2026 SURFER Awards: Best Tech of the Year

Introducing the 2026 SURFER Awards. We're proud to bring our readers a comprehensive list of our favorite surf gear from last year. In this installment, we bring to you our favorite tech products that we believe surfers of all types can appreciate and utilize in their salty lives. From capturing it all to tracking your progress to simply cleaning yourself off, these are the tech products that impressed us this year.

Best Waterproof Camera: GoPro Mission 1 Pro

When it comes to the rigors that many surfers put their handheld cameras through these days, the serious group cannot has to have curability and capability, without compromising video quality. The GoPro Mission 1 Pro checks all the boxes. The tiny waterproof powerhouse marks a significant evolution for GoPro, moving beyond the traditional action camera into compact cinema territory. Built around a brand-new 50MP 1-inch sensor and GP3 processor, it delivers mind-blowing image quality with up to 8K60 recording, 4K240 slow motion, and Open Gate capture for maximum flexibility in post-production. Not to mention that its low-light performance is dramatically improved over previous HERO's, as well as its HyperSmooth stabilization which remains among the best in the business these days.

Audio also gets a pro upgrade, adding four microphones, 32-bit float recording, USB-C audio support, and Bluetooth connectivity—making it a capable all-in-one solution for vloggers and filmmakers in and out of the water. However, one of our favorite upgrades in the Mission 1 Pro is the Battery life. GoPro touts over three hours of 4K recording and up to 90 minutes at 8K, all thanks to its all-new Enduro 2 battery.

For surf creators seeking professional-quality footage in an exceptionally rugged, pocket-sized camera, the Mission 1 Pro is GoPro's most ambitious and capable release yet. While its premium price and cutting-edge features target serious users, it sets a new benchmark for compact cinema cameras that can go virtually anywhere.

Best Surf Watch: Rip Curl GPS 3 Tide Watch

The Rip Curl Search GPS 3 is purpose-built for surfers of all types, making it one of the best performance watches available for anyone who spends serious time in the ocean. Unlike traditional smartwatches that simply add surfing as another activity, the Search GPS 3 was designed from the ground up to help surfers plan better sessions, track every wave, and ultimately improve their surfing over time.

One of our favorite features is its comprehensive surf tracking. The watch records your wave count, paddle count, ride distance, top speed, drift, and even surf size sensitivity—which gives surfers detailed performance data after every session. It also syncs seamlessly with the Search GPS app, allowing users to review sessions, compare statistics, and monitor progress from anywhere.It also boasts built-in tide charts for more than 1,400 locations worldwide, live swell and wind information, sunrise and sunset times, and condition ratings to help you decide optimal times to plan your session. The one-touch auto-set feature automatically updates local time and tide information wherever you travel.

Best Serious Camera for Surf Photography: Sony A9 III

While many cameras these days offer impressive performance pecs and weatherproof build quality, we believe that the Sony Alpha 9 III is the ultimate camera for surf photography . Case-in-point: It was built exclusively to excel in the most demanding action environments. Shooting surf is all about timing. And to get precise timing, a camera needs to offer speed and precision, and this camera delivers impressively on both of those fronts. Its revolutionary global shutter sensor eliminates rolling shutter distortion, ensuring every action shot is captured exactly as it happened. Even the most searing turns and spitting barrels remain perfectly sharp without any skewing or warping.

Did we mention speed? The Alpha 9 III can shoot an astonishing 120 frames per second with continuous autofocus and auto exposure tracking, giving photographers more opportunities to capture the defining moment of every wave. Whether you're photographing an above-the-lip airshow or threading the needle into a dredging cavern, the camera's advanced AI-powered autofocus keeps subjects locked in focus with industry leading accuracy.

The camera's maximum shutter speed of 1/80,000 second can freeze even the tiniest drops of water, creating dramatic, crystal-clear images more often than not. Built with professional durability, weather sealing, and exceptional wireless connectivity, the Alpha 9 III is equally at home on a tripod on the sand or inside a water housing. While its 24.6-megapixel sensor offers plenty of resolution for large prints, its true strength lies in speed and reliability. For photographers who demand the highest hit rate in unpredictable conditions, the Sony Alpha 9 III sets a new benchmark for surf photography.

Best Surf Shower: Leitner HydroPOD CARRY Shower Kit

After a long session, there's nothing quite like a freshwater rinse in the parking lot to really tie the whole experience together. And when it comes to portable showers, the Leitner HydroPOD Carry Shower Kit is one of the best shower systems we've ever tried. Designed for surfers, campers, and outdoor adventurers of all types, it holds nearly 5 gallons of potable water, giving you plenty of capacity for a nice leisure rinse after your favorite outdoor activity. The integrated hand pump gives you ample water pressure without requiring batteries or vehicle power—so you can enjoy a refreshing rinse anywhere—from a remote beach parking lot to the campground on top of the bluff.

Unlike gravity-fed shower bags that often give you weak pressure, the HydroPOD delivers a consistent spray through its 20-foot hose, making it easy to rinse not only yourself, but your wetsuit, board, and anything else you need to clean before heading home. Its rugged construction is built to withstand years of outdoor use, while the portable design makes it simple to transport and store anywhere in your vehicle. For surfers who value convenience, cleanliness, and longevity of their gear, it's an investment that quickly pays for itself. Whether you're up at dawn, squeezing in some waves before dinner, or simply spending the entire day at the beach, the HydroPOD Carry is the reliable and powerful shower system you need in your surf kit.

Best Handheld Camera Gimbal: Insta360 Flow 2 Pro

The Insta360 Flow 2 Pro is one of the best smartphone gimbals for content creators of all types in the surf world because it combines professional-grade stabilization with intelligent tracking in a compact, travel-friendly design. Whether you're filming your buddies from the beach or capturing handheld footage while walking across the sand, its advanced 3-axis stabilization produces incredibly smooth, cinematic video that rivals footage from much larger camera setups. The AI-powered Deep Track 4.0 technology keeps subjects locked in frame even while in motion, allowing creators to focus on composition instead of constantly adjusting the camera.

The Flow 2 Pro also features a built-in tripod, making it ideal to film product reviews, beach vlogs, or post-session interviews without carrying extra accessories. With up to 10 hours of battery life, it can easily go from dawn patrol and sunset silhouettes on one charge. Its foldable design fits neatly into a backpack, while magnetic phone mounting makes setup almost instant.

For surfers, filmmakers, and content creators who rely on their smartphone to capture high-quality video, the Insta360 Flow 2 Pro delivers exceptional stabilization, smart tracking, and unmatched convenience. It transforms everyday surf clips into polished, professional-looking content, making it one of the best camera gimbals available for surf videography.

Best Drone for Surf Videography: DJI Mavic 3 Pro

The DJI Mavic 3 Pro is widely regarded as one of the best drones for surf videography because it delivers on the holy trinity of modern camera drones: Stunning image quality, exceptional flight performance, and creative flexibility… all in one portable package. Its advanced triple-camera system includes a flagship 4/3 CMOS Hasselblad camera along with medium telephoto and telephoto lenses, allowing filmmakers to capture everything from sweeping aerial beach landscapes to ultra-tight shots of surfers from far away—all without sacrificing image quality. Not to mention that the ability to switch focal lengths mid-flight opens up creative possibilities that few drones can match, and opens up all types of possibilities when it comes to shooting surfing.

For surf filmers, stability and flight time are just as important as image quality. The Mavic 3 Pro features a highly stabilized 3-axis gimbal that produces smooth cinematic footage, even when flying in the windy conditions commonly found along the coast. With up to 43 minutes of flight time, you can stay in the air longer and never miss a wave due to swapping batteries. It also records up to 5.1K video and supports professional color profiles, giving editors greater flexibility in post production.

Even further in the Mavic 3 Pro's spec lineup, intelligent flight modes like ActiveTrack, omnidirectional obstacle sensing, and precise subject tracking make it even easier to follow moving subjects safely while maintaining smooth, cinematic shots. It really is a surf filters dream. It was an easy choice for us to name it the best drone available for surf videography.

This story was originally published by Surfer on Jul 21, 2026, where it first appeared in the Gear section. Add Surfer as a Preferred Source by clicking here.