When you think of Nixon most likely you think of their edgy and quality driven watches. They have made their mark on the surf industry for years and continue to launch new and exciting watch designs for all occasions. What you may not know is that Nixon has recently ventured into the headphone market. Taking the technology they have applied to their wrist wear and modifying it for your listening pleasure. South Coast Surf Shops is one of the few proud vendors in the San Diego area to currently carry Nixon headphones. I took a test drive of some of the popular models we carry to compare just how well they hold up to other brands.

Coming into this assignment of trying out the Nixon brand I was a bit skeptical. I have always been a fanatic of the brand that rhymes with rose. Most would figure it to be a daunting test for Nixon to match up with some of the more elite classes of headphones. What I found was actually surprising, and a good sign of things to come for Nixon. I tried out three of the styles of headphones we carry at South Coast currently. In no particular order, the Nomadic, the Trooper, and lastly the Whip.

Using my trusty famous Mac player I strapped in for the test. The Whip was the first headphone I tried out. At first glance it doesn’t scream quality, but I was surprisingly wrong. The sound came out crisp and I was able to adjust the sound level to an almost unbearable scream. The design is light weight making it perfect for the running enthusiasts. A variety of eye catching colors made them stand out just enough, and the price was competitive based on industry standards. My only complaint was the somewhat uncomfortable design. Not exactly what your looking for in that cross country commute. Overall, a perfect fit for those looking for a inexpensive headphone with a kick in sound.

The next two test subject were the Nomadic and the Trooper. Both larger than the previously mentioned Whip, but not too bulky. As sound quality goes, these two models really hit the mark. Compared to some of the past headphones I have owned, I could definitely hear the difference in quality. A really crisp sound allowed for my songs to pop. An adjustable ear volume control system was efficient and quality driven. The Nomadic style had foam padding on the ear and I was not thrilled at first to put them on. It seemed a bit cheap for a higher end model. I was definitely proven wrong. The foam was comfortable and would be great for extended usage. Overall, both of these headphones were a pleasant surprise in the mid to upper price range. Check out South Coast’s web-page for a more detailed description of each of these headphones features.

Change is often a difficult concept when it comes to technology you are comfortable with. Most times we will just roll with whatever next year’s model is for the same company. I have been a fan of certain headphone brands and had a bit of a hesitant pause to change to Nixon. After trying out their new models I left impressed with sound quality and looking forward to what comfort upgrades they will make in the near future. If your looking to branch out to a new headphone, try out Nixon’s new styles. For all your Nixon and other surf needs, stop in at one of South Coast Surf Shops five locations, or visit us online.

It’s getting down to those last few days of holiday shopping. If your like me, you’ve waited until the last possible moment to get those perfect gifts. Unfortunatley, I check my wallet and see only Washingtons. Reach into my pocket and pull out only lint. Times are tough and money is tight. Come on in to South Coast’s Closeout store where you’ll always find the best deal. Almost all of our merchandise is 50% off the original price. Tee’s, hoodies, jeans, dresses and much more can be found at amazing prices. When your looking to finish up that holiday shopping, stop in at South Coast Closeouts and turn that lint into the ideal present.

Can you believe it, but the holiday season is upon us already? Not everyone is ready to drop $500 on a brand new surf board. South Coast has made it easier on the wallet as well as you when it comes to finding quality holiday gifts. Our sales table is a thrifty shoppers dream. It features items under $10 and $20. Many of these gifts make incredible stocking stuffer ideas or stand alone as a fantastic gift. All the major brands are represented and you can find gifts for both sexes. Some of the perfect gift ideas featured are wallets, purses, tees, dvds, and many more just to name a few. So stop bye South Coast and make your holiday shopping just a bit easier. No time to shop, jump online at South Coast’s web store.

Are you ready to make a difference in the easiest way possible?  You don’t need to lift a finger or even leave the country.  Soon enough you won’t even have to leave the comfort of your own home.  Now that I’ve been vague enough, I’ll let you in on the secret.  Tom’s Footwear has finally arrived at our South Coast stores!  So what does this have to do with making a difference?  The answer is easy.  Tom’s is a world brand name that is known for their charitable nature.  Not only are Tom’s fashionable and comfy, but they donate one pair of their shoes when you purchase one to needy children around the world. 

It is extremely rare for companies to be socially concious in the grasp for what you can get, economy of the present.   Some companies are generous enough to donate to charities at the end of the year (just in time for tax season), but seem to be more interested in the publicity that follows.  Tom’s is unique in this respect.  Blake Mycoskie started Tom’s with one dream in mind, put shoes on as many less fortunate children as possible.  To date they have given away over 150,000 pairs of shoes.  A remarkable number for a company in business less than 5 years.  I could give you all the details about the charitable nature of Tom’s, but their website will do it better justice.   I find it quite refreshing in such ugly days of business to see a company strive for more then just the bottom line.  Fortunately, Tom’s footwear is anything but ugly.

Most companies will stick to a formula for footwear or clothing and just modify as competiton has the latest and greatest.  Tom’s doesn’t fall into this trap.  Taking a sneak peek at our most recent shipment, I could tell their style was not a clone.  At first I believed them to be shoes for ninjas looking for a quiet shoe to sneak up to their enemy in.   After a while they started to ware on me, and I started to become more of a fan after I heard their back story.   Comfort was never an issue as I slipped into my first pair.  Bye, Bye, bulky sneakers and hello ninja kicks.  The materials they put into the product are very light and allow for ample movement.   Arch and heel support are features found on most Tom’s.  Only one more reason to slip you tootsies into a pair today.

One for One is Tom’s mission statement, and with how much they have helped in the past few years it is an appropriate slogan.  The great thing about working in the surf industry is that occasionally you run across some inspirational companies trying to make our world better.  Tom’s isn’t the only business helping one pair at a time, but they set up a model I hope others will follow.  Check out their site to learn more or go to one of South Coast Surf shops 5 locations and see them for yourself.     

It’s really time to think about picking up a new surfboard don’t you think? That old beast you’ve been riding with 8 thousand dings, and Solarez repairs all over has had it. You’ve heard of the South Coast Closeout’s store(or sales store), and all their great deals on clothing and boards. The problem is that your not a psychic and have no idea what we have in stock. Here is your chance to check out a visual representation of the boards we have currently in stock at the sales store. A little music makes it not totally repetitive, so give it a view and see if we have the board that fits your surfing style. These boards may be available at our other South Coast locations, but not at the “closeout” prices the sale store can offer. Take a peek, you might just find your next weapon of mass destruction.

The K2.1s are a high performance fin for skilled progressive surfers.  The K2.1 design is nothing new to the surfing world. F.C.S. has had these fins around for quite some time with minor changes in template and limited options for materials over the years. Slater has renovated his K2.1 and he ended up his ninth world title with them, that’s a successful improvement at its finest. We’ve stocked up South Coast with these things for that very reason.

The new K2.1s are made out of the F.C.S. performance core fiberglass construction. The performance core fins are stiffer than their natural composite brethren, you know, those plastic feeling ones that look like they could glow in the dark. Now they are composed of a foam core, a fiberglass foil and a satin cloth for aesthetic amusement. This translates to a less forgiving fin but one that is more sensitive and able to handle more powerful waves without sliding out or over flexing while racing down the line for a beach break barrel. They are also much lighter due to the foam inside the fiberglass foil as to not weight down the tail of your board when you’re trying your best Slater impression to get above and beyond the lip on your turns.

Almost all high performance fins now are made with some type of foam core but that’s not what makes these blue and white beauties stand out. The real deal behind them is how their templates work with the flex patterns of the P.C. construction. Most thruster sets have the 3 fins shaped all with the same template and length but not this set, hence the name K2.1. The side fins have more surface area compared to a shorter trailer fin, so responds like a small twin fin plus a trailer fin to balance out the pivoting.

The side fins have a wide base to produce forward drive through turns and allow you to slam your rail into a gouging cutback with confidence that the extra surface area will hold your line. They have almost no rake making them stand straight up like the dorsal fin on a shark. The lack of rake lets your board change direction quickly like snapping a more vertical bottom turn up a wave when you need to do work fast or risk being pitched via a heavy lip into a reef head. If you’re thinking right now that’s too risky, these fins aren’t for you. If you‘re drooling on your computer at the thought of such an oppurtunity, then you‘re on the right track to qualifying for a set.

The trailer fin is about the size and template of an M3 fin; there is a bit more rake, but less area so when you submerge your tail the board will go into a controlled slide or quickly cutback without sacrificing all your speed in the process.  The concept behind having a smaller trailer fin is to make it easier to break free from a carve and perform a more radical direction change, welcome to fins free surfing. Combine that with the responsiveness of performance core material and you’ve got a recipe for some heavy hitting Young Guns style wave riding.

These fins are not going to let you make a mistake without paying a price. They’re used by a nine-time world surfing champion, they were meant for those with the skill and the sheer guts to assault the most angry of waves at their most critical points. If you don’t set yourself up for a deep bottom turn you can expect these fins to make your snaps feel terribly forced and lacking of all style. They have a very pivotal turning nature so you must surf them more vertically and use more torque from your legs if you want be able to connect maneuvers.

Surf them in hollow beach breaks or in more heavy reefs in the area to understand how they work. Don’t worry about getting stuck behind a section, the side fins have the ability to drive you right around it with some double pumping or if you‘re daring enough right over it with a floater. Now you’re probably thinking these fins are too technical to be practical but it’s a double edged sword that will sharpen any surfers skills to their own benefit. Yes they’re not forgiving, but after you have them dialed in you’ll learn to execute proper bottom turns that produce incredible drive up the face while that smaller trailer fin lets you crank through a turn with style and enough speed to fire off your next blow tail snap.