Jim Banks The Revolution 6'6 review: a beach break twin fin
Updated 2026-09-20
The Jim Banks Revolution is a 6'6 custom twin fin with a future form bottom, an aggressive vee running into a double concave. It turns so quickly and smoothly that it stands apart from every other twin fin in the rack.
What it is and why I bought it
This one is a PU board, hand finished locally and glassed close to home, part of a limited run with a pin stripe. Despite having owned several other Jim Banks boards before this one, this was the first with his future form bottom, and it behaves differently to any of the others.
How it surfed
Running a straight edge along the bottom shows a double concave starting early and building into a genuinely aggressive vee through to the tail. There is a flip in the tail rocker that helps it turn, and a heavy dose of nose rocker that keeps it from ever nose diving through whitewash. Put those together and it turns on the spot, so smoothly and so quickly that it feels like standing on a ball bearing rather than a surfboard.
That contour asks for the right fin. Too small a fin and the tail can slip, so Jim Banks branded fins, from keels through to the Hooker model, have been the setup that works best. A set of S-Wings was also tried and spun straight out, while a large custom keel from another maker was strong enough to tame the board when a smaller fin could not. It is light, strong, and has been ridden in genuinely big waves, including a standout ride at a local point break called Tea Tree.
Who it suits and who it does not
An eggy outline with a wide tail and a nose that is not too narrow makes this a stable, user friendly board despite the aggressive bottom contour. It suits someone who wants a lively, responsive twin fin for everyday beach breaks that can still take on a point wave when the swell allows. It is not the board for someone chasing the calmest, most predictable ride, since that vee double concave rewards commitment rather than caution.
What happened to it
It is still in the rack, rated as one of the better value picks in the quiver and not going anywhere any time soon.
Questions people ask
What fins work on the Jim Banks Revolution?
Jim Banks branded fins, from keels through to the Hooker model, have worked best. A large custom keel from another maker has also tamed it well, while a set of S-Wings spun out.
What makes the Revolution turn the way it does?
An aggressive vee running into a double concave, paired with tail flip and heavy nose rocker, lets it turn on the spot with a smoothness that stands out from other twin fins in the rack.
Is the Revolution only a small wave board?
No. It has handled genuinely big waves, including a standout ride at the local point break Tea Tree, while still working well in everyday beach break conditions.
This one is still in the rack; more on where it fits sits on the quiver hub. For similar everyday twin fins, see the Surman Dark Void 7'2 and the Mitch Surman Dark Void 6'6. For how fins change a board's feel, see do fins make a difference.
