JS Blak Box 2 Round Tail 6'3 review: a heavy hybrid best for windy days

Updated 2026-09-19

The JS Blak Box 2 Round Tail is a 6'3 five-slot hybrid, a heavier board that found its niche on the messier, windier days a lighter board struggles with.

What it is and why I bought it

I bought this Blak Box 2 stock in October 2016, a board with a flat rocker and hard rails, running a single-to-double-concave bottom, finished with a rounded pin tail and five fin slots. At 21 inches wide and 37.5 litres over 6'3, the register is direct about its character: heavy, best for windy days, not very responsive, but smooth, and lacking paddle power because of a thin nose.

It came in a white colourway.

How it surfed

Its best wave came at Queensy, where it settled into a specific role: a smooth-riding, wind-resistant board rather than an everyday performance shape. Channel Islands fins were the setup used. The logged wave range is 2 to 5 ft, ideal at 3.5 ft.

Who it suits and who it does not

A heavier, thin-nosed hybrid like this suits someone who specifically wants a board that holds a line in choppy, windy conditions, trading some paddle power and responsiveness for that smoothness. It is a poor fit for anyone chasing quick, lively turning or strong paddle power off a thin nose.

What happened to it

It sold on 13 June 2017 for $450, against a $900 purchase cost.

Questions people ask

What was this JS Blak Box 2's biggest strength?

Handling windy, choppy conditions smoothly, a specific niche the register calls out directly, best for windy days.

What was its biggest weakness?

A thin nose that limited paddle power, along with a heavier build that made it less responsive than a lighter equivalent.

What fins worked on this board?

Channel Islands fins are the setup logged against it.

For the full spec sheet, see the sold boards list. For the other JS Blak Box 2 in the log, see the 2015 version. For more on hybrid fin setups, see twin quad or thruster.