Road Testing the new Db Surf Roller Pro

Now travel bags aren't exactly the sexy wedge of the surf market. But a protective membrane for your most treasured surfcraft might be the most important piece of surf travel kit, and one that stays with you the longest.

They are a surf marriage and a long-term investment in your future. Boards and wetsuits will come and go; they can be fleeting love affairs, red flags and sexy hookups, but your board bag needs to be dependable, and sexy, tough and hot. It’s a tough brief. However with Db and Surf Bag 3.0, the Surf Roller Pro, means you no longer need to swipe. The bag comes in 6’6” and 7’6” versions for three boards. And like all other Db products, it can be compressed to less than 1/3 of its size when it's not in use. Not cheap at €499,00, but this is a lifetime deal. And with the code FORECASTDB10, you get 10% off at checkout. You can do the math.

In 2021, the Scandi luggage company moved into surf with the Surf Bag 1.0. At the time, the Norwegian snow and ski-based brand claimed it was the new standard in surf luggage, with market-leading protection, smart organisation, and a look that stood out from the rest. It’s a claim that has stood the test of time.

Five years later, they have launched the Surf Bag 3.0, the Surf Roller Pro, taking surfboard protection to the next level. Sure, you may think board bag technological innovation has been more on par with wax combs than, say, inflatable vests, but Db’s Norwegian engineers, in collab with ambassadors like Jordy Smith and Craig Anderson, have been on a mission.

“When redesigning this product, we had one main focus, and that was protection, protection, protection,” said Db founder Truls Brats, which technically is three, but hey, who are we to judge.

“The new board bag is a complete upgrade from version one. Think first class from economy,” said Jordy Smith. “More protection and lighter weight. Also padding in better areas of the bag. Making life light and easy to roll on through.” The big South African’s biggest input was the memory foam tube. It’s basically two sets of tubes that go on the edges of the bag that protect from edge impact.

Another lightbulb moment is the new Rocker Shape on the entire bag. This ensures that the material doesn’t want to go in a different direction than the natural shape of your board. That simple idea takes away a lot of stress on the board itself. Why hasn’t anyone else worked out that flat bags and curved boards don’t mix?

"My favourite feature of the new travel coffin is the reduced weight in the cover,” says the aesthetically pleasing Craig Anderson. “Forever pleasing to the eye. The Scandinavians really know how to make a premium product and always keep my favourite boards safe from harm on my travels.”

He’s probably talking about the Rib Cage Construction, the crucial element in the first design, where integrated polymer ribs create a lighter and more protective shell.

At the front is the NoseJob, a removable protective pack with layered memory foam, the same as used in luxury mattresses and luxury pillows. Inserts for each board to rest on, with zippered compartments to store wetsuits and additional cushioning. But it's not just business at the front, party at the back. The tailgate is a removable protective pack with zippered compartments for towels and soft goods. It can also hold additional padding for extra board protection. The Interior protection system includes padded protection sheets, zipper guard, tube rails, and a layered memory foam insert.

It also features Db’s custom wheels that can handle almost any terrain. Ah, wheels on a boardbag; like twin fins in the 1990s, baggy jeans and weed, they seemed to go out of fashion for a decade or so. But if you’ve ever dragged three boards in a bag, plus a suitcase and backpack through an airport, you’ll know why they may be back in fashion. There is also all-new asphalt tech in the back of the bag, ensuring that you won't get any big damage to the bag when walking on curbs or in carparks.

This is a bag that protects your boards and is damn easy to travel with. For any trip that requires more than just two surfboards, or where you can expect some punishment, it won’t let you down. Aesthetically and design-wise, it surely has to be a market leader. The tradeoff is the price and weight; both are at the higher end of the 3/4 board bag spectrum. However, when it looks this cool (now there’s a sentence never been said about a board bag before) and comes with a lifetime warranty, added protection and ease of use, it's a trade-off well worth investing in. Db claims this isn’t a surf bag, but surf luggage. Either way, it's a bit of kit that you need in your life.