The 12 Best Surf Brands Right Now

Image via Complex Original

Roots: Founded by Jim Mitchell and Sam Coombies in 2009 in Sydney, Australia.

The Critical Slide Society started as an idea tossed around a small beachside cottage in East Australia and quickly became a full-blown force that takes inspiration from surf, fashion, and art. And, perhaps most importantly, the brand doesn't take itself too seriously.

The results born from these efforts reflect that attitude seamlessly, and the collection from down under features a lot of sun-faded muted colors alongside fun prints. So even if you only get a weekend in the sand once a year, you'll look extra breezy in TCSS.

Roots: Founded by Shinya Hasegawa in Brooklyn, NY in 2011.

Battenwear may not immediately come to mind when you think of surf brands, but this niche brand was created by a surfer for fellow surfers. Using 1960s to 1980s surf and outdoor gear as inspiration, Shinya Hasegawa founded the brand after he was unable to find clothing that could keep up with his traveling up and down the East Coast attempting to surf year-round.

Hasegawa's focus remains on providing quality clothes for dudes who are so dedicated to surfing that the sport spills over and defines them in their day-to-day life. With clothes that stand out with vibrant patterns and colors, Battenwear is set to blast off from cult favorite to beachbum mainstay.

Roots: Founded by brothers Lucas and Séverin Bonnichon in Paris in 2011.

Cuisse de Grenouille is a small French brand that caters to the "gentleman surfer." If you believe those two concepts are mutually exclusive, then the two Bonnichon brothers might just change your mind. Cuisse de Grenouille draws on vintage California surf culture with updates in fabric, fit, and technology.

This means laid-back clothes made with Japanese brushed flannels, Italian wools, and French leathers. Like an A.P.C. for the beach, the aesthetic combines French sophistication with surfing's treasured simplicity for a look that's fit for surf shacks or fancy soirées.

Roots: Founded in 1961 by Carrie Mann in Santa Ana, CA.

Birdwell's Beach Britches operates with a process that's so simple and genius that it's remain unchanged since 1961. Pick one of four models, then choose your fabric, and then select a color or pattern. Hence the company's motto, "We don't build 1000 things. We build one thing 1000 ways."

The company is now owned and operated by the fourth generation of the Birdwell fam, and each custom pair is made in the USA. The trunks have been a favorite among surfers since the days of Gidget, and any surfer rocking these gets whatever the beach equivalent is of a hood pass.

Roots: Founded in 1959 by Watler and Nancy Katin in Surfside, CA.

While M.Nii may have invented surf trunks, Katin was not far behind in making the item a necessary piece in the surfing world. In 1959, Walter Katin created a pair of trunks made from boat cover canvas for a local surfer, and the Katin business took off. Soon every surfer up and down the West Coast was rocking trunks, but Walter and his wife Nancy cared more about their local boys to focus on becoming a huge brand.

Recently, Katin has kept up the low-key offerings that define Cali beach style. The gear is bright without being harsh, and comfortable without becoming sloppy. When Walter and Nancy left the business to an employee who had been with them since 1961, the OG philosophy of forgoing maximum profits in order to take care of the local shredders remained. 

Roots: Founded in San Sebastian, Spain by Lutz Schwenke in 2009.

Only true devotees of chasing the perfect wave know that the Basque region of Spain holds more than just wine and cuisine. San Sebastian is close to some of Europe's best surf, and home to TwoThirds—a relatively new brand that combines surfing and environmentalism in order to follow their philosophy, "Protect what you love."

Since 2009, TwoThirds has spread their message through simple and understated gear that's as breezy and laid-back as an afternoon siesta. Multiple facets of their operation is environmentally friendly, if not 100% sustainable, and a large portion of TwoThirds' profits goes to supporting measure that protect our oceans. Hopefully one day our oceans will look as good as TwoThirds' consistently fresh collections.

Roots: Founded by Drew Down in Sydney, Australia, in 1992.

In Australia, surfing is one of the biggest influences on the overall youth culture. As far as surfing apparel goes, Insight is leading the pack of Aussie brands both new and old. Since 1992, the company has drawn on their surf heritage to create clothes that touch on various other aspects of youth culture including skating, art, and music.

Insight is now stocked in over 40 countries and in premiere shops around the world. The clothes are consistently fresh, but look even better with the salt spots, rips, and beer stains that happen on any weekend surf trip.

Roots: Founded by Morgan Collett, Josh Rosen and Colin Tunstall in NYC in 2009.

If you don't know about Saturdays by now, then you're simply not paying attention. The brand found that perfect sweet spot between beachy breeziness and NYC downtown  cool. No single piece is boring, but every items stands out and complements the surfer rocking the gear. Like all good design, Saturdays created a demand that stylish city folk didn't realize they had: surf clothing that still looked good in the office, at the bar, or on a date. And, of course, in the sand.

Roots: Founded by Jack Shipley and Gerry Lopez in 1970 in Oahu, HI.

Lightning Bolt has been the brand of choice for the hard-charging since legends Jack Shipley and Gerry Lopez started shaping boards together in 1970. The partnership resulted in huge leaps in shaping and design, and also offered a style alternative that moved away from the clean-cut Beach Boys era and catered to surfers who partied as hard as they shredded.

Lightning Bolt's recent resurgence under the legendary Jonathan Paskowitz harks back to the brand's golden years while looking forward. A recent collaboration with menswear favorite Unis and staying atop that cozyboy wave means Lightning Bolt should be on your radar whether you're a beachbum or city rat.

Roots: Founded by Yvon Chouinard in 1972 in Ventura, CA.

Patagonia's involvement with surfing isn't as celebrated as it's relationship with climbing and alpine sports, but it's recent shift towards the sport of kings means it's poised to be a huge player in surf culture. The company is pioneering a new wave of board shaping and design, and are some of the first to use of environmentally low-impact materials in their products.

In an age when surfers are hyper-aware of how their sport both harms and has the potential to benefit the environment, Patagonia's positive vibes now have the cred that make people want to rock the brand with pride. And the high quality and performance record helps, as well. Their wetsuits, boardshorts, and other gear are all top of the line without breaking the bank. The simple but stylish apparel is some of the best out there, and always gets a co-sign whether you're a beginner splashing around in shore-break or charging monsters with reckless abandon.

Roots: Founded in San Francisco by John McCambridge in 2005.

The San Francisco based Mollusk surf shop played a big part in sparking the enthusiasm and appreciation for all things retro in surf culture. The store opened in 2005, and their in-house brand immediately reflected the soulfulness that was missing in contemporary surf culture, which was dominated by big corporate names at the time. 

By creating the shift away from in-your-face, garish surf apparel, Mollusk cultured and expanded the niche for simplicity and quality that allowed other brands to join in. Without Mollusk, we would never have heard of Saturdays, Battenwear, and other small brands pursuing the finer things in life and surf.

Roots: Founded by Minoru Nii aka M.Nii in Oahu, HI in 1951. Later revived by Randy Hild and John Moore in 2012.

M.Nii was at ground zero when big wave surfing took off in Hawaii post-WWII. At the time, all surfers had to rock were cutoff sailor pants, which couldn't hold up to the pounding surf of the Makaha break on the island of Oahu. Just off the beach was a small tailor shop called M.Nii that went from repairing torn britches to creating the world's first surf trunks. For the first time, simple twill trunks combined the durability and comfort required to put in full day sessions. Surfers returning to the mainland spread the style far and wide, and a pair of M.Nii's "Mahaka Drowners" became a badge of honor proving you had traveled to surfing's holy land.

Though the story around the original tailor remains mysterious, M.Nii has been revived in recent years to its original glory. Today the brand offers boardshorts that mimic the original Drowners down to the most minute detail, and they sit alongside a full collection of very relaxed clothing. Awesome T-shirts, comfy chinos, and sick vintage inspired surf club jackets will keep you fresh inland, while the Drowners will let you charge all day long.