Softech The Middie Softboard
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Softech The Middie: The Soft Top Mid-Length That Surfs Like a Real Board
The Middie from Softech sits squarely in the sweet spot between a longboard's paddle ease and a shortboard's responsiveness. Designed for surfers who want more from a soft top than just stability, it delivers a mid-length outline that works across a wide range of wave sizes and a construction philosophy built around durability and real-session performance. Whether you are catching your first green waves or ducking back to a forgiving shape on a punchy beach break day, The Middie handles the brief without apology.
Handmade Construction Built to Last
Softech builds The Middie from highly durable materials using proven manufacturing techniques developed over years of producing boards that take abuse and keep surfing. The epoxy core gives the board a lively, responsive flex pattern that is noticeably different from foam-blank soft tops: it pops off the bottom and holds a line through the turn rather than deflecting. The soft deck absorbs impacts, protects against board-to-body collisions during wipeouts, and stays comfortable for long sessions without a rashguard. This is the construction that makes Softech a go-to for surf schools, first-time buyers, and experienced surfers who want a board they can lend, store in the car, and beat on for years.
Mid-Length Outline for Maximum Wave Count
The rounded, fuller outline gives The Middie a generous planing surface that catches waves early and holds its speed through flat sections. The wider nose and full midsection keep the board stable underfoot when you are still finding your footing, while the pulled-in tail allows the board to pivot and release when you want to generate speed or change direction. The rocker is moderate: enough lift through the nose to handle steeper takeoffs, flat enough through the middle and tail to generate speed in weaker surf. The result is a shape that produces a high wave count in small to medium conditions and remains controllable in head-high surf for competent intermediates.
Thruster Setup for Drive and Direction
The Middie runs a three-fin thruster configuration. Three fins working together deliver the drive and directional hold that makes the board feel planted on the face, predictable through the turn, and stable at speed. This setup suits the mid-length outline well: you get enough fin area to hold the board on a trim line in open-face surf and enough pivot to redirect through the turn. The fin placement is tuned to complement the outline rather than fight it, so the board feels intuitive from the first session rather than requiring adjustment.
Who Should Ride The Middie
The Middie is genuinely versatile across skill levels. Beginners benefit from the wide, stable outline and the forgiving soft deck while learning to pop up and find balance. Intermediate surfers who want a high-performance soft top to ride on smaller or more crowded days will find that The Middie actually surfs, not just floats. The mid-length format also makes it a strong option for older surfers returning to the water, heavier surfers who want float without sacrificing maneuverability, and anyone who surfs a variety of conditions and wants one board that handles most of them. It is equally at home on a flat summer beach break and an overhead point break, depending on the rider's skill level.
The Trop Colorway
The Trop graphic wraps the underside and tail in a bold tropical palm-leaf print rendered in deep greens, teal, orange, and white on a light blue ground. The deck is a clean mist grey with the Middie skull logo at the nose. The contrast between the minimal top deck and the graphic underside gives the board a distinctive look in the lineup without going overboard. It is a board that looks as good under your arm on the beach as it does on the face of a wave.
Island Water Sports and Softech
Island Water Sports has been South Florida's surf shop since 1978, and we stock Softech because the boards hold up in the hands of everyday surfers surfing real conditions. If you have questions about whether The Middie is the right shape for your surfing, reach out to the team at 954-427-4929 or stop in. We ride what we sell.
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Specifications
- Brand
- Softech
- Model
- The Middie
- Board Type
- Soft Top / Softboard
- Construction
- Epoxy Core, Soft Foam Deck
- Fin Setup
- Thruster (3-fin)
- Stringer
- Single stringer
- Skill Level
- Beginner to Intermediate
- Wave Range
- Small to head-high
Size & Dimensions
| Length | Width | Thickness | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5'10" | 20" | 2 1/4" | 28.5L |
| 6'4" | 21" | 2 1/2" | 37.5L |
| 6'10" | 21" | 2 3/4" | 45.5L |
Full manufacturer size chart. Sizes available to order are shown in the selector above.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the difference between a soft top surfboard and a regular surfboard?
- A soft top surfboard like The Middie uses a foam or soft rubber deck instead of a hard fiberglass or epoxy surface. This makes the board safer during wipeouts (less impact if the board hits you), more forgiving underfoot when learning, and more durable against dings and pressure dents. The Middie adds an epoxy core under that soft deck, which gives it a stiffer, more responsive feel than a pure foam board while keeping the safety and durability benefits of the soft exterior. A traditional hard-top board typically has a sharper performance ceiling, but The Middie closes most of that gap for everyday surfing.
- Is The Middie a good surfboard for beginners?
- Yes. The wide, rounded mid-length outline gives beginners a stable platform that paddles into waves easily and holds steady while learning to pop up. The soft deck protects against the board-to-body contact that is common in the learning phase. At the same time, The Middie surfs more like a real board than a beginner foamie, so you are not learning habits you need to unlearn later. It is one of the best shapes for someone who wants to progress quickly without sacrificing safety.
- What waves is The Middie designed for?
- The Middie is designed for small to medium surf, the kind of waves most people surf most of the time. Knee-to-chest-high beachbreak is where it thrives: the outline generates plenty of speed in weak surf, the rocker handles the occasional steeper takeoff, and the thruster setup gives you enough hold to make turns. Experienced intermediates can ride it in head-high surf. It is not shaped for hollow, fast, powerful reef breaks, but for everyday beach break conditions it is hard to beat.
- What size Middie should I ride?
- The right size depends on your weight, your surfing level, and the waves you surf most often. The full dimensions and volumes for each size are in the size chart on this page. As a general guide, more volume means more paddle power and stability, which benefits beginners and heavier surfers. Less volume means more sensitivity and maneuverability for experienced surfers in good waves. Use the size chart and the variant selector on this page to pick your size, and call us at 954-427-4929 if you want a recommendation based on your specific situation.
- How many fins does The Middie come with?
- The Middie runs a three-fin thruster configuration. The thruster setup balances drive and directional hold with the ability to pivot and redirect, which suits the mid-length outline well. It gives the board a planted, predictable feel through the turn without sacrificing the looseness that makes mid-lengths fun in smaller surf.
- How durable is The Middie softboard?
- Softech builds The Middie using highly durable materials and proven manufacturing techniques specifically intended to withstand hard use. The soft deck resists pressure dents and dings far better than a hard-top board. The epoxy core adds stiffness and structural integrity. This is a board you can load in the car, share with friends, and surf regularly for years without the maintenance overhead of a traditional glass board.
- What is the high speed mid-board shape about?
- The Middie's outline bridges the gap between the pure glide of a longboard and the speed generation of a shorter, narrower shape. The fuller midsection and wider nose create a planing surface that locks in early on the wave and carries speed through flat sections, while the pulled-in tail and moderate rocker let the board project forward and accelerate when you trim. The thruster fin setup adds directional drive. The result is a mid-length that does not bog down or require constant pumping to stay alive in the wave.