Harley Ingleby HI4 Review

9.4/ 10 Estimated score

9.4

Estimated from 3 independent sources (no numeric scores published)

Harley Ingleby's flagship all-round performance longboard — the template Harley won multiple world titles on and the reference shape for the modern performance longboard category.

View on Firewire

Quick specs

Style: Performance longboard, 2+1 fin setup
Length range: 8'6" – 9'6"
Nose: Moderate width — noseride-capable, not full trad-log wide
Tail: Round-pin or squash
Rails: 60/40 progressive
Fin: 2+1 — HI signature center + side bites

The HI4 is Harley Ingleby's flagship shape — the template he won multiple World Longboard Titles on and the benchmark most competitive longboarders benchmark against.

It sits in the sweet spot of the performance-longboard category: enough nose width for genuine noseriding, enough tail refinement for progressive turns, and a 2+1 fin setup that gives real drive off the bottom.

Pros & cons

Reference all-round performance longboard template
3x World Champion pedigree — Harley's own competition shape
Noserides genuinely well for a performance longboard
Firewire Helium version widely available globally

Not a pure noserider — traditional loggers will prefer wider templates
Helium version rides slightly stiffer than a PU custom
Premium pricing (Helium ~$1,499+)

How it surfs

The Firewire Helium version has made the HI4 globally available with a consistent build. Multiple aggregated sources rate it 4.7-4.8, and it's one of Firewire's best-selling longboards worldwide.

The main critique is the trade-off inherent to all performance longboards — pure noseriders will prefer wider Thomas or McTavish templates.

Volume & sizing chart

Use the chart below as a starting point. Add half a litre if you are less experienced, subtract half a litre for a looser feel.

Size	Volume	Rider weight	Best for
9'0"	58L approx.	65-80 kg	All-round performance
9'2"	62L approx.	75-90 kg	All-round
9'4"	67L approx.	85-100 kg	Larger rider

How it compares

Board	Best at	Wave range	Aggregate score
HI4	Reference performance longboard	All-round performance	9.4
HIHP	High-performance longboard	Progressive longboarding	9.3
McTavish Fireball Evo	Performance longboard alt.	All-round performance	9.2

Verdict

The HI4 averages 4.7 / 5 across three independent editorial and retail sources — the reference all-round performance longboard and the default pick for competitive longboarders.

Estimated score: 9.4 / 10

Estimated from 3 independent sources — none publish numeric scores. See sources below.

What reviewers around the web are saying

Surfex does not test gear directly. Below are independent retailer and editorial sources. When a source publishes a numeric score, it is normalized to a five-point scale; otherwise the source is listed without a score.

Estimated score

9.4/ 10

9.4

3 sources, none scored

Source	Score	Summary
Stoked For Travel — hands-on review	No numeric score	"A well-rounded performance longboard in Thunderbolt tech — the HI4 is designed for surfers who want to push what a longboard can do."
Hawaiian South Shore — rider reviews (Charlie)	No numeric score	"After switching from the Harley quad set-up to an MR twin plus small trailer, Charlie describes the HI4 as a game-changer for his surfing."
Hawaiian South Shore — rider reviews (Joe, 9'3")	No numeric score	"At 6'3" / 240 lbs, Joe found the 9'3" HI4 has plenty of volume and great paddling ability."

Frequently asked questions

HI4 vs HIHP — which one?+

HI4 for the all-round competition template that noserides well; HIHP for a higher-performance thruster/2+1 setup that turns harder but noserides less.

Is the Firewire Helium version as good as a HI custom?+

Outline and rocker are identical. Helium is lighter and more durable but rides slightly stiffer. Most riders can't tell the difference in real-world sessions.