If you’ve been circling the idea of adding a mid-length to your surfboard quiver, you’re in the right place.

Over the past few years, I’ve tested a stack of mid-lengths across Australia, the Maldives, Sri Lanka, and beyond. Some were fun for a few sessions. Some were great in very specific conditions. But only eight have earned a permanent place in my personal quiver.

This isn’t a “why you need a mid-length” post. It’s a straight-up breakdown of the eight boards that really clicked with me. The ones I travel with. The ones I trust when it’s firing. The ones I grab when it’s two-foot and gutless.

We’ve got twin fins, single fins, twinzers, quads, small-wave grovellers and high-performance weapons. All sitting in that sweet mid-length category.

And FYI I’m 185cm and 82kg…

My Personal Mid Length Quiver Breakdown

Contents

Harley Ingleby Mid6 Twin (6’10”)

We’re starting with the smallest board in the rack.

The Mid6 Twin is hands down one of the most high-performance mid-lengths I’ve ridden. Mine’s a 6’10”, with a pulled-in pintail and six channels running through the tail. It fits beautifully in the pocket and has that rare blend of speed and control.

I’ve surfed this board from waist-high runners to well overhead, including proper punchy reef waves in the Maldives. It absolutely thrives when there’s some curve and power in the wave face.

I run it with Power Twins, and that setup gives it heaps of drive while still feeling loose enough to release when you push it. It’s a board you can lean on. Not just cruise.

Built in Thunderbolt Red technology, it’s light, durable, and perfect for travel. If you’re an advanced surfer looking for a high-performance mid-length that still has glide and paddle power, this is a serious contender.

When it’s clean and punchy and I want that twin-fin spark under my feet? This is the go.

McTavish Rincon (7’0”)

This one’s a classic.

The Rincon from Bob McTavish is rooted in mid-length history. I’ve owned this board in three sizes — 7’6”, 7’3”, and 7’0” — and for me, the 7’0” is the sweet spot.

It’s a pure single fin. Clean outline. Beautiful flow.

The surprise with this board? It handles punchy conditions far better than you’d expect. I originally saw it as a small-to-medium day cruiser, but it’s proved itself in bigger, more powerful surf too.

There’s something about the way a single fin holds a line and trims through sections that never gets old. The Rincon has that in spades. It loves open-faced point breaks — long, clean walls where you can lean into a rail and just go.

If you’re chasing single-fin flow in a mid-length, this is one of the best all-rounders out there. Beginner stepping into a hardboard? Solid option in the bigger sizes. Experienced surfer wanting trim and glide? It delivers.

Skindog Ova (7’0”)

If I’m being brutally honest… this might be my favourite board in the entire quiver!

In my opinion The Skindog Ova is very underrated. Mine’s a 7’0” in Thunderbolt tech, and it’s been with me to the Maldives, Sri Lanka, and all over Australia.

As a longboarder at heart, mid-lengths are my travel compromise. I can’t always bring a log, but I still want that glide and trim. The Ova is the closest thing I’ve found to a small longboard feeling in a mid-length.

It paddles beautifully. It trims effortlessly. You can surf it from the middle and even sneak in little cheater fives. Then step back over the fins and it whips around far better than you’d expect for a 7-footer.

I ride mine as a single fin with side bites (the Skindog FCS setup). Ben himself loves it as a quad in bigger surf, and that works too. But for me, single + sides gives the perfect balance of hold and freedom.

Knee-high and mushy? Fun. Overhead and clean? Still handles it.

If I had to pick one board to cover the widest range of conditions while travelling, this is probably it.

Firewire Xtra Cado

This is the mid-length evolution of the Machadocado from Rob Machado — and it’s a small-wave weapon.

The Xtra Cado is built for summer sessions, soft beach breaks, and those days where you just want speed and forgiveness. There’s loads of paddle power and it carries speed through flatter sections beautifully.

Mine has a custom single fin box (I wanted to test it against something like the Rincon), but after plenty of sessions, I keep coming back to a quad setup. I’ve been running Firewire Velox set, and the board feels super lively — whippy in the pocket despite having a fuller tail.

If you’re transitioning from a foamie or buying your first proper hardboard, this is a brilliant stepping stone. It’s forgiving, fast, and lets you grow into it as your surfing improves.

Chest-high and clean? Single fin works. Smaller and weaker? Quad all day.

This one is yet to be released, but should be coming in March 2026…

Firewire Seaside and Beyond

Now we’re firmly in performance territory.

The Seaside and Beyond has a pulled-in swallow tail and a lot more bite than people expect when they see the length. I’ve ridden it in a 6’8” and now a 7’0” — and I prefer the extra paddle power of the 7’0”.

This board loves being pushed.

I run it with Machado Seaside Quads, which give it a blend of flow and release. It feels skatey but controlled — and I’ve had countless messages from surfers who’ve taken this board into heavy, barreling conditions and been blown away by how well it holds.

Mine’s in Volcanic technology, which is incredibly durable and ideal for travel. If you’re an experienced surfer looking for a performance mid-length that can handle serious surf, this one deserves attention.

Machado Midas Mid-Length

This one’s a bit special.

It’s a stretched-out mid-length version of the Midas, shaped as a custom after I saw one in Rob’s shaping bay. It’s not available (yet), but it absolutely deserves a spot in the conversation.

Best paddler in my entire quiver. This thing glides.

It’s set up as a Twinser — and that’s how I ride it. Fast, flowy, and with loads of controlled release. There’s a lot of surface area in the tail, but it’s surprisingly manoeuvrable.

Shoulder-high to head-high and clean? This board lights up.

I’m really hoping Firewire release this one soon, but in the meantime I’m happy to be the test pilot for it!

Harley Ingleby BT 3+3 (7’2)

This is the newest addition — and arguably the most versatile.

The HIBT 3+3 has six fin boxes. You can run it as:

A dedicated twin
A dedicated quad
A dedicated asym

Three boards in one!

Mine’s a 7’2” demo (50L), which is chunkier than I’d normally choose — I’d personally go 6’10” if buying. But even at 7’2”, it’s surprisingly manoeuvrable.

In smaller, mushier surf, this thing is brilliant. I’ll often take both twin and quad setups to the beach and decide on the beach based on the conditions.

If you’re looking for maximum versatility in a single mid-length, this is tough to beat.

Firewire TJ Pro Mid (7’4”)

When it gets big, this is my go-to.

The TJ Pro Mid is a high-performance mid-length with serious top-end capability. Mine’s a 7’4”, and while it’s not the best paddler in the rack (despite the size), it comes alive in bigger, cleaner surf.

Rounded pin tail. Solid underfoot. Still incredibly manoeuvrable for its length.

You can run it as a single, single + sides, quad, or even twin + trailer. I prefer Velox quads — it gives the board drive and control when things get punchy.

If you want a mid-length that won’t feel out of place when it’s properly overhead, this is a no-brainer.

So… Which One Should You Choose?

It depends on your level and what you want under your feet.

Beginner to Lower-Intermediate

McTavish Rincon (bigger sizes)
Skindog Ova
Firewire Xtra Cado
HI BT3+3 (in the bigger bigger dims)

These boards are forgiving, paddle well, and allow progression.

Intermediate

At this point, it’s about feel:

Want trim and flow? Rincon.
Longboard glide? Ova
Summer fun and speed? Xtra Cado
Versatility? HIBT3+3.
Performance? TJ Pro Mid, Seaside and Beyond or Midas.

Advanced

If you’re chasing performance in bigger surf:

Mid 6 Twin
TJ Pro Mid
Seaside and Beyond
Midas Mid-Length

For me personally, in bigger punchier conditions, it’s between the Mid 6 Twin and the TJ Pro Mid.

If I Had To Pick One…

Push comes to shove?

The Skindog Ova wins….

It’s the board I’ve surfed the most. The one that’s travelled the furthest with me. The one that’s handled everything from knee-high mush to overhead reef.

It has that magic blend of:

Glide
Flow
Manoeuvrability
Forgiveness
Travel durability

At 7’0” in Thunderbolt tech, it’s also right on that airline-friendly sweet spot. Durable enough to survive baggage handlers and the occasional reef tap.

It just works.

The 8 Mid-Lengths That Made The Cut: My Personal Quiver Breakdown