· By Eisbach Riders
Shepps Wall Rack: FCS vs Futures Mount — Which One to Get
You've found the perfect spot on your wall, measured twice, and now you're staring at two options: FCS mount or Futures mount. It's a small decision that trips up a surprising number of surfers — mostly because the answer isn't about quality or strength. It's simply about the fin boxes already sitting in your board. Get it wrong and your rack won't mount flush. Get it right and your quiver lives cleanly on the wall for years.
Here's everything you need to know about the Shepps Wall Rack (part of the GNARWALL family) and which version to pick for your setup.
FCS vs Futures: What's Actually Different
The Shepps Wall Rack uses your board's existing fin boxes as the mounting point — the rack pegs lock into the fins system built into your board. That means the mount version has to match what's in your board, full stop.
- FCS (Double Tab): Two mounting tabs per fin. Most common system worldwide — found on a huge range of boards from Firewire, Channel Islands, JS, DHD, and many others. If you see two small slots side by side in each fin box, that's FCS.
- Futures (Single Tab): One wide centre tab per fin. Stiffer connection by design, popular on boards from Hayden Shapes, Rusty, Album, and more. One wide slot = Futures.
Not sure which system your board uses? Pull a fin out and look at the base. Two pins = FCS. One wide flat tab = Futures. If you're running an FCS II board with the tool-free system, note that the FCS II boxes are backwards-compatible with FCS I fins — the rack uses FCS I-style pegs, so it'll work fine in FCS II boxes.
Horizontal or Vertical — Choosing Your Orientation
Beyond the fin system, the Shepps rack comes in two mounting orientations. Both hold boards just as securely — the choice is about your wall space and your boards.
Horizontal (Tip-Out)
The board mounts nose-up or nose-out, extending horizontally from the wall. This is the classic quiver look — boards displayed like art. Works well in garages, van conversions, or rooms with decent ceiling height. The surfboard variant (GNARWALL Surfboard Hangers – Bamboo Edition) is the go-to for shortboards, fish, and mid-lengths.
Vertical (Tip-Down)
The board stores vertically, tip pointing down. Takes up less horizontal wall space — ideal when you're working with a narrower wall or want boards stored out of the way rather than on display. The GNARWALL Vertical Tip-Down Rack is the slim-profile choice.
The Four Shepps / GNARWALL Rack SKUs
Here's the full lineup at a glance:
Quick Decision Guide
| Your Board | Rack to Get |
|---|---|
| Surfboard with FCS or FCS II boxes | FCS Mount — Surfboard Hangers Bamboo or Vertical Tip-Down |
| Surfboard with Futures boxes | Futures Mount — Surfboard Hangers Bamboo or Vertical Tip-Down |
| Stand-up paddleboard (SUP) | SUP Wall Rack (US Box compatible) |
| Multiple boards of any kind | Multi-Board Rack |
Installation: What to Expect
Mounting the rack is a straightforward two-person job that takes about 20–30 minutes. You'll need a stud finder, a drill, and the included hardware. The general process:
- Find wall studs (or use appropriate wall anchors for plasterboard).
- Mark the mounting hole positions using the template provided.
- Drill, plug, and screw the bracket(s) into the wall.
- Clip the fin-mount pegs into your board's fin boxes.
- Hang the board on the bracket — the fin pegs hook in and the board rests securely.
No permanent modifications to your board are needed. The pegs sit in the fin boxes the same way a fin does — press in, lock, hang. Removing the board is equally simple. The system handles even heavier longboards and SUPs without issue when mounted into studs.
Mixed Quiver? Here's the Play
If you own boards with both FCS and Futures boxes, you'll need separate racks — or the Multi-Board Rack if you want everything on one wall unit. The Multi-Board Rack accommodates mixed fin systems, making it the right call for serious quivers.
SUPs use a different mounting system (US Box) and need the dedicated SUP Wall Rack. If your quiver spans both surfboards and SUPs, pick up both a surfboard rack (FCS or Futures) and the SUP rack — or go straight to the Multi-Board Rack for a unified solution.
Bottom Line
The FCS vs Futures choice is purely technical — match the rack to the fin boxes in your board and you can't go wrong. The harder decision is actually the orientation: horizontal if you've got the wall space and want the display look, vertical if you're working with a tighter footprint. Either way, your boards will be off the floor, protected from dings, and ready to grab.