Rip Curl, Braunton, Devon, EX33 1AA
Rip Curl needs no introduction in surfing circles. One of the sport’s great heritage brands, its Braunton shop is the go-to destination for surf equipment, clothing and accessories in this part of North Devon. Whether you are a committed surfer topping up your kit or a first-timer looking for your very first wetsuit, this is the place to come.
The range here covers everything from high-performance competition wetsuits to casual beach and surf-lifestyle clothing for the whole family. Boardshorts, rash vests, hoodies, flip-flops, luggage and everything in between. It is the kind of shop where you walk in for one thing and walk out with three, which is really no hardship when the quality is this good.
Braunton is around fifteen minutes from Byron and the surf shop sits in the thick of what is genuinely one of the UK’s most significant surf communities. The breaks at Croyde, Putsborough and Saunton to the north and west mean that serious surfers have been based in and around this area for decades. The expertise you encounter in the shops reflects that long community history.
The staff here know their stuff. Ask about wetsuits and you will get a proper conversation about thickness, seams and fit rather than a sales pitch. Ask about local conditions and they will tell you honestly where to go and when. That local knowledge is genuinely valuable and freely given.
Even if you have not come to Devon to surf, a browse through a proper surf shop is one of those atmospheric experiences that feels completely right by the sea. The colours, the shapes, the smell of neoprene and wax all add to the texture of a North Devon stay. Pop in, have a look around and you may well walk out looking the part for the beach.
