With Wise closed this is definitely your best bet. Good selection of leashes for larger ob surf, good selection of repair materials, good all around-- the best most functional sf selection of boards for beach conditions-- boards that actually work and do what a surfboard is supposed to do well. Comes complete with super friendly young employees and at least one significantly less helpful older mild assholey type guy who appeared to be in charge on my last visit, wouldn't want to get too friendly now gotta maintain your NorCal vibe. read more

The folks here were really nice and helpful ! I willl definitely coming back to shop..

Always a great experience coming here. They stock a variety of wetsuits from different manufacturers. The staff are knowledgeable, friendly, and outgoing. I am a regular customer here and they reward my loyalty from time to time with things like a pack of wax after a large purchase. Another great thing is that a lot of surf shops will only have a single person and you will end up waiting a long time to get helped but every single time I go here they have multiple staff two or three people working in there is never a wait. The only complaint I have is that their selection of boards is a little bit slim and if you price Shop, you will find that you can drive not too far and save 100 bucks for the same board. read more

They were cool and let me try on a men's wetsuit and helped me put on and take off a chest zip! They were honest to tell me not to get the wrong size and gave me tips. Solid crew ! read more

I like this surf shop by the beach. It's always nice to see a fun surf shop in SF. This one has clothes and apparel--flip-flops, hats, etc. They sell some surfboards, but I don't think it's their specialty at all. I was interested in some items, but they are too much..oh well surfy window shopping is always fun. Ocean Beach is a sleepy part of town. read more

Aqua Surf Shop - Outdoor Gear Near Me - San Francisco, California

Lots of boards and local OB knowledge, super chill and helpful staff. Definitely the place to go in SF.

Not much to offer for women's stuff (they have a ton for guys) but they have other surf gear everyone needs. Bought an indo board here, dudes were chill and helpful. read more

With Wise closing these guys are now a true cornerstone of the core OB community. They have the Stay Covered XL leashes and great board repair. Get your stuff here and enjoy frothing or bemoaning the day's conditions and how the season is progressing. At surf shops in Santa Cruz, one is met with marginal usefulness or guidance. Stony and often misinformed, these interactions leave much to be desired. Orders and repairs are reliably delayed and information easily falls through the cracks. Aqua provides a refreshing alternative. Articulate and accountable! read more

Dropped a dinged board there for repair which they farm out to a great guy named Jon who does awesome work. When I picked up the board there was a NEW thumb sized pressure ding on the bottom of the brand new board (yes I smashed the tail after 2 sessions). When I asked them about it they were basically like "yeah bro no idea how that happened sorry later" and made no attempt to make it right. The bottom of the board was also covered in wax which in an of itself isn't a huge deal, they cleaned it off, but I mention it as its indicative of the care they take of the boards that are left there for ding repair. I went upstairs to use the restroom and its a shit show graveyard of boards stacked in random piles all over the place and its easy to imagine how a board there could easily get damaged and no one would know. Or care apparently. If you need ding repair send me a message and I can put you in touch with Jon directly. Update 11/13 Just took this board out for a surf, when I pulled it out of the bag in the parking lot before my session I noticed that there are a bunch of scratches on the bottom of the board, the kind that you get if you pull a stacked board off another one without lifting it up properly and the nose drags. I can't believe these guys took such shitty care of a brand new surfboard that was dropped off for them to have fixed. read more

Big fan of these guys. An out of town friend had a surf emergency and Aqua came thru like a champ - rented an amazing Vernor board, and repaired my friends board on the same day. Its hard to overstate the feat that is "a fast turn around" every repair guy in town has at least 1 week lead time, so when these guys said they can fix the dings in a day I remembered why its a solid 5 star operation. If you got apparel or surf related needs - check these guys out first. read more

Friendly and knowledgeable staff. I remember getting my first surfboard here when I was just a beginner and the guys there gave me a lot of advice including how to properly wax my board lol. It's been a long time since then and those are the smash details that always make me recommend this place to other Friends of all surfing levels read more

Decided to rent here because they're so close to the beach and it's in the city. Was going to make the drive out to Pacifica but decided to stay in the city because of Aqua. First time surfing, totally green. Although customer service was lacking, I thought their rental equipment (board and wetsuit) is decent. Came in on Saturday and there were no foamies left. They recommended coming back at 3 and since rental is actually 24 hours it was perfect for a whole weekend of learning to surf. If you're a beginner and expect to surf just one day I recommend coming in early especially during the weekend. read more

Aqua Surf Shop - Our foamies for the weekend - Outdoor Gear Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I really like this place too! In comparison to Wise Surfboards up the road, Aqua has a more extensive selection of used surfboards for sale along with a brilliant and reasonably priced selection of rental boards. If you're trying to learn how to surf or teach someone, this is the place to score some gear. Bear in mind that the conditions at SF Ocean Beach are only beginner friendly limited times throughout the year due to the strong currents, pounding/dumping beachbreaks, and flash in a second close-out/blown-out conditions. That said, Aqua has hella reasonable prices if you need to rent a board for a few days and travel somewhere and hit up some nice, less crowded dawn patrol sessions (think Pacifica or Bolinas). They seriously don't hassle you because you're just beginning to embrace the Sport Of Kings. The whole environment in Aqua Surf Shop is a totally chill blend of surf, skate, and SF culture! This seriously is a place where you'll have fun spending some time hanging out, talking product, and getting to know more about the staff and the area. Most of all, this place totally reminds me of some of the chillaxing surf shops in SoCal with a hella cool selection of surf hip clothing and accessories to boot! If you need to rent a board, buy a used or reasonably priced new one, and/or get outfitted with some cool clothes, Aqua Surf Shop is IT! read more

Just came by today to browse wetsuits and all the staff was super helpful. I tried on a wetsuit and everything felt right so I bought it, thank you!! read more

I must say this is hands down the BEST surf surf in SF! These guys are willing to answer any questions and give advise. I haven't bought a thing from them! I'm blown away that they are there to help and answer all my questions! I will be buying from them soon! Thankyou Aqua for your professionalism! Lifetime customer for sure! read more

Been shopping here for years and always seem to find something I wasn't looking for but totally love!! Clothes, wetsuits, Knick knacks, bikinis, etc. Well, I had to knock them down a star because some young, cool kid I've never seen working there before was kinda rude telling me to mind some surfboards I was standing by and not touching. Kinda spoiled my urge to pick up a few things today as planned, but hopefully he'll be gone (or not openly dismissive) the next time I drop by. It's still a great store and everyone else is pretty friendly. read more

Augustine helped me pick out my first post-wavestorm surfboard. He was really patient, professional, listened carefully and gave me a bunch of different options based on the info I gave him. He wasn't pushy or anything and gave me advice about fins and waxing the board after I picked one with his help. I was nervous beforehand, because surfboards aren't exactly cheap, but I have been having a blast on it! So hell yeah to Augustine and Aqua surf shop, y'all are awesome read more

Ran into a dude biking with a surfboard and asked for some advice for a newbie. He told me to go to Aqua surf shop and I decided to finally try it out today. I now know why he told me to go here. Wide variety of clothes gear and boards. The employee who was helping me out was super awesome and took his time to teach me everything there was to know from boards to leashes to wax. Thanks for your time Patrick. Aqua surf shop has another loyal fan for life . Keep on rocking guys. read more

I was in the mood for some surfer t shirts and I'm just tired of Pac Sun. The place was so cool in like 94' but now it's just annoying, overpriced and not nearly as cool as I want it to be. I mean, they don't even sell the necklaces and bracelets that I used to buy and tell people I got while surfing in Maui!! Fockers!! So, I Yelped "what's nearby" on my shiny bad ass HTC Evo Droid and this spot popped up. Right when I walked in the door I knew it was a cool spot. Three guys were over in the board section of the store talkin' waves, boards and surfing. I don't surf. I don't have the balls to surf. I wouldn't even have the balls to try to learn to surf! But I love me some surfers. There is something man crush worthy of a guy who has the balls to brave mother nature's knockout upper cut to the grill and love it! I would like to see more of a selection of sweatshirts and larger sizes available. I was able to squeeze into an XL but once I was that bitch, it's curtains. Guy behind the counter was super helpful, we had a quick chat and I enjoyed th experience. I'd head back down there next time for sure. read more

I came to Aqua Surf Shop on a recommendation from an experienced surfer friend of mine who grew up in the Bay. He said Aqua was the best surf shop in the area and I was not disappointed! I'm just getting into surfing and wanted to pick up a wetsuit. The folks at Aqua Surf Shop were extremely patient with me - they answered a bunch of questions I had and walked me through the pros and cons of a few different wetsuits they offered. They never tried to up-sell me on anything and they tended to point me in the direction of quality mid-tier suits while showing me some cheaper models as well. I ended up with a suit that fits me like a glove and should last a good while (according to my friend) - and I learned a bunch about what makes a quality suit along the way. We talked for a bit about what I should be looking for in a beginner board, taking into account my height and weight. And they showed me some booties (I mentioned I'm a wuss when it comes to the cold water in NorCal). Overall, it was informative, they were very patient and nice / never pushy, and they were super supportive from this new surfers' perspective. I've found some places to be condescending to beginners but that couldn't have been further from my experience at Aqua Surf Shop; instead, they were just excited to help me get into it and teach me a few things along the way. Devon (sp?), in particular, was a rockstar :) I'll certainly be back! read more

I just started surfing, been renting a couple of boards over at NorCal surf shop, but they weren't too particularly helpful when I wanted to buy one. So I headed over to Aqua Surf shop and the guy there helped recommend a board for me. I ended up getting a 6'2 fish tail that I can't wait to ride. Honestly I love this little shop, it's a little hole in the wall kinda thing, they have some nice merchandise that I'll probably be going back to buy. It's nice to have a neighborhood, down to Earth, surf shop that I feel welcome to go to. If you're looking for a board or something cool to wear, then this surf shop is just for you. read more

I started surfing a few months ago and recently reached a point where I wanted to transition away from my beginner board. I visited numerous surf stores and found staff members to typically be unhelpful and inpatient with my novice level of surfing knowledge. Oliver and Devin at Aqua surf were the exact opposite. They were engaged, informative and patient. They provided me numerous options and worked with me through multiple trips to Aqua to make an educated decision. Oliver went above and beyond by not only helping me select the board but walking me through board prep and maintenance. He paid incredibly close attention to detail and even walked out to my car to ensure I was strapping down the board correctly. I highly recommend Aqua surf shop to anyone looking for surfing equipment. read more

I moved to the Outer Sunset a year ago and figured it was about time to get a board. Went into Aqua to check out some gear for a beginner surfer. Oliver was very friendly, patient, and informative. He helped me pick out a good beginner board (used but like new) that was not too big, not to small - just right once I got it in the water. He gave me advice based on his personal experience and I never felt pressured to buy anything more then I needed or rushed in any way. Oliver and Devin easily spent over 1 hour helping me get the right wetsuit, booties, hoodie, and board for the bay area at a price which I considered very reasonable, less then I was planning on spending. They made sure I knew how to care for the board and equipment. Oliver even showed my how to fit the board in my car without a rack. This is now my local surf shop - I would recommend this place to anyone. read more

My boyfriend and I rented their boogie board for $10 each. The process for getting the boards and returning the boards were quick and easy. They are knowledgeable and made sure you were getting a product you can use long term. My bf got his skimboard there. Will come back again. read more

Aleks who is co-owner is awesome and a great guy to get advice from. He also is an aspiring film star. You can see the shorts on the aqua surf shop website. http://www.aquasurfshop.com/media_gallery/media_gallery.html I personally am partial to the short "Surf of the Dead" but natives or long time SF people may like the Doggie Diner short for nostalgia (it has since sadly closed but the doggie head is still there on Sloat) The selection of boards here is pretty good and I am a big fan of the surf clothing (big props for the Aqua Surf shop t-shirts in a million different styles). You can rent here if you want to boogie board or surf although if you're a beginner you may want to consider trying Log Shop out in Pacifica where the current isn't as strong. 5 stars for the surf movies alone. read more

I went to this shop to buy some fins for a new surf board. I am a beginner/intermediate surfer and this is my first board. I did not want to order fins online because I wanted to consult with experts about which ones I should get, and also needed something right away because I was leaving with the board to surf in India. I brought the board into the shop and said, "I need some fins for this board." The guys took a look at the board and sold me a 5-fin set. So then I put the board on a plane to India and this morning went to install the fins before going surfing. Turns out the fins do not fit the board. Not even close. So now I am here and I have no way to surf because there are no surf shops here that can sell me new fins. Thanks a lot guys. read more

I'm not into writing reviews, but the positive juju has got the be passed on! My first time in I bring a board I purchased off of Craigslist to make sure she was water ready(I'm a grom btw). I was greeted by Alex who immediately got off the phone to welcome me in. He had me prop the board on the table/pony and tells me how good of a board it was before he opens a pack of wax and personally shows me how to properly wax it, all the while dropping the sweet science on me. As another person comes in to the shop and can't find what they're looking for, Alex is gracious enough to point them to another shop that does and helps them find directions. That's just caring about the surfer and not the business! As I'm sitting there waiting to make my transaction I ask myself aloud, "what else do I need?" Alex jumps in to tell me not much and that he's here to answer questions and get me in the water, not to sell me things. Long story short: that's how you gain lifelong patrons. Thanks Alex. read more

Walked in looking for the cheapest second hand board I could find as I've only been surfing for 4 months and I'm done hiring, rapidly got talked out that strategy by one of the co-owners for a multitude of reasons I'd have never have thought of myself. The we spoke about the different types of boards and waves and sizes and progression routes to smaller boards... And just about surfing in general. Literally no sales strategy at all - just a 100% passion for surfing and keen interest in not wasting a novice's money. Needless to say I ended up leaving with a new board, spending less than I expected on a new board by a long way and the shape/size that should last me a good long while and maintain a high second hand value when I do want to move on. Couldn't recommend more. read more

Overall: Nice, clean shop with helpful employees. Wife and I went into this shop for the first time a few months ago because I was looking for a new board. The board selection was decent, but not the board I was looking for. I didn't really look around at much else but the boards, but my wife noticed a pretty good selection of clothing and they had some other surf gear sorted throughout. The real surprise was the customer-service. Upon entering, there were two gentlemen (typical looking surf dudes) talking (one folding clothes and the other hanging something up). One asked if he could help us find something and after being told "just looking at boards," responded to let him know if we had any questions (pretty standard for average retail places). Here's where they impressed: After rifling through the boards and not finding anything, I asked one of the guys about the type of board I was interested in. Both of the guys chimed in with their own experiences/opinions and gave insight with specifics to the waves in our area. Though they did not have the board I wanted, they gave me the option to order it (they had 6-8 week timelines). Then they suggested I come down and try out a few boards from one of the local shapers if I had not yet tried the board. Apparently, a few weeks later they were to have a day where they provide a little bbq (free hot-dogs and stuff), and bring a large quiver of boards to try out at Ocean Beach for FREE (they even provided wetsuits I think). I did'nt end up going to this event or even following up on its date, but appreciated the info and invitation. I have to be honest and divulge that I was expecting either of these guys to reply with "yeah dude that board is sick" or give me some other lame response. But, they truly were trying to help. After they spent about 10 minutes giving me useful info, we were ready to head out and I remembered that I broke the little shoestring that connects my leash. Taking out my wallet to pay for it, they said "no man, its free." Now, I know that most places will do this if you buy something, but after having being helped in the manner I was, it just felt like this was a really good place to do business. Although I already bought my board, I wish I could have given the business to these guys. Would recommend this shop to anyone. read more

Awesome surf shop, kinda on the expensive side though. I am, however, an admitted bargain bin/sale rack/slight-defect/Ross shopper. Nevertheless... The owners are way cool - I used to live in 47th and Sloat and partied and BBQ'd with these guys every now and then. The shops' outward appearance isn't very noticeable or captivating though...when I lived across the street, I would have friends visit and usually end up having a conversation that went something like this: Friend: "rad surf shop across the street" Me: "uhh, surf shop?" Whatever, im a fan. read more

0 attitude, on-point selection, great brands...it says it all about Aqua. Nothing less than the real surfers place to go with boards that are made for OB (not malabu or chopu because they look cool...OB folks). And if your confused about board selection or what bikini looks good if its been a while since you waxed last (come on guys we've all been there), you'll get a helpfull nudge in the right direction with no tude. Aqua...we love you. read more

This was one of my first stops in SF. I moved here in the heart of indian summer, didn't have a job, and was itchin' to use all my free time the best way possible... living the beach life, of course! So I scoped out Aqua... they have soft top surf boards you can rent for $10 and wetsuits for $20. The rentals are good for 24 hours so I got a great afternoon session in at OB and then I woke up early and rode in the morning. Aqua made my unemployed days unforgettable!! *sniffle* UPDATE: The bf swears that this is the best & most honest customer service east of OB. He went in to buy a board but after consulting the owner about what he needed, he told him to go home and take a look at the other boards he loved and take this measurement, check that thickness, etc. and then come back and they'll get him set up. They truly wanted him to make the best choice (on his 6th board). THAT got me stoked. read more

If it wasn't for this place I would not have a 9'2 Blue Hoobie Black Bird hanging on my loft wall. My boyfriend is seen riding it at OB. It also came in handy in Baja and Kauai. read more

Disclaimer: I am not a surfer (except for a few failed attempts that resulted in stitches) so I'm not reviewing the wetsuits or real surf stuff. In terms of girls clothes, this place has the CUTEST clothes and bathing suits. Like I want to burn all my clothes and just buy every single thing in there. It is a little pricey for surf brands but the stuff is great. The people that work there are really nice--the dudes show no disdain for girls like me who clearly have no legit surfer cred. And one time I was waiting for Citrus Club and wandered in there and they were having a party with a band outside and were handing out Tecates. Ideal. Love this place. read more

These guys are great. No localism, or weirdness. Just a good vibes local surf shop that wants to help.

I like these guys a lot. The staff are usually pretty friendly and there's a great selection of clothes. The board selection isn't as big as Wise, but it's decent. Parking in the area is usually not too bad, but try on the weekends and it can be tough with all the traffic going to the zoo. read more

Man I love Aqua Surf Shop. I've been shopping here for nearly 15 years and if I can help it I won't spend my money anywhere else. These guys are super cool, project a great vibe, knowledgeable and friendly, the owner Aleks is an awesome guy and doesn't try to posture or gratify his ego every time you talk to him, unlike some other shop owners I won't name. You know who I'm talking about! Aqua has a great selection of stuff from boards and wetsuits to magazines, books, clothes, etc. They cater to beginners and seasoned surfers alike. In fact I can't think of anything I don't like about this surf shop. Sometimes I just like to show up and hang out at the shop for no good reason. You never know who might stop by and they occasionally host some cool events. A few months back I drove down to the beach on a sunny day with super small surf. Aqua had a board demo going on with a keg and bbq setup outside. I got to try out a really fun shape and drink some beer. Keep doing what you guys are doing. read more

Love this place :) I have been going to the north side of Ocean Beach for almost 30 years, and I decided to try the south side, and rent a board. I had no idea they were even there after all these years. When I walked in, two guys greeted me with a smile and asked if they could help me right away. I'm a newbie at surfing ( as in, NEVER tried it) and John offered all kinds of starter info. for me, and didn't make me feel like a retard. Im in my early 50's and sometimes the "younger" people act like we should be in a nursing home or something. That didn't happen here. Both guys were so helpful and even said me and my kids could park in the the back lot, and walk down the street to the beach so we didn't have to worry about getting stuck in the crowded parking lot. Since it was already late in the day, and we only had a few hours, he gave me a discount on the rental. John even got on the board and showed me and the girls what we needed to to stay safe and the correct positioning. I really appreciated the friendly smiles and professionalism. I will obviously be back to Aqua Surf Shop and refer all my friends there. Thanks guys!! I'm glad I ventured out. Sandy M. read more

WOW! I come from the land of surf shops, and I have to say, this one is everything you want + really sweet/knowledgeable staff + ZERO attitude! My man just bought a very genlty ridden Webber Afterburner this weekend (after much scrimping/saving/scrutinizing) and he was so thrilled with his purchase as well as the service he received, he's still talking about it Monday afternoon. They have a good lil selection of new and used boards as well as some on consignment, wetsuits for the whole family, clothes, and even cute bikinis, glasses, watches, you get the idea... prices range from totally fair to "wow, what a deal!" (and you SHOULD shop here--support small biz). Anyway, we love Aqua and will always call on them for our oceaninc needs. read more

Just did a bunch of my Christmas shopping at Aqua and I have to say that this is one of the best places to go for surf gear and super cute, hip, sexy clothing for both guys and gals! Alex and Devin always go out of their way to make sure you find what you're looking for. Jake is also super cool! Few girls surf OB especially in the winter so it's hard to find shops that have the bomb proof neoprene that's needed. I find the 5.4 Exels are so warm, I can stay out for hours without getting cold. I like wearing a 5/4 year round so sometimes I like to get the hood removed for spring, summer, fall in which case they will send it back to the manufacturer. I really love that. Thanks Alex, Devin and crew!! on a side note: I think I've bought 10 wetsuits from them over the years. They didn't have my size once so I decided to order one. Devin took my order and told me it would take around two weeks. I got an email 10 days later when it came in. Despite what previous reviewer posted, these guys are not about just making a sale. They want to help you find what you need. It's pretty easy to make an order if you know what you're looking for. Most small businesses in the city would not refund a gift certificate. Having a gift certificate means you have to spend it in the store, not get a refund so you can spend it in some other store...right?? read more