The 7 Best Wake Boat Ballast Bags & Wake Shapers of 2022
By: Jack Mace: Watersports Buyer | June 10, 2022
A wake is a wake, right? No, not really. If you’ve spent enough time wakeboarding or surfing, you’ll understand that having the appropriately shaped wake is a huge part of the battle when it comes to learning how to ride, or figuring out new skills. It’s important to be able to adjust the shape of the wake on the fly to account for different surfers or styles, and the best way to do this is a combination of a wake shaper and ballasts bags. Wake ballast is simple, it’s large weights that allow you to adjust the orientation and depth of your boat's motor. That, in turn, affects how it planes and what sort of wake it creates. A wake shaper is a plate, mounted under the water that affects how water flows over the hull and out of the jet and shapes that flow to change the shape of the wake. A combination of the best wake shapers and best boat ballasts will allow you to adjust your wake shape in infinite variations.
New This Year:
The ballast and shapers on this list are the best on the market today. They’re easy to adjust, durable, and have a huge impact on the shape and size of your wake. Whether you're setting up weight for wakesurfing, or getting your boat ready for wakeboarding you'll want to make sure to pay attention to the details. So stop making do, and get your boat dialed in with some new ballast and the right shaper.
This Year's Best Wake Shapers & Ballast Bags:
Straight Line Big Bag 350 Twin Ballast Bags
Everybody wins with this set of twins. The Straight Line Big Bag 350 Twin Ballast Bags are sure to amp up your wake in a well-balanced manner thanks to a combined weight of 700 pounds.
| Type | Standout Feature | Original Price |
| Ballast Bag | Durable Sumo Skin & Seams | $179.99 |
Liquid Force Wakesurf Edge Pro 2 Wake Shaper
Achieve a cleaner, more rideable wake in just a few moments with the Liquid Force Wakesurf Edge Pro 2 Wake Shaper. This high displacement shaper sticks onto your boat with a simple suction cup system and is designed to use the displaced water from your boat to its advantage and make any wave instantly smoother. The Liquid Force Wakesurf Edge Pro 2 Wake Shaper even floats in case of a mishap. The Edge Pro 2 is a no-brainer when it comes to adjusting the shape and size of your wake.
| Type | Standout Feature | Original Price |
| Wake Shaper | Floats | $319.99 |
Mission DELTA 2.0 Wakesurf Shaper
The latest incarnation of the first suction cup wake shaper, the Mission DELTA 2.0 Wakesurf Shaper is proof that it's not all about size. With a contoured front panel ringed by vents, the DELTA 2.0 creates turbulence more efficiently than larger flat panels, easing the strain on your hull. This shaper kicks your wake up without an increase in fuel consumption, steering headaches, or excess splashing. It's easy to switch from side to side to suit goofy- and regular footers, and in the event of the ultra-strong suction cups detaching, its simple hollow design allows it to float for easy retrieval. This is a shaper that works smarter, not harder! Mission has really dialed in their shapers, and the DELTA 2.0 is the natural evolution of this original design.
| Type | Standout Feature | Original Price |
| Wake Shaper | Flexible mounting locations | $328 |
Mission 50lbs Atlas Ballast Sac
When everyone's abandoned ship, tired of shuffling side to side to optimize the wake, it's time to call in reinforcements. You can put the Mission 50lbs Atlas Ballast Sac anywhere, and it'll balance your boat with no talking back. Just fill the inner bag with up to 50 pounds of steel shot, sand, or donuts, and this sailor will be ready. The Mission Atlas makes it easy to adjust the balance of your boat.
| Type | Standout Feature | Original Price |
| Ballast Bag | Padded interior | $99 |
FatSac Pro X Series Side Ballast Bag Set
The FatSac Pro X Series Side Ballast Bag Set fits along the side of the engine compartment on inboard boats. They are designed to get more weight to the center of the boat to balance any ballast you may have aft of the engine. Their narrow profile makes the FatSac Pro X Series Side Set the perfect fit. They’re flexible and great for a variety of boat shapes and applications.
| Type | Standout Feature | Original Price |
| Ballast Bag | Quick-connect valve system | $298.29 - $353.99 |
Eight.3 Plug 'n Play Trapezoid 800 lbs Ballast Bag
If you can't seem to find the right balance of pushing your buddies from one side of the boat to the other every time you want to change up your wake, then we think it's time you upgrade to the Eight.3 Plug n' Play CTN 800 lbs Ballast Bag. High strength vinyl material makes this one of the strongest ballast bags on the market. Ronix added the industry's largest 1-1/2" quick fill port to minimize the hose diameter which makes for a super-fast flow rate. The new trapezoidal shape ensures that this bag won't slide around behind your boat, so you can give your ladies a break and give the Eight.3 Plug n' Play CTN 800 lbs Ballast Bag a try. This ballast bag makes it incredibly easy to get a perfect wake shape every time.
| Type | Standout Feature | Original Price |
| Ballast Bag | 4 plug-and-play ports | $179.99 |
Eight.3 3700 GPH Submersible Pump
The Eight.3 3700 GPH Submersible Pump is the fastest running pump in the Eight.3 line, running on a 20 amp fuse through a 12-volt plug pumping up to 514 pounds of water a minute. Can you say FAST! Compatible with any Eight.3 telescope ballast bag, the Eight.3 3700 GPH is equipped with all the necessary features to speed up your ballast bag set up process and make for a gnarly wake. This pump removes the hassle of dialing in your ballast system and makes it a breeze.
| Type | Standout Feature | Original Price |
| Ballast Pump | Anti Airlock protection | $198.99 |
Learn More With Our Other Wake Guides:
- Wakeboards - How to Choose & Size Chart
- Wakeboard Boots & Bindings - How to Choose
- Wakeboards & Wakeboard Bindings - Compatibility Guide
- Wakeskates - How to Choose
- Wakesurf Boards - How to Choose
- Wakesurfing - How to Wakesurf & Beginner Tips
- Wakesurfing - Boat Setup / Safety
- Wakeboarding - How to Wakeboard & Beginner Tips
- Wakeboarding - Towing Speed, Rope Length & Boat Weight
- Wakeboard Vests / Life Jackets - How to Choose
- Wakeboard Ropes & Handles - How to Choose
Learn About our Favorite Wake Gear
- The Best Wakeboard Bindings
- The Best Wakefoils
- The Best Wakesurf Boards
- The Best Wakeboards
- The Best Wakeboard Life Jackets & Vests
- The Best Wakeboard Ropes & Handles
- The Best Boat Fenders & Accessories
- The Best Wakesurf Ropes & Handles
- The Best Wakeskates
- The Best Wake Ballast Bags & Wake Shapers
- The Best Water Skis
- The Best Beginner Wakeboards
- The Best Value Wakesurf Boards
- The Best Value Wakeboards
- The Best Beginner Wakesurf Boards
The Selection Process:
Our wake buyer has an endless amount of knowledge on all things watersports stemming from years of experience in the watersports industry in tandem with their countless hours out in the water catching waves behind the boat or ripping at the cable park. evo's buyers assess all products coming to market, lean into this knowledge, and put together this selection of the best products. They have a unique perspective as they truly see everything offered across the category.
Jack Mace
I grew up on the north end of Lake Washington and was surrounded by watersports enthusiasts who all had an immense passion for any activity done on the water. My dad has also worked in the boating industry my whole life, so those two factors were the main building blocks that shaped my love for the industry from a young age.
After attending Western Washington University, I moved back to the Seattle area and worked as a sailing instructor for a number of years at my cousin’s rental shop on Lake Union before joining the evo family in 2012.
At evo, I started out on the customer service team and worked my way onto the merchandising team which gave me the opportunity to integrate my passion and love for the water into a career as the Watersports Buyer. I still reside in the Seattle area with my wife Katie and two sons, Wes and Carter.