Rozbern HMB Surfboard Review
A quirky alt-shape that’s stable, fast, and surprisingly beginner-friendly—but not quite a perfect fit for me.
First Look: RNF Roots, Local Twist
I picked up the Rozbern HMB on sale, mostly out of curiosity. It’s essentially a local take on the Lost RNF 96—a shape that’s gotten a ton of hype. Normally I steer clear of wide-nose boards, especially grovelers, but this one was pitched more as a daily driver. I figured it might fill that waist-to-head-high range I’m always chasing.
Turns out, it’s better suited for chest to overhead surf. At stomach high, I’d rather be on something more maneuverable that still offers the same drive. The HMB can grovel and generate speed, but it doesn’t naturally want to hit the lip or attack end sections like a more performance-oriented board.
What Surprised Me
Despite being just 5’8”, the board is incredibly stable and carves well. It’s not twitchy, and it’s easy to surf—almost too easy. It feels more like a retro fish that’s been tweaked for beach breaks, but without the low-end grovel power you’d expect from a true fish.
Design Observations:
- Tail: Narrow, which helps in steeper surf but limits maneuverability
- Nose: Wide enough to hang in the lip sometimes, especially on late drops
- Rocker: Excellent for East Coast waves—never dug the nose, even on vertical re-entry
- Speed: Easy to pump and generate speed, especially down the line
- Pocket surfing: Not its strength; feels more aerial-oriented than vertical
Fin Setup Experiments
This board is weirdly consistent across fin setups. It doesn’t change much, but I did find a few combos that worked better than others.
Fin Setup Notes:
- Twin + trailer:
- Futures T1 + trailer
- Mayhem Evil Twin setup (hybrid keel + small raked center) — best overall
- Thruster:
- Futures P6
- Machado thruster set
- Thruster setups felt slightly better for groveling and quick speed generation
- My take:
- Twin + trailer for head-high surf
- Thruster for waist-to-chest groveling
- Opposite of what most people recommend, but it worked for me
Paddling, Duck Diving & Wave Pool Performance
Paddling is average. The wider nose makes duck diving a chore, especially in the kind of surf I’d want to ride this in. It worked well in the wave pool—no duck diving required—and paddled fine in the flats. But even there, I wanted something more performant and maneuverable.
Who’s It For?
Honestly, this might be a great first shortboard for someone coming off a retro fish or mini Simmons. It’s stable, easy to surf, and has enough rocker to handle steeper drops. It’s fast, forgiving, and doesn’t punish you for being a little late or off-balance.
If you’re a decent longboarder looking to transition into shortboarding, this could be a solid bridge. It’s not a high-performance blade, but it’s not a foamie groveler either.
Construction & Build Quality
Rozbern’s construction is top-tier. The glassing is excellent—very few pressure dings even after multiple sessions. His rockers are dialed for East Coast conditions, and the boards feel built to last.
That said, I’ve always felt like something’s missing in his shapes. With the HMB, it’s the pocket performance. It goes fast, it carves, but it doesn’t want to hit the lip or surf tight transitions.
Sizing Thoughts
I usually ride boards in the 29–31 liter range, especially in cold water. At 165 lbs, I’d probably go 28 liters if I were in boardshorts. I think I oversized this one. If I bought it again, I’d go shorter—maybe 5’5” or 5’6”. The current length has too much rail line for the width and nose to feel truly maneuverable.
Final Verdict
I had fun on this board in mushy, bigger Outer Banks surf with the Evil Twin setup. It gave me that fishy, carvy feel without the downsides of a true retro fish. Still, I’d probably reach for my old Rozbern S-Curve fish in those conditions.
The HMB is easier to surf and easier to catch waves on—but for me, it’s a quirky mashup that doesn’t quite land. I get why people like it, and I’ve seen promo clips where it looks magic. But pro surfers make everything look good.