For all the amazing information we have access to via that computer we all carry around in our pocket, it sure can drain us. You pick up your phone to check the surf and the next thing you know, you’ve watched three videos of a racoon with short spine syndrome running around a neighborhood and then you’re arguing with strangers about dogs on the beach. And then 45 minutes have gone by and …wait? What was I doing? Oh yeah… the surf.
What if you could just see the surf conditions – or better yet, the forecast – without the temptation for mindless scrolling? That was part of the idea behind Swellframe, a surf report device that is always on and requires no booting up, no tuning in and no scrolling. Or as the Swellframe folks say, “Everything you need. Nothing you don’t.”
You create an account in minutes and pick your local break from hundreds of surf spots across the globe. The Swell Frame team has even taken some requests for new spots. Then it’s essentially a simple, framed readout of the swell, wind, period, and tide data, as well as the best time of day to target and best windows over the next few days. The forecast is generated from a combination of ocean buoys, satellite observations, and multiple weather models, not necessarily tied to the same swell models as popular forecast sites. These readings take into account the various nature of different breaks, coastlines, and bathymetry. So, when it’s firing, you’ll know it’s firing.
You can choose up to seven different slides that will rotate every 30 seconds. Pick a handful of surf spots to see where is working on different winds or swell angles. Or you can have multiple slides of the same break that show different forecasted timeframes. Try a layout with a short-term forecasts or long-range seven-day outlook or even the Session Finder view that automatically identify the best session across either your favorite region. You can change them at any time.
One of the most impressive aspects is just how little power Swellframe uses. Thanks to its ultra-efficient E Ink display, a single charge lasts at least six months under normal use, and testing suggests perhaps substantially longer. The forecast refreshes automatically every three hours, while the display remains visible all day without consuming additional power. Swellframe doesn’t turn “off.” The screen stays on and there is nothing to boot up or turn on. The display is an e-ink that reflects ambient light, making it easy to read in your kitchen, next to your bed or in your office. These are becoming pretty popular in retail shops as well, something of a conversation piece.
“We wanted something that meets us right where we are: tells us the surf report – not more, not less. It’s a glanceable forecast on the wall that doesn’t ask you to pick up a device,” explains co-founder Tommy Ihnken, “There’s no app, no notifications and no rabbit hole. Just the information, always on, always ready. So, we built one. The how mattered just as much as the what, and we sweat every detail, so your forecast stays simple, honest, and always on.”
Swellframe
After the initial connection process, Swellframe works via your Wifi, which is nice if Bluetooth occasionally makes you want to throw your phone in the ocean. And in the near future, Swellframe will be able to give conditions for different outdoor elements like lakes and mountains, specifically a partnership under the label MTNFRAME. They crew is working up the ability to add live reporting including number of lifts and runs open, snow depth at peak, mid and valley and grooming. Never miss a powder day or a swell. Surfer got word that the Kickstarter campaign surpassed its goal by 300% so these are now in production and can be ordered direct from Swellframe or found this fall at local surf shop. And that could mean more surfing, less scrolling and potentially less arguing with people about dogs on your beach.
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