What size mini driver?

[mdayton360]

I am 5 10 and weigh between 155-160 lbs. and cannot figure out if i should get a 5 6 or 5 8 mini driver. I have been surfing most of my life and consider myself a well rounded surfer with a good mix of rail surfing and progressive tricks. I am leaning towards the 5 8 but just want to be sure it doesn't have to much volume, but would rather have a little extra than not enough. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!

[prjwebb]

5'8. Minimum. I'm only a little heavier and just picked up a 5'10 and that's the lower end of the volume range for me, although I haven't had any waves to surf it yet.

[buzzy]

Looking verrrrrrry closely. A 6'4" is looking tempting for a new year present. Just have to get a Japan powder trip past the misses and then maybe a MD. also need a CBD Alt @6'6". Not asking much!

[mdayton360]

Thanks for the feedback prjwebb, i bet you are frothin to ride that board. Let me know how it goes once you get it out for a surf. I think I am gonna pick up the 5 8 today....yeewww!

[iggy]

Hope for some waves, curious to get your feedback on it

[prjwebb]

Had a paddle today on her in well overhead, 25mph cross/onshore junk. Board feels quite small under me but still paddles well. Caught waves well, but it's by a long shot my lightest board and all the wind and chop was a pain. That said it was very fast down the line and felt very positive on rail but I didn't get any chance to do any turns or anything like that.
Will report back when I've ridden it more.

[iggy]

How would you compare that board to???

[prjwebb]

Really couldn't say at this point. Felt more like a shortboard than a hybrid in good waves though.

[mdayton360]

How much do you weigh prjwebb? i picked up my 5 8 mini d today and am hoping to score some fun lil waves on it in the morning. Got the stretch quad setup for its maiden voyage....haha.....will let ya know how it goes!

[iggy]

So a bit distant from the dominator

[mdayton360]

10961097 My 5'8 Mini Driver is lookin FRESH!

[prjwebb]

Looking good. I very nearly put the same pad on mine.
I'm between 165 and 170lbs.

Yeah Iggy def a long way from the Dominator. It'll probably feel different in smaller cleaner stuff though.

Let me know how the quad set goes, I went with a thruster.

[mdayton360]

Surfed some fun waist to chest high punchy bowls at New Smyrna Inlet this morning and the MD went really well. Living up to its name it has tons of drive down the line and will really lay a good bottom into top turn when given the chance. Quad setup felt great, very fast and loose but held when it needed to. I set up for one fun barrel and you can tell that the board is made to ride in the tube! All in all, had a great first session on it and im gonna try it as a thruster next session to see the difference. This is a great all around board for any quiver, can't wait to get it into some juicy swell.....yeewww!

[robgnyc]

How does the volume of the 5'8 (25.3) compare to the usual boards you ride?

Would love one of these but feel like the 5'8 is a bit small and the 5'10 is a bit big and probably need to get a regular poly in 5'9 to get it right.

[prjwebb]

I reckon an extra .5 - 1 litre over your shortboard wouldn't be a bad thing with these. Wouldn't want anymore than that though as they feel like they want to be in the water rather than on the water, if you get me.

[mdayton360]

I was actually really suprised by how well it paddled and floated me. As soon as I started paddling it out to the lineup I was stoked because I was worried that it was going to paddle like a shortboard. It has most of its volume throughout the middle of the board and its 19 inches wide which really makes the difference with this shape. The waves I surf at the NSB inlet are fairly top to bottom so that certainly helps the board perform at a higher level for sure. I cant see myself riding this board in anything mushy but it is a great board for waves with punch and Im sure it comes alive in overhead barrels, looking forward to that!

[robgnyc]

mdayton360- what are the dims on your usual shortboard?

[mdayton360]

Honestly, I have not ridden a shortboard in a long time because there are so many good performance hybrids out there now but I used to ride a 5 '11 X 18 1/2 X 2 1/4. The Mini Driver pretty much replaces a shortboard because it has a really pulled in pintail that can handle bigger surf but it has the hybrid quality in the extra volume it hides in the center of the board. I love the feel of a good pintail, they work so good in a variety of conditions.

[buzzy]

That's it. I'm geting one.

One of my boards goes on ebay this weekend!

[tre]

Pretty sure I surfed with mdayton360 yesterday morning at the NSB inlet. Board looks like it goes quite well, and the guy rips, so I'm believing what he's got to say about it.

[mdayton360]

Thanks for the props tre, fun session yesterday for sure! Were you the guy i talked to who was riding the 5'4 fst potatonator?

[Chris]

yeah!! Forum connection.

[pmorgan]

10961097 My 5'8 Mini Driver is lookin FRESH!

Thats a sweet board mate I was wondering what fins you ARE rocking there. I ride mine with the K2.1 quads and really like it. cheers P.