Located on the North Shore of Oahu, Backyards is a quality but treacherous reef in between Sunset and V Land that offers up a less crowded but crazier option to Sunset. There are both lefts and rights that are heavy and big. This spot channels and magnifies swell, 50 foot days on big swells are a possibility. The waves here require your a-game to surf and break for up to 200 meters over a coral reef. The peaks can be a bit scattered, which also leads to beatdowns that make this spot famous.
What are the best surf conditions for Backyards?
Gets good between waist-high to tow in size. Bring a shortboard, step-up, or tow board depending on the day. This break is suitable for intermediate and advanced surfers. The surf here is not the most consistent (4/10) and will be busy with kite/wind/tow surfers when on (5/10). The best winds are from the Southeast. The best swells are from the north, Northeast, Northwest, and West. Works on a low to mid-tide best.
We recommend wearing board shorts or a bikini year-round. Water temperatures range between 27 and 24. See the temperature chart below for more data on this.
