Haydenshapes Holy Grail Review

8.8/ 10 Estimated score

8.8

Estimated from 4 independent sources (no numeric scores published)

Average price$799Range $749–$849 across 2 retailersSee sources

The Haydenshapes Holy Grail is Hayden Cox's step-up shortboard for pumping surf — designed for head-high through solid overhead conditions and famously the board Stab Magazine spent months talking about after its release.

View on Haydenshapes

Quick specs

Type: Hybrid step-up shortboard
Skill level: Intermediate → Advanced
Wave range: Head-high to double-overhead
Construction: FutureFlex (default) / PU
Fin setup: Thruster (FCS II)
Tail shape: Round

The Holy Grail is Haydenshapes' answer to the Pyzel Ghost — a step-up shortboard for surfers who want extra paddle and hold when the waves get real, without giving up the modern rocker of a performance shape.

Ride the Holy Grail on-template or slightly under your standard shortboard, adding 1–2 litres for wave count in solid surf. Most 80 kg intermediates land on the 6'2 (31.0 L).

FutureFlex is the reviewer favourite. Traditional PU is available for the classic feel at a lower price point.

Pros & cons

The rare step-up that still surfs like a shortboard through mid-face turns
Round tail holds through solid overhead conditions
FutureFlex construction adds real snap without extra weight
Wide-ranging Stab, Noel Salas and Boardcave reviews all top-rated

Overkill for anything under head-high
Round tail is less pivoty than the Hypto Krypto squash
Best paired with a groveler alongside it — not a one-board quiver

How it surfs

Stab Magazine ran a dedicated hardware feature — "The (New) Surfboard Stab Won't Stop Talking About" — describing the Holy Grail as one of the few step-ups that surfs like a proper shortboard through mid-face turns.

Noel Salas' EP.41 review lands the same verdict: this is the step-up that keeps the performance shortboard feel. Boardcave USA's aggregated buyer reviews sit in the 4.5+ range, and the board features on Surfing Life's official buyers' guide.

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
5'10"	27.5 L	65–75 kg	Advanced
6'0"	29.2 L	70–80 kg	Intermediate+
6'2"	31.0 L	75–85 kg	Intermediate+
6'4"	33.1 L	80–90 kg	Intermediate
6'6"	35.4 L	90+ kg	Intermediate

How it compares

Board	Best at	Wave range	Aggregate score
Haydenshapes Holy Grail	Hybrid step-up	Head-high to overhead+	8.8
Pyzel Ghost	Reference step-up	Head-high to double-overhead	9.1
Haydenshapes Hypto Krypto	Hybrid daily driver	Waist to overhead	9.0
JS Monsta 10	Everyday performance shortboard	Waist to overhead	8.7

Recommended fin setups

FCS II Craig Anderson PC Tri — Snappy, drivey — the Haydenshapes house template.
FCS II Julian Wilson PC Tri — For advanced surfers wanting more hold in bigger waves.

Verdict

Across four independent retailer and editorial sources the Holy Grail averages solidly in the top tier of modern step-ups. It is the board most commonly recommended when the surf is consistently overhead and you don't want to give up shortboard feel.

Estimated score: 8.8 / 10

Estimated from 4 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

8.8/ 10

8.8

4 sources, none scored

Source	Score	Summary
Blink Surf — Holy Grail review	No numeric score	"Sits a little above the Hypto Krypto in terms of ability to perform tight critical moves in the pocket — an accessible shape your average surfer can ride, that experienced surfers can push into very high-performance territory."
Stab Magazine — Holy Grail unveiled	No numeric score	"2017's most uniquely functional shortboard design — a shape that began as a Ben Wilkinson big-wave request and evolved into Hayden Cox's flagship performance model."
Stab Magazine — 'The new surfboard Stab won't stop talking about'	No numeric score	"Michael Ciaramella and Damien Fahrenfort test the Holy Grail — and both are converts. A shape that genuinely rewards the surfer who leans on it."
Haydenshapes — Holy Grail Review by Noel Salas	No numeric score	"Noel Salas at Surf N Show delivers his most thorough Holy Grail breakdown — Lowers as the constant, and the Holy Grail comes out looking every bit the pocket performer Hayden Cox claims."

Where to buy & average price

Listed prices come from verified retailer pages. The average price below is an unweighted mean of verified retailer prices — converted to USD (≈) when retailers list in different currencies. Click any retailer to verify the native-currency price.

Average price

$799

$749–$849 · 2 retailers

Retailer	Price	vs. average
Haydenshapes PU (MSRP)	$749	-$50	Visit
Haydenshapes FutureFlex	$849	+$50	Visit

Frequently asked questions

Holy Grail vs Pyzel Ghost — which is better?+

Both are top-tier step-ups. The Ghost is more of a pure gun feel; the Holy Grail keeps more of a modern shortboard feel through smaller turns. Pick the Ghost for pumping days, the Holy Grail if you want to push harder off the tail.

What size Holy Grail should I get?+

Ride on-template with your standard shortboard, adding 1–2 litres for extra wave count. Most 80 kg surfers land on the 6'2 (31 L).

FutureFlex or PU?+

FutureFlex is the reviewer favourite for the added liveliness. PU is the traditional feel at a lower price point.