What changes when you leave the log
You sit closer to the peak, take off later and pop up faster. You stop walking the board and start turning off the tail. Expect fewer waves for the first few sessions. That is normal, not a sign you bought the wrong board.
Mid-length, fish or shortboard?
A mid-length, roughly 6'8" to 8'0", is the safest step. It still paddles well and still gets through flat sections.
A fish is shorter and wider. It trades paddle power for speed in small waves, and it is a bigger jump. A shortboard is the biggest jump of all and wants steeper waves than most longboard spots get on an average day.
Keep the right volume
Coming off a longboard, size from the newer-to-hardboards column below even if you have surfed for years. The skills you are building on a shorter board are new ones.
Keep the longboard if you can. Small, slow days are still longboard days, and having it means you only take the new board out in waves that suit it.
Boards come from the Quivr catalog and rank higher when their full wave-size range covers more of the step-down waves band and their power midpoint sits closer to it. Ratings only break close ties. Max two per brand. A size cell names a stock size only when its liters land within about 10% of the starting volume; otherwise it says how far the chart is from it.
Starting volume by weight
Same starting point as the Quivr app: weight in kilos × 0.60 if you are newer to hardboards, × 0.46 for an everyday surfer, × 0.40 if advanced. It is a starting volume, not a length.
| If you weigh | Newer to hardboards | Everyday |
|---|---|---|
| 130 lb | 35.4L | 27.1L |
| 150 lb | 40.8L | 31.3L |
| 170 lb | 46.3L | 35.5L |
| 190 lb | 51.7L | 39.6L |
| 210 lb | 57.2L | 43.8L |
| 230 lb | 62.6L | 48.0L |
Mid-lengths for the step down from a longboard
| Board | Wave size | Power | Skill | At 180 lb (newer to hardboards) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chemistry Surfboards Lyle | Waist-high → head-high | Soft | Beginner-friendly to intermediate | 7'4" · 46.3L |
| Haydenshapes Mid Length Glider | Waist-high → head-high | Soft | Beginner-friendly to intermediate | 7'1" · 45L |
| TC Surfboards MDL | Waist-high → overhead | Moderate | Beginner-friendly to intermediate | 7'2" · 49.28L |
| Almond Surfboards Pleasant Pheasant | Knee-high → head-high | Soft | Beginner-friendly to intermediate | 6'10" · 46L |
| TC Surfboards Bullit | Knee-high → head-high | Soft | Beginner-friendly to intermediate | 7'4" · 48L |
| Thunderbolt / CJ Nelson Subrosa | Knee-high → head-high | Soft | Beginner-friendly to intermediate | 6'11.5" · 45.15L |
| Stewart Surfboards 949 Comp | Waist-high → head-high | Moderate | Beginner-friendly to advanced | 7'0" · 45.8L |
The boards
1. Chemistry Surfboards Lyle
Chemistry Surfboards Lyle runs waist-high to head-high, covering the whole step-down waves band (waist-high to head-high) and not much beyond it — a specialist for exactly these days. Its soft power midpoint sits below the typical power band for step-down waves, so it should feel liveliest on the softer days; overall the power window reads soft to moderate. The beginner-friendly to intermediate skill window fully covers this level.
At 180 lb (newer to hardboards), the closest Chemistry Surfboards Lyle stock size is 7'4" at 46.3 liters.
Quivr catalog read: The Lyle is a versatile mid-length surfboard designed for easy paddling and catching waves.
Category: Midlength · Catalog ability: intermediate
2. Haydenshapes Mid Length Glider
Haydenshapes Mid Length Glider runs waist-high to head-high, covering the whole step-down waves band and not much beyond it — a specialist for exactly these days. Its soft power midpoint sits below the typical power band for step-down waves, so it should feel liveliest on the softer days; overall the power window reads soft to moderate. The beginner-friendly to intermediate skill window fully covers this level.
At 180 lb (newer to hardboards), the closest Haydenshapes Mid Length Glider stock size is 7'1" at 45 liters.
Quivr catalog read: The Mid Length Glider offers a smooth gliding experience perfect for a variety of conditions.
Category: Midlength
3. TC Surfboards MDL
TC Surfboards MDL runs waist-high to overhead, covering the whole step-down waves band and running past it to overhead, so there is headroom when a set stands up. Its moderate power midpoint sits almost exactly on the typical power band for step-down waves; overall the power window reads soft to moderate. The beginner-friendly to intermediate skill window fully covers this level.
At 180 lb (newer to hardboards), the closest TC Surfboards MDL stock size is 7'2" at 49.28 liters.
Quivr catalog read: The MDL is a versatile mid-length surfboard that excels in various wave conditions, making it suitable for both shortboarders and longboarders looking for performance without compromise.
Category: Midlength · Winged round pin · Catalog ability: intermediate
4. Almond Surfboards Pleasant Pheasant
Almond Surfboards Pleasant Pheasant runs knee-high to head-high, overlapping the step-down waves band from waist-high to head-high. Its soft power midpoint sits below the typical power band for step-down waves, so it should feel liveliest on the softer days; overall the power window reads soft to moderate. The beginner-friendly to intermediate skill window fully covers this level.
At 180 lb (newer to hardboards), the closest Almond Surfboards Pleasant Pheasant stock size is 6'10" at 46 liters.
Quivr catalog read: The Pleasant Pheasant is a versatile mid-length board that offers excellent rail-to-rail control and is perfect for surfers looking for added foam without sacrificing performance.
Category: Midlength · Round tail · Catalog ability: intermediate · 5.0★ from 38 Quivr ratings
5. TC Surfboards Bullit
TC Surfboards Bullit runs knee-high to head-high, overlapping the step-down waves band from waist-high to head-high. Its soft power midpoint sits below the typical power band for step-down waves, so it should feel liveliest on the softer days; overall the power window reads soft to moderate. The beginner-friendly to intermediate skill window fully covers this level.
At 180 lb (newer to hardboards), the closest TC Surfboards Bullit stock size is 7'4" at 48 liters.
Quivr catalog read: The Bullit offers a unique blend of floatation and maneuverability, making it ideal for surfers who want to enjoy fun, playful sessions.
Category: Midlength · Catalog ability: intermediate
6. Thunderbolt / CJ Nelson Subrosa
Thunderbolt / CJ Nelson Subrosa runs knee-high to head-high, overlapping the step-down waves band from waist-high to head-high. Its soft power midpoint sits below the typical power band for step-down waves, so it should feel liveliest on the softer days; overall the power window reads soft to moderate. The beginner-friendly to intermediate skill window fully covers this level.
At 180 lb (newer to hardboards), the closest Thunderbolt / CJ Nelson Subrosa stock size is 6'11.5" at 45.15 liters.
Quivr catalog read: The Subrosa is a versatile board that excels in various wave conditions, making it ideal for surfers looking for a reliable daily driver.
Category: Midlength · Catalog ability: intermediate
7. Stewart Surfboards 949 Comp
Stewart Surfboards 949 Comp runs waist-high to head-high, covering the whole step-down waves band and not much beyond it — a specialist for exactly these days. Its moderate power midpoint sits almost exactly on the typical power band for step-down waves; overall the power window reads soft to moderate. The beginner-friendly to advanced skill window fully covers this level.
At 180 lb (newer to hardboards), the closest Stewart Surfboards 949 Comp stock size is 7'0" at 45.8 liters.
Quivr catalog read: The 949 Comp feels like a responsive shortboard with excellent paddle power, making it suitable for a variety of wave conditions.
Category: Midlength · Catalog ability: intermediate
Compare these picks head to head
Live Quivr comparison pages for pairs in this list — same spectra, side by side:
FAQ
How do I transition from a longboard to a shortboard?
In steps. Longboard to mid-length, then a fish or hybrid, then a shortboard. Each step drops some length and volume, not all of it at once. Keep the longboard for small days so you are not forcing the new board into waves it cannot catch.
Is a 7 foot surfboard considered a longboard?
No. Longboards usually start around 9'0". A 7'0" board sits in the mid-length or funboard range.
Is it hard to go from a longboard to a mid-length?
It takes a few sessions. You will sit deeper, paddle harder and miss some waves at first. A mid-length is the easiest version of that change because it keeps more length and foam than a fish or shortboard.