Even though 1 in 4 surf injuries are to the head, fewer than 2% of surfers wear helmets. That’s because traditional surf helmets tend to be bulky, uncomfortable, uncool — or all of the above. We set out to create a product that people will actually want to wear. After all, a helmet only protects you if you’re wearing it. Our high-impact surf helmet is disguised as a bucket hat. You won’t stick out like a sore thumb, and your noggin will be safely cushioned.

Surf Skull started when our founder Davon had a seemingly routine wipeout in Baja California; on an unassuming knee-high wave. As he surfaced, his own fin hit him in the head. Blood poured down his face as he paddled in. Fortunately, Davon’s injury wasn’t severe, but he realized he had gotten lucky. Amid all the hazards surfing presents, he knew he should take head protection more seriously. 

Davon started researching surf helmets. He found most looked great for surfing the treacherous reefs of Pipeline or Teahupo’o, but they were over-the-top for the average surfer at their home break. He wanted a more subtle surf helmet that wouldn’t draw stares.

So when he couldn’t find the right product, he teamed up with business partners to build it. Surf Skull was born.

At Surf Skull, we’re surfers first. We’re also mechanical engineers and product designers. Tapping into our team’s experience at companies like Google and Wing, we developed a lightweight, low-profile design that delivers unparalleled protection for a surf helmet of its size. Our impact-resistant foam absorbs more force and covers 20% more of the head than the plastic caps that other brands insert in their hats.

Protecting your head has become a no-brainer.

You may have seen Paul and Davon on TV: we took our shot on ABC's Shark Tank and lived to tell the tale! We held our own against the Sharks and walked away with a deal from the entrepreneur Daniel Lubetzky, founder of KIND Snacks.

We're stoked to have Daniel’s guidance on our team. He’s backed surf products before, and he’s not just an investor; he’s going to roll up his sleeves and help us with our mission to make head protection more accessible for all surfers.

Santa Cruz, California has a storied history of surf safety innovation. It’s where Jack O’Neill not only famously pioneered the wetsuit, but his son Pat devised one of surfing’s most fundamental safety tools: the leash. While Jack lost an eye testing iterations of the invention, luckily, it only took Davon a minor laceration to get our idea off the ground.

We’re based in Santa Cruz, and we’re stoked to be part of this surf-crazed town’s legacy of innovation. So whether you’re pulling into your next barrel or navigating a crowded lineup, a beginner or a ripper, surfing Waikiki or Jeffreys Bay, we want you to feel safer the next time you paddle out, without cramping your style.

We strive to make the lineup safer, one protected noggin at a time.