed to the complaints about the Tuflite technology from hardcore surfers and has recently added the TL2 or next generation of TUFLITE to appease them. This is cool. The boards take a much more hands on approach to cloning the master more appropriately and have added steps to increase flex, finish on the rails and edges, and they have a pretty darn sweet product and we applaud them on the TL2. The downside for now is the boards are very pricey, well over the $600 range and higher for more renowned shapers, and the selection is extremely limited at the moment..

Firewire Future Shapes Technology

Firewire on the other hand is a variation of the TL2 except with a balsa rails thrown in for extra flex response properties. Does this work or not? They say yes and its gotten some rave reviews…however the jury is still deliberating. Bottom line is Firewire also has an insane product and they can offer a fully custom version of the product. Whoaaaaa… Sounds expensive, yep…..it will break the bank but it sure looks cool and they work sweet.

And now for the rest of the list…..Boardworks, Lost Placebo. These are just copycat Surftech Tuflites. The same old molded kayaks with cool logos and spray jobs. And if you don't believe us, just have a look for yourself. Next time you pick up a Surftech Tuflite, Boardworks, or Lost Placebo have a look at the flex, the rails, edges and weight. You will notice a big difference if you compare to a TL2, Firewire, or Resin8.

So this isn't really to bash anyone it's just to make a point. Isle Surfboards have been developed over the last 5 years to get to the current stage and it's been a long hard road of trial and error and money spent. The flex is just right, the tail edges are sharp, and the finish is absolutely insane. Our factory is specifically focused on making this specific type of surfboard and therefore we can offer a great price. Our entire range retails for $300-$500. Ask your local shop how much the TL2 or Firewire retail and you will find they are in the $600-800 range. Really pricey. So before you buy from the “Big Boys” give us a try and you won't be disappointed.

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