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Originally published in 2023; updated August 2026
If you subscribed to my newsletter during the pandemic, you might remember that I wrote about how Surfer Dudes are hands down one of the best beach toys for kids. Years later, I still stand by that recommendation.
Apparently, we’re not the only ones who think so. As of this update, Surfer Dudes is the #1 Best Seller in Beach Toys on Amazon.
My seven-year-old daughter recently rediscovered ours at the bottom of our beach bag and has been having a blast with it. And yes, it’s the same one her big brother played with years ago.
Here’s how we originally discovered it.
How we discovered Surfer Dudes
Years ago, I was at the beach with my family. My son just loves the beach. It’s always been one of his favorite places to be. When he was little, he loved digging in the sand with his shovel, filling his bucket with water and making sandcastles.
On this particular day, we walked down to the shore and spotted a couple of dads with young kids playing with a toy I’d never seen before. It was a plastic surfer on a little surfboard and I overheard one of the girls say, “Daddy, can you throw the surfer boomerang really far?” Surfer boomerang? My curiosity was piqued.
Was he going to throw it in the air like a traditional boomerang? Or was he just going to throw the toy into the waves, even though neither he nor the kids were in bathing suits, and hope for the best? I was intrigued and hoped the toy wasn’t going to be gone forever.
Sure enough, the father tossed the surfer boomerang into the waves and the toy turned right side up, caught a wave and surfed its way back to shore. It was awesome.
Jack loved it and immediately said, “Daddy, I want a surfer boomerang!”
The friendly dad heard him and handed it to Jack to give it a try. After one toss of the Surfer Dude, which is the toy’s official name, my son was hooked. He seriously would not stop asking for one and he had never done that before.
I looked up at my wife and saw her tapping on her phone, which meant she was either making a note or ordering one since Jack’s birthday was the following week. But let’s be honest: Even if it wasn’t my son’s birthday, after I saw that little Surfer Dude in action, I knew we’d be getting one. Either for Jack or for myself.
How does the Surfer Dude work?
The best part is how simple it is. There are no batteries, motors or remote controls. You just toss the Surfer Dude toward the breaking waves and let the ocean do the work. The toy is designed to right itself, catch a wave and surf back toward shore.
According to Surfer Dudes, it works best in breaking, foamy waves from about three inches to three feet high. It’s not recommended for waves over three feet, strong currents or riptides.
When we first got ours, we went down to the beach to play with it and I took some video (see below) and pictures of it in action. It just takes a minute to assemble. My wife actually put it together in the car on the way to the beach, and I’m happy to report that no tools or Master’s degrees are required.
After throwing it in the water, a group of teenagers walked by and, with huge smiles, yelled, “That’s so cool!” It really is.
The Surfer Dude rode those waves like a pro. It righted itself every single time and came right back toward us. It was so much fun.
Years later, my daughter loves it too
Fast-forward several years and I had almost forgotten about our Surfer Dude until my seven-year-old daughter found it at the bottom of our beach bag.
She pulled it out, we took it down to the water and pretty soon she was doing exactly what her big brother had done years earlier: throwing it toward the waves over and over and watching it surf its way back.
That’s when it struck me just how good this toy has been. Kids’ toys come and go quickly in our house. They get outgrown, broken, forgotten or donated. But this little surfer has somehow stuck around long enough to go from one child to the next.
For a toy that costs around $25, that’s pretty impressive. And it still gets attention on the beach. There’s something about watching a little plastic surfer catch a real wave that makes people stop and smile. Kids love it, but plenty of adults seem just as entertained by it.
How much does a Surfer Dude cost?
The classic Surfer Dude is around $25 on Amazon, though prices can always change. Surfer Dudes come in a variety of fun colors and characters, so kids can pick their favorite surfer and board design.
The manufacturer currently recommends Surfer Dudes for ages 6 and up.
One important safety reminder: Always make sure children are supervised around the water and know never to run into the ocean after the toy. Surfer Dudes should also not be used in waves over three feet, strong currents or riptides.
Years after we first discovered this funny little “surfer boomerang” on the beach, I still think it’s one of the best beach toys we’ve bought. My son loved it when he was little and now my seven-year-old daughter is getting just as much enjoyment out of it.
If you’re heading to the beach with kids, this is one toy that’s worth tossing in your beach bag.
Yo, dude! The new layout is rad!! And the toy is, like, totally gnarly!!! (Kudos to Natalie!!)
It is so smart of a husband to listen to a wife and follow through with her suggestions! Sorry your editor has been discontinued. The new look is GREAT so far.