Pyzel Astro Pop Review

8.9/ 10 Estimated score

8.9

Estimated from 2 independent sources (no numeric scores published)

The Pyzel Astro Pop is a performance fish built off the older Astro outline, with a more pulled-in nose and tail plus a small wing in the last four inches of tail. Pyzel rate it from 1 ft to 6 ft and recommend it as a quad, but it ships with a five-fin box so it can run thruster, quad or twin plus trailer.

View on Pyzel Surfboards

Quick specs

Type: Performance fish / small-wave shortboard
Skill level: Beginner → Expert (per Surf 'n Show)
Wave range: 1 ft to 6 ft (per Pyzel)
Rocker: Medium-low entry, medium-low tail
Bottom contour: Deep double concave running to vee off the tail
Fin setup: 5-fin box — thruster, quad or twin+1 (quad recommended)

Pyzel describe the Astro Pop as a development of the Astro retro fish, with "a more pulled in nose and tail, with a little wing to help pull in the last 4 inches of the tail which creates a lot of curve in the outline, adding maneuverability without sacrificing any speed."

The bottom is the interesting part. A deep double concave running through to vee off the tail is what Pyzel credit for getting the board "up on top of the water in even slower, weaker waves" while still letting it tip onto rail at speed. The mild beak nose keeps thickness forward without the corky feel of a true groveler.

Pros & cons

Very fast through flat sections thanks to the double-concave-to-vee bottom
Genuinely works in three fin configurations rather than one
Beak nose keeps foam forward without feeling chunky
Flat entry rocker makes it an easy paddler for its length

Most sizes are custom order rather than stock
Pulled tail means it is not the fastest-planing groveler in ankle-high surf
Little published third-party pricing to compare against

How it surfs

Noel Salas tested the Astro Pop in 1–4 ft surf, starting at BSR Surf Resort in Waco before moving to the ocean, and called it "the most versatile board I have ridden to date that shreds in all three different fin set ups." He recommends it for beginner through expert surfers who want to excel in small waves.

Sizing is unusually short. Pyzel's own guidance is to ride it as short as you want, roughly three-quarters to an inch wider than your everyday shortboard, with a touch more volume. Salas rode a 5'3" x 19.25 x 2.25 at 25.6 L while standing 5'9" and 72.5 kg — several inches shorter than a comparable performance shortboard.

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
5'3"	25.1 L	55–65 kg	Advanced
5'5"	27.2 L	62–70 kg	Intermediate+
5'7"	29.3 L	68–76 kg	Intermediate
5'9"	31.3 L	73–82 kg	Intermediate
5'11"	33.5 L	78–88 kg	Intermediate
6'2"	37.4 L	86–95 kg	Improver
6'6"	44.1 L	95–105 kg	Improver

How it compares

Board	Best at	Wave range	Aggregate score
Pyzel Astro Pop	Performance fish	1 ft to 6 ft	8.9
Pyzel Gremlin	Small-wave step-down	1 ft to 6 ft	8.8
Pyzel Phantom	Everyday performance	Waist to overhead	8.6
Firewire Seaside	Retro-modern twin	Ankle to head-high	9.0

Recommended fin setups

Futures JJF / Jack Freestone Generation Series — Noel Salas' recommended thruster set for the Astro Pop.
Futures JJF sides + QD2 3.75 quad rears — Salas' recommended quad configuration — Pyzel's preferred setup for speed.
FCS II MR Twin — Salas' twin+1 recommendation when the surf goes soft and small.

Verdict

One of the more genuinely versatile small-wave boards in the Pyzel range. If you want a fish that still surfs like a shortboard when the wave lets you, the Astro Pop earns its place.

Estimated score: 8.9 / 10

Estimated from 2 independent sources — see full list 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

8.9/ 10

8.9

2 sources, none scored

Source	Score	Summary
Surf 'n Show — Noel Salas review	No numeric score	"The Astro Pop is very fast and offers excellent performance in tight transitions. I found it to be very user friendly and it excelled in 1-4' surf."
Pyzel Surfboards — model page	No numeric score	"Designed to give you some extra spark and easy paddle in weaker, slower waves, while still keeping a performance edge and super fun to ride in good surf."

Frequently asked questions

What is the Pyzel Astro Pop good for?+

Weak, slow, small surf. Pyzel rate it from 1 ft to 6 ft and describe it as a performance fish with extra spark and paddle power that still holds a performance edge in better waves.

Should the Astro Pop be ridden as a quad or a thruster?+

Pyzel recommend the quad for speed, but supply a 5-fin box. Noel Salas rated it highly as a quad, a twin plus trailer and a thruster, calling it the most versatile board he had ridden across three fin setups.

What size Astro Pop should I ride?+

Pyzel suggest riding it as short as you like, about three-quarters to an inch wider than your everyday shortboard, with slightly more volume. A 72 kg rider typically lands between the 5'5" (27.2 L) and 5'9" (31.3 L).

Astro Pop vs Gremlin — which one?+

The Gremlin is a step-down version of the Phantom performance shortboard. The Astro Pop comes from the fish side of the family, with a wider nose, a winged tail and a quad-first design. Choose the Gremlin if you want shortboard feel, the Astro Pop if you want fish speed.

Is there an XL version of the Astro Pop?+

Yes. Pyzel publish both Standard and XL dimension charts, with the XL running wider and thicker at every length — for example 34.8 L at 5'10" against 32.0 L in the standard chart.