About Hityo

We like to spend time in the water. To increase our time in the water and stoke exponentially we make recycled plastic handplanes.

In the beginning  

A few years ago we spent some time in California and were intrigued by a select group of people carrying small pieces of wood shaped similar to surfboards. In all sorts of conditions they were making the most of the shacks, getting barrelled or just taking it easy with some longer rides. Speaking to the guys and girls on the beach we became educated in how to take bodysurfing to the next level with a hand plane, handgun or handboard.

On returning to the UK and specifically some dubious south coast surf the potential for getting some quality time in the water with a handplane became clear. Initially we shaped in the shed using whatever we could get our hands on be it marine ply or old chairs! We educated our friends old and new in the art of handplaning and the scope for getting more time in the water or just as an alternative to surfing.

Next steps

After getting shed happy with our wooden planes we looked at how we might expand into small scale production. We also looked at alternative materials that might improve the experience. Lots of phone calls, design time, shed time and tea later we developed and produced our first recycled plastic hand plane. We are now looking at the scope for developing other designs using the same concept and materials.

Our boards

Our boards are manufactured from a high grade recycled plastic. We source the material in the UK and manufacture in the UK. This doesn't make our production costs comparable with mass produced products from overseas but we believe the quality and lower environmental impact is worth it.

The board features an ergonomic, off centre grip that allows a good hand hold and positioning when tackling left or right waves.

Our plastic boards are more robust than wooden ones and don't require after care. Simply leave in your vehicle after a session and they are ready to go next time, no need to rinse and re-oil to maintain water resistance.

So go check out our video page to see what handboarding and body surfing is all about then go get one!