If you’ve ever stared at your boardbag the night before a flight wondering where your reef booties went (again), this one’s for you. I’ve been testing a new tool called LMK.today, and it’s quickly become my go-to wishlist builder for surf travel. While the name hints at gift lists, it doubles as a clean, flexible packing list wishlist builder that keeps your kit dialed, your crew coordinated, and your brain calm before wheels-up.
To show what I mean, here’s a live example you can check out for inspo: Dream Surf Trip—LMK.today Wishlist. It’s a solid baseline for most warm-water missions and a great demo of how a wishlist builder can do more than track birthday ideas.
Before we dig into destination-specific notes, wetsuits, and a bit of surf history, here’s why LMK.today fits how surfers actually prep.
Why LMK.today works for surfers (and not just gift hunters)
Most packing apps get cute with features. LMK.today stays simple, which is exactly what I want when I’m juggling flights, swell windows, and ding repairs. You create a list, add items, group or reorder them, and share the link so your partner, friends, or frothing groms can see what’s done and what’s missing. In other words: a wishlist builder that behaves like a packing list, without forcing you into weird categories.
- Fast setup: Pop open LMK.today, start a wishlist, and add items as they come to mind.
- Clear sharing: Send the wishlist link to your travel crew so everyone brings what they said they would.
- Visual headspace: One page organizes your surf essentials, travel docs, and trip-specific items (hello, spare fin keys).
- Reusable for future trips: Duplicate or update the list when your next strike mission pops up.
If you want to see how a surf packing list looks in practice, the example again is here: Dream Surf Trip—LMK.today.
How to build a dialed surf packing list with a wishlist builder
I like to split each LMK.today list into lightweight sections that map to how I move through airports and surf days. Keep bullets short and to the point; that’s where the tool shines.
Boards & protection
- Daily driver, step-up, fish (as needed)
- Day bag + coffin/boardbag
- Rail/fin protectors, bubble wrap, soft racks (if you rent a car)
- Tie-down straps
Fins, leashes & small hardware
- Primary fin set + backup set
- Two leashes (one the size of your step-up)
- Fin keys (two), spare screws, wax (temp-appropriate)
- Traction/spares, ding tape, mini epoxy or sun-cure
Wetsuits & surf wear
- See the wetsuit section below for thickness by season
- Springsuit/top/rash guard
- Booties, reef booties if needed
- Sun hat for surf, ear plugs if you’re prone to surfer’s ear
Health & sun
- Reef-safe sunscreen, zinc stick
- First aid: Betadine, sterile strips, alcohol wipes, tweezers
- Electrolyte packets; basic meds you know work for you
- Insect repellent (non-DEET options for reef zones if you prefer)
Travel docs & logistics
- Passport + copies, visas if required
- Travel insurance details
- International driver’s license (where useful)
- Credit card with no foreign transaction fees
Tech & tools
- Global plug adaptor, power bank
- Waterproof phone case
- Headlamp (reef walks at dawn), paracord, duct tape
- Portable Wi-Fi hotspot (if you absolutely need it)
Sustainability add-ons
- Reusable water bottle and cutlery
- Lightweight trash bag for beach cleanups
- Mesh bag for wet gear
- Small container of eco-friendly detergent
Create these sections inside LMK.today, then add or remove items based on destination. That’s the beauty of using a wishlist builder: once your skeleton framework exists, swapping in trip-specific gear is a 60-second job.
Three classic surf itineraries—and what to add to your wishlist for each
Below are three routes we help plan all the time at SurfTrip.pro. Each one includes quick notes on waves, recommended hotels near the breaks, what to add to your LMK.today list, and local etiquette that matters.
1) Bali, Indonesia (Canggu to Uluwatu)
Who it suits: Intermediate and up thrive, but there are friendly peaks for keen beginners on the right tides and sandbars. Dry season (May–September) likes trade winds; wet season can still be fun with fewer crowds.
Where to stay near the surf
- Canggu: COMO Uma Canggu, The Slow, Hotel Tugu Bali—easy access to Batu Bolong, Old Man’s, and Echo.
- Uluwatu/Bukit: Uluwatu Surf Villas, Sal Secret Spot, Mu Boutique Resort—quick reach to Uluwatu, Padang, Bingin, and Dreamland.
Wishlist extras for Bali
- Reef booties (volcanic reef + barnacles)
- Slim poncho towel for temple visits (modesty matters)
- Mosquito repellent + compact first aid (reef nicks)
- Spare leash and extra 4-oz sun-cure (travel days can be rough on boards)
Etiquette & impact
- The lineups are busy; rotate sets and avoid snaking.
- Use reef-safe sunscreen and skip single-use plastics; many warungs will refill bottles.
- Dress modestly away from the beach, and be respectful at temples.
Wetsuit note
- Warm water year-round: trunks/bikini + rash guard; springsuit top if wind picks up. A thin 1–2 mm top is nice on dawn patrols.
Add these Bali-specific items to your LMK.today list so they sit next to your core kit. You’ll spot gaps fast.
2) Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica (Nosara, Tamarindo, Santa Teresa)
Who it suits: Friendly beachbreaks and points for all levels, with plenty of rolling faces to tune your turns. November–April is dry, offshore mornings; May–August brings fun south swells and greener hillsides.
Where to stay near the surf
- Nosara/Guiones: Olas Verdes Hotel, The Gilded Iguana Surf Hotel—walk to peaks, surf school options nearby.
- Tamarindo: Hotel Capitán Suizo, Cala Luna Boutique Hotel—easy access to Tamarindo plus boat trips to nearby spots.
- Santa Teresa: Nantipa – A Tico Beach Experience, Banana Beach Bungalows—steps to sand and playful peaks.
Wishlist extras for Costa Rica
- Lightweight rain shell (off-season squalls)
- Tropical wax + spare rash guard
- Small dry bag for boat drops
- Copies of passport/insurance in a zip pouch (humid, sandy environments eat paper)
Etiquette & impact
- Share the sets—there’s a strong beginner presence; clear communication goes far.
- Respect wildlife zones and no-drone areas; this coastline is a biodiversity gem.
- Pack a reusable tote; beach cleanups happen daily, and it’s easy to pitch in.
Wetsuit note
- Mostly skins or 1–2 mm tops. In Guanacaste windy spells (Dec–Feb), a thin springsuit can feel nice at dawn.
Drop a “Nicoya add-ons” section into your LMK.today wishlist builder and you’re set.
3) Portugal (Ericeira, Peniche, and beyond)
Who it suits: Intermediates love the variety; winter delivers punch for confident surfers. Ericeira is Europe’s first World Surfing Reserve (designated in 2011), with world-class right points and reefs in a small radius.
Where to stay near the surf
- Ericeira: You and the Sea, Vila Galé Ericeira—fast jumps to Ribeira d’Ilhas, Coxos (advanced), and more.
- Peniche/Baleal: Surfer’s Lodge Peniche, RIDE Surf Resort & Spa—quick access to Supertubos (advanced) and user-friendly Baleal peaks.
- Nazare (spectating unless you’re tow-in level): Hotel Mar Bravo, Miramar Hotel & Spa—watch the canyon do its thing from safe vantage points.
Wishlist extras for Portugal
- 3/2 or 4/3 fullsuit (season-dependent; see chart below)
- Booties for winter + strong rubber gloves if you feel the cold
- Wind shell and warm layer for post-surf
- Spare fin set tuned for punchier surf
Etiquette & impact
- Mind the pecking order at world-class points; locals wait a long time for sets.
- Respect parking rules in small villages; don’t block farm gates.
- Recycle—Portugal makes this easy; use the glass/paper/plastic bins around town.
Wetsuit note
- Summer: 3/2; shoulder seasons: 4/3; winter: 4/3 or 5/4 with boots, sometimes a hood if you’re north-facing or sessioning long.
Create a separate “Portugal winter” subsection in your LMK.today list with thicker rubber and cold-water extras so you don’t forget gloves on that pre-dawn scramble.
Wetsuit cheat sheet by time of year (common surf routes)
This quick guide helps you map destinations to rubber thickness. Local currents and wind swing comfort by a notch, so know your own cold tolerance.
- Tropics year-round (Indonesia, Maldives, Mentawai, Sri Lanka, parts of Pacific Mexico): trunks/bikini + rash guard; add 1–2 mm top for dawn or wind.
- Warm-water Americas (Costa Rica, Panama, mainland Mexico south of Puerto Vallarta): rash guard or 1–2 mm; late-year wind spells up north can push you toward a springsuit.
- Canary Islands, Morocco (autumn–spring): 3/2 in shoulder seasons; 4/3 with booties mid-winter further north or on windy days.
- Portugal, Northern Spain, Southwest France: summer 3/2; autumn/spring 4/3; winter 4/3 or 5/4 with booties, and maybe a hood if you’re cold-sensitive.
- California (Central/Northern): 4/3 most of the year; 5/4 in mid-winter stretches; booties nearly always north of Santa Cruz.
- Australia (varies widely): Queensland points—springsuit to 3/2; Victoria/SA—4/3 to 5/4 with accessories in winter.
Add a “Wetsuit by month” note in your wishlist builder and pin it near the top. I keep a one-liner like “Portugal mid-Nov: 4/3 + boots” right next to my passport reminder.
A little surf history (and why it matters to packing)
Gear lists change when you know the story behind a spot. Two quick examples:
- Uluwatu, Bali: The wave lit up the surf world after sequences in Morning of the Earth in the early 1970s showed surfers threading that famous cave and racing the point. The crowd grew, but so did the local surf economy—board repair talent, guiding, boat drivers, and hospitality that today make it easy to fix a ding fast or find a last-minute driver. Translation for your LMK list: small cash for repairs, a backup leash, and reef-friendly first aid.
- Ericeira, Portugal: As a World Surfing Reserve, it balances protection of wave quality with community and access. That status brings both pride and responsibility. Translation for your list: trash bag for beach cleanups, a reusable mug for your pastel de nata coffee runs, and a little patience in tight village parking.
When you pack with the place in mind, you bring what helps you and what supports the lineup you’re visiting.
Hotels we like—matched to waves and vibes
I’ve already dropped names above, but here’s a compact recap grouped by break access. These are well-situated for surfers and not the sort of mega-resorts that overwhelm a coastline.
Bali
- COMO Uma Canggu (Canggu): quick walks to Batu Bolong/Old Man’s; food that hits after long sessions.
- Uluwatu Surf Villas (Bukit): canyon views, cliff-top breeze, and fast access to Ulu’s and Padang.
- Sal Secret Spot (Bingin): intimate, tucked away, and handy for Bingin/Dreamland.
Costa Rica – Nicoya
- Olas Verdes (Nosara): eco-minded and steps from Playa Guiones.
- The Gilded Iguana (Nosara): surf club feel and strong coaching options.
- Nantipa (Santa Teresa): beachfront, sunset burners out front.
Portugal
- You and the Sea (Ericeira): apartment-style ease for gear drying and quick strikes to multiple points.
- Vila Galé Ericeira: classic oceanfront with easy town access.
- Surfer’s Lodge Peniche: tuned for surfers, from breakfast timing to board storage.
Bookmark these inside your LMK.today list under a “Stays” section with reservation numbers and check-in times. It’s one less inbox search the night you arrive.
Sample surf packing list you can copy
Here are a few destination-specific blocks depending on where you’re headed:
Warm-water add-ons
- Extra tropical wax, zinc, spare rash guard
- Reef booties (for sharp entries)
- Hydration salts
Cold-water add-ons
- 4/3 or 5/4 with boots + gloves (as needed)
- Thermos for post-surf heat
- Extra microfiber towels for slow-drying days
Boat-drop add-ons
- Dry bag, spare leash, compact snack bars
- Waterproof phone case, cash for fuel tips
- Soft cooler for post-session hydration
Photo/footage add-ons
- Action cam + spare batteries
- Small floaty and tether
- SD card organizer
Having all of this in one wishlist builder makes it easy to assign items to your crew: one person brings the first aid kit, someone else brings the soft racks, and the backup fin key lives in your boardbag.
Making LMK.today work for you (simple workflow)
Here’s the quick pattern I use every time:
- Login or sign up to LMK.today.
- Add sections for the destination: “Bali reef,” “Portugal winter,” “Nosara shoulder-season.”
- Assign items: Next to items like “soft racks” or “first aid,” drop initials of who’s responsible.
- Pin your wetsuit line: One line at the top—“Ericeira Nov: 4/3 + boots”—so you don’t second-guess at 4 a.m.
- Share and lock it: Send the link to your crew early. When something’s packed, mark it off (you can use the claim/registry for this) so you don’t duplicate.
No overthinking, no app sprawl. Just a clear, living list you can use on your phone in a taxi or a boardroom (we all daydream).
Final wax-on: pack lighter, surf longer
Planning a surf trip shouldn’t feel like tax season. A clean wishlist builder keeps decisions simple, helps your friends share the load, and protects the places we love by nudging better habits—like reusable bottles and reef-safe sunscreen. If you want a quick win, grab the example list, tweak ten items, and you’re 90% packed.
- Start here: LMK.today
- Example to copy: Dream Surf Trip—LMK.today Wishlist
- Save for next time: create your own surf trip wishlist builder on LMK.today and keep a base template ready to go.
If you want help tuning your list for a specific destination—Maldives boat life, South-west France late summer, or a California point-chase—we’ll happily map it out. Pack smart, travel light, and catch more good waves.
