Channel Islands Mid Twin 7'1 review: a dependable everyday mid-length

Updated 2026-09-19

The Channel Islands Mid Twin is a 7'1 stock mid-length, bought as a dependable, no-fuss board rather than anything experimental. It is the kind of board that works well enough it doubles as a reference point for judging everything else in the rack.

What it is and why I bought it

I bought the Mid Twin stock in August 2024, a PU board with continuous rocker, a satin finish and a very slight double concave into vee. At 21 1/4 inches wide and 47.8 litres over 7'1, it is a widely available, well-proven shape rather than a custom order, bought partly as a reference for how a properly dialled-in mid-length should feel.

How it surfed

The Mid Twin has covered a range of conditions well in its sessions so far, with its best wave at Sunrise reaching a top speed of 29.1 km/h (about 18 mph) over 110 metres. BMT, Soar S-wing or C-Drive fins have all worked in it. It has a better low end than a narrower, more pulled-in board, and it still holds up as conditions pick up, with a rounded pintail that is gentler through duck dives in solid surf than a sharper swallow tail would be.

Who it suits and who it does not

This is a board for anyone who wants one dependable mid-length that handles small and larger days without drama, particularly someone with mobility concerns or coming from a higher-volume board who still wants some performance. It is not the board for someone chasing an edgy, high-performance feel; for that, a shorter, more pulled-in twin like the Campbell Designed Twin Cam is the better fit. The logged wave range is 1 to 7 ft, ideal at 5 ft.

What happened to it

It is still in the rack. It cost $1,399 to buy, with a matching replacement cost, and carries an asking price of $800 if it were to move on.

Questions people ask

What fins work on the Channel Islands Mid Twin?

BMT, Soar S-wing and C-Drive fins have all been logged as working setups on this board.

Is the Mid Twin a good first mid-length?

Yes. It is a widely available, well-proven shape with no unusual construction or setup quirks, which makes it a sound reference point for anyone trying a mid-length for the first time.

What conditions suit the Mid Twin?

The logged range is 1 to 7 ft with 5 ft as the ideal, and it has posted a 29.1 km/h top speed over a 110 metre wave at Sunrise, so it covers most everyday surf comfortably.

For the full spec sheet, see the current quiver. For similar mid-length twins, see the Campbell Designed Middle Toe and the Surman Dark Void 7'2. For the case for buying stock over custom, see custom or stock surfboard.