Remember before the latest surfing apps finding where to surf was a matter of driving to the coast and checking every spot? I don’t because the best way to tell surf conditions in 2012 is to look at your phone. Check out the top 10 surfing apps reviewed below, to find out why I use NOAA and Surfline.
Not that long ago, unless you had a fisherman friend to tell what was happening out there, it always paid to stay near the beach. Well, now we can see swells forming weeks in advance with detailed models and forecasts posted online. And even better, we can get this info right on our phones.
10 Surfing Apps Reviewed
Here’s a look at the 10 best apps for surfing in 2012. I have tested them all and if you want to know if it’s worth the download then read below. On the whole the top apps for surfers will do the hard work for you, although some despite being popular are not as good as the others.
NOAA Ocean Buoys
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration does not mess around with buoy data. Specialized for North American and Europe, this app is used by serious seafaring men who depend on reliable readings.
Surfers are, of course, included in this category. Great when you’re in search of accurate swell height, ocean and air temperature, wind speed, swell direction and wave interval. There is no forecast with this app only hard hitting numbers. Want to surf right at this moment? NOAA is the best way to tell surf conditions in 2012.
Surfline
Surfline is the benchmark of all surfcasting. Plenty of apps can regurgitate statistics of wave height, direction, tidal swings, wind speed, etc., but only Surfline puts this information into a few sensible sentences accurately describing what the waves will actually look like when you get down to the water.
Nonetheless, if you’re skeptical about Surfline’s predictions, the app will display live surfcam feeds from cooperating spots for premium Surfline users and updated pictures from these cams for non-paying users.
Premium members also benefit from the extended, five-day forecast. Paying or not, the Surfline is one of the best surf apps in 2012. I found this app is the most reliable app when deciding where to point the car in search of the best possible surf in your area and abroad.
Magic Seaweed
For the cost of nothing MSW’s app is plethora of wave riding information. Beyond the obligatory swell direction and height are the weather conditions, wind reports, tide chart, long range models, and characteristic star-rating.
The app covers a majority of popular spots giving the user ample opportunity to deduce conditions at his clandestine, undercover break. Some local info is provided on the spots along with plenty of great pictures (isn’t that why we check out MSW anyway?).
The one knock on this app, and it’s a pretty tough one to overcome, is the accuracy. It has a habit of overestimating. When MSW is calling for 6 feet at 14 seconds and 5 out of 5 stars just divide everything in half for a better idea of what’s really happening.
StormRider
The makers of excellent printed global surf guides foray into the world of smart phone applications.
It sounds like a great match for the traveling surfer and surfing holidays, and the app gets the job done navigating you to remote spots with detailed maps of thousands of miles of coastline, but the forecasting is suspect.
Powered by Magic Seaweed, the predictions are overstated and will get you stoked for waves you simply won’t find. Also, break information is glaringly lacking causing the user to gamble on what swell direction and tide some unknown spot might work best with.
For almost $8, Stormrider will make sure you arrive, but can’t guarantee much more.
Oakley Surf Report
Powered by Surfline, this free app is decently executed. The interface is simple and the forecast is believable, if only stretching for two days ahead. It’s nice to see a clean line-up of stats for all the interacting swells on one stretch of coast.
There’s a surf news sections as well as a discussion forum which suspiciously reiterates Oakley brand products a bit more than a true online community might buy hey, it’s free, right?
A big detriment is the tendency of the app to close unexpectedly. It needs an update to get it higher on the list.
Buoys
For a nominal price, this app gives users the most accurate current readings any waterman could ask for. All the obligatory information is listed: wave height, swell direction, wave interval, temperature, etc.
Buoys also does you the favor of graphing these numbers against the past 12 hours so you can easily recognize a building or fading swell. One huge detriment of the application is the lack of any forecast.
It’s great for a quick read of immediate conditions, but it won’t be much help when planning next weekend’s surfing experience.
TideGraph
Just what it says. TideGraph gives you basic tidal statistics and future highs and lows. A big red arrow in the center of the interface gives you the most necessary information: whether the tide is rising or falling.
A well-organized spreadsheet lists prior colour-coded readings so you can tell just where you are on the current cycle.
WindGuru
You’ll need to register the location of your surf travels before taking advantage of this free app, but sharing your general vicinity is a small sacrifice. After choosing a few (perhaps obscure) locals breaks, WindGuru lines them up one top of one another so you can decide which spot is the best bet.
The forecast stretches out a few days and, as advertised, provides excellent wind readings and predictions. One big issue with this app is the fact that if you’re not at home checking your local breaks, you’ll have to add more spots to your user registry before gaining access. Also, there’s no tide information. How you plan a session without knowing if the tide is dropping or not!?
ASPtogo
Not a forecast app, ASPtogo updates the user on current conditions of the world surf league and I’m not talking about the waves. This app is for real surf junkies with keen interest in rankings, competitions, and photos and videos of the world’s best surfers on the world’s best waves.
The $5 dollar price tag is steep unless being updated on who is winning what heat is a necessity. Great if you’re looking to keep track of a friend who’s breaking on to the scene, have a vested interest in fantasy surf league, or if you’re just an avid follower of the tour.
Swell Info
A great app focused on current conditions. Statistics are updated twice an hour and allows you to upload your own surf report as you check out spots. The downfall of this app is its bias towards the western hemisphere.
Swell Info’s focus on the US, Puerto Rico, Mexico and surfing in Costa Rica make it great for surfers in those areas, but useless for everyone else in the world. Hopefully they’ll add more countries in the next version.
