Best Surfboard Traction Pads of 2023

JUMP TO:  OCTOPUS HOBGOOD 2-PIECE / PRO-LITE CAM RICHARDS PRO / DAKINE JOHN JOHN FLORENCE PRO / FCS T-3 PERFORMANCE BOARD / HO STEVIE! / FCS JULIAN / GORILLA GRIP TRES / BUYING ADVICE

Author: Rose Martin

The Short Version:

The Long Version:

One of the best things about surfing is having the freedom to just grab your board and head out into the ocean.

Simplicity at its best.

But if you’re anything like us, you might often get so caught up in your excitement for going waveriding that you forget to pack your wax.

But what if there was another way to add that much-needed grip to your board?

Behold the surfboard traction pad.

Surfboard traction pads are a way to add permanent grip to your board. They are typically made of EVA foam – with grippy patterns carved into them – and provide the means to cut down considerably on your wax use.

On top of that, traction pads can provide benefits for both beginners and experts alike. Traction pads targeted at beginners tend to be super comfy and supportive. Whilst traction pads aimed at more serious surfers come jam-packed with features that boost overall performance – like steep kicks for maneuvers or multi-piece pads for bigger swells.

To help you on your quest to find the pad that’s right for you, we’ve compiled a varied selection of the best surfboard traction pads around – whether you’re a rookie or a veteran surfer, there’s a traction pad out there with your name on it!

If you love this list of the best surfboard traction pads, then you'll likely love reading some of our other gear-fiend related content:

Need To Know What To Look Out For?

Surfboard traction pads vary in their construction and features — offering differing levels of comfort or performance depending on the design.

If you aren’t sure what kick, arch, or texture you might be looking for, then be sure to check out our buying advice.

NUMBER OF PIECES: 2

SIZE: 12.2" x 11.9"

MATERIAL: EVA foam

KICK: Yes (25 mm)

ARCH: No

PROS: Dual textures help to improve footwork, anti-rash design, simple installation

CONS: No supportive arch, less choice of configuration with just 2 pieces

The Octopus Hobgood 2-Piece Traction Pad is an awesome pad featuring a super grippy rear end, a slightly less grippy front, and a chunky tail kick. The differing levels of grip are achieved by having entirely different textures on the front and rear regions of the pad – with the differences in texture pronounced enough that you can easily feel it under your foot.

This is an ideal pad for anyone working on their footwork during maneuvers, because it provides the grip and kick that you need to stop your heel from slipping when you’re flipping.

What’s more, when it’s time to pump, you can slide your foot forwards on the pad without having to look down and check your foot placement (which, let’s face it, usually ends in disaster) – you’ll know where your foot is when you feel the texture change.

Not only will the dual texture construction improve your footwork, but your knees and stomach will be big fans of the anti-rash design too.

One thing to note, however, is that this pad doesn’t come with a supportive arch – while this might be good for any flatfooted surfers out there, it might be drawback for others.

Despite this, this two-piece pad will be easier to install than multi-piece pads, has a stylish minimalistic appearance, and will get your footwork up to speed in no time.

NUMBER OF PIECES: 2

SIZE: 12.4" x 12.4"

MATERIAL: EVA foam

KICK: Yes (30 mm)

ARCH: No

PROS: Extra tall kick, high level of responsiveness, and all-around grip are ideal for big moves

CONS: No supportive arch, less choice of configuration with just 2 pieces

If you’re looking for a way to jazz up your board as well as your maneuvers, then you should definitely check out the Pro-Lite Cam Richards Pro Traction Pad.

Designed by the up-and-coming surfer Cam Richards himself, it’s not surprising that this pad has everything you need to get shredding.

With a whopping 30-mm kick you can be sure to keep your foot firmly in place when you’re working on aggressive moves, yet the rest of the pad has remained light and thin, so you don’t have to compromise in terms of responsiveness.

What’s more, the micro-dot texture running throughout the pad provides awesome grip, whilst also reducing the surface area that can rub and cause a rash.

Comprised of just two pieces, this pad is easy to install. Although fewer pieces means less flexibility in terms of configuration, we like that there are small cut-outs on either side to create room for this pad even on boards with narrower tails.

Although there’s no supportive arch, if you want a pad that can handle some serious slashes, then we definitely wouldn’t let that put you off.

NUMBER OF PEICES: 5

SIZE: 13" x 12.5"

MATERIAL: Biodegradable EVA foam

KICK: Yes (25 mm)

ARCH: Yes, central (7 mm)

PROS: 5-piece configuration allows for customized set-up, perforated kick reduces drag, constructed from biodegradable materials

CONS: Set-up will take longer, slightly less responsive due to thicker foam

If you’re the kind of person who likes a ‘perfect’ set-up, then you’re going to love the Dakine John John Florence Pro Surf Traction Pad.

This five-piece pad offers super versatile configuration, so it can be used with a whole range of boards and can be arranged to cover as large or small an area as you like.

It’s also a super comfy pad thanks to the 7mm arch of the central piece and the chunky foam construction. Although we do love a comfy ride, this pad is slightly less responsive than some other models out there due to the thicker foam. Fortunately for the eco-warrior in you, the foam itself is constructed from biodegradable materials.

We also love that the kick features drainage holes, so the water can run straight through instead of adding drag.

With five pieces to arrange, set-up might be a little bit of a faff, and you might experience some peeling sooner than with other models. However, if you want the freedom to pick your perfect spatial arrangement, then it’ll be worth the trade-off.

NUMBER OF PEICES: 3

SIZE: Not specified

MATERIAL: EVA foam

KICK: Yes

ARCH: Yes

PROS: Gentle arch for comfort, dual patterns help with sloppy landings, great balance of comfort and performance

CONS: Arch won’t be supportive enough for some, not designed purely for maneuvers or beginners

Wouldn’t call yourself a beginner surfer, but wouldn’t call yourself a pro either? Then the FCS T-3 Performance Board Traction Pad could be the one for you.

Designed with both comfort and performance in mind, this pad features a drop-arch bar with gradually sloping sides – so you won’t feel like you have something stuck in the center of your foot, which is great if you’re new to the world of traction pads.

What’s more, we love that the inner piece features a grippy squared pattern, while the outer pieces feature diamond grooves instead – this combination means that you’re more likely to stick to your pad even if you land at a slightly sloppy angle.

Although these features are awesome for beginners, the thin construction and tail kick also make this a great pad for getting to grips (literally) with you maneuvers too. And the perforations in the outer pieces will cut down on the drag while you’re at it.

Plus, the three-piece configuration provides you with some flexibility for configuration – but won’t be too much of a pain to set-up either.

NUMBER OF PEICES: 3

SIZE: 12" x 12"

MATERIAL: EVA foam

KICK: Yes

ARCH: Yes

PROS: Great value for money, funky design options

CONS: High arch might not suit everyone, grip might not be enough for very experienced surfers

New to the world of surfboard traction pads? Want to try one out without breaking the bank? Then you should definitely check out the Ho Stevie! Surfboard Traction Pad.

This 3-piece pad is easy to install and can be arranged to cover either a small or large area. It comes fully equipped with a center arch and a kick tail for support and stability, and we love the funky color schemes too.

While the grip might not be quite as good as some of the premium options out there, it will definitely get the job done, and is more than enough for beginner to advanced surfers.

One thing to note, however, is that the center arch is particularly high, so it probably isn’t the one for you if you prefer a more subtle arch. On the flipside, if you’re happy with a decent amount of arch support, then this traction pad comes with everything you need to catch waves, and at roughly half the price we’d expect to see!

Best For Responsiveness: FCS JULIAN TRACTION PAD

NUMBER OF PEICES: 3

SIZE: 13" x 11.8"

MATERIAL: EVA foam

KICK: Yes (27 mm)

ARCH: Yes (7 mm, trapeze)

PROS: Ultra-thin for great responsiveness, perforations and channels prevent drag

CONS: Not as comfortable as thicker pads, not catered to beginners

Designed in collaboration with the legendary surfer Julian Wilson, the FCS Julian Traction Pad is catered to high-performance surfing.

The ultra-thin layer of EVA ensures awesome responsiveness so you can make the sharpest of turns, and the tall tail kick will keep you grounded when attempting those adventurous moves.

What’s more, there are perforations throughout the outer pieces to keep drag to a minimum and, in case that wasn’t enough, there are even channels heading along the arch itself to make sure that water can flow right over it.

It might not be quite as comfy as some of the thicker pads out there, so it probably isn’t the best pad for novice surfers, but keeping it thin has helped keep the weight down and the control tight, which is great for higher-level stunts.

The three-piece set-up allows some flexibility, but won’t take too long to install either. Overall, an awesome pad that will make all the difference to your performance.

Best For Comfort: GORILLA GRIP TRES TRACTION PAD

NUMBER OF PEICES: 3

SIZE: 11.4" x 12.4"

MATERIAL: EVA foam

KICK: Yes (25 mm)

ARCH: Yes (5 mm)

PROS: Multi-directional grooves for grip, arch shapes ‘locks’ foot in place, very comfortable 

CONS: Padded feel might not be for everyone

And last, but by no means least, on our list of the best surfboard traction pads is the Gorilla Grip Tres Traction Pad.

But why do we like this pad so much? Well, it offers the best balance of comfort and grip we’ve come across so far.

The foam construction provides a decent level of padding, making it nice and soft underfoot, yet it’s ultra-lightweight so you don’t have to worry about it slowing you down. What’s more, the foam itself is gentle against the skin, so you won’t come home from a day on the water covered in a rash.

But it’s not all about comfort, this pad has incredible grip too thanks to the multidirectional pyramid grooves carved into the foam combined with the shape of the arch itself – it’s elevated at the rear to guide your foot right into the kick. It’s also fairly narrow and, at 5mm, suited to most foot shapes.

With three pieces to play around with, you can get your favorite configuration sorted in no time, and there are a few color options for you to choose from too.

The slightly thicker padding might not be ideal for people who like a ‘bare’ feel, but aside from that, we don’t have much to fault this pad on!

BUYING ADVICE FOR SURFBOARD TRACTION PADS

How many pieces?

When thinking about how many pieces you want your traction pad to come in, the main things to weigh up are customization and installation.

ONE PIECE PADS: One-piece pads are definitely the easiest to install because, well, there’s just one piece. Plus, the less pieces you have on your board, the less likely peeling is (especially with the more budget options). However, if the piece doesn’t fit your board, then you’re in trouble.

TWO & THREE-PIECE PADS: As we’ve seen in this review, two- or three-piece set-ups are the most common configurations because they offer a good balance between customization and installation – you can adjust the shape a fair bit, especially with three pieces, but it won’t take forever to install your pad.

FOUR & FIVE-PIECE PADS: Four- or five-piece set-ups offer awesome versatility – you can make sure that all the pieces fit on your board (even if it has an odd shape) and you can choose how large an area you want to cover too. But they can be faffy to install and they’re more likely to peel eventually.

At the end of the day, it comes down to personal preference, and the only ‘rule’ as such is to make sure that your pad fits your board!

Materials

Pretty much all surfboard traction pads are made from EVA foam these days. It’s lightweight, comfortable, and it can easily be shaped to form various grippy patterns.

If you really want to find yourself a quirky alternative, then you could check out some cork options, but EVA is the industry standard (and we’re pleased to see that biodegradable EVA foam pads are on the rise too!).

Grip

Grip, or traction, is crucial to a good traction pad – it’s what keeps you from slipping off your board, after all.

The grip is achieved by using a range of patterns carved into the foam itself. Shapes with sharp edges, like diamonds, triangles, or trapeziums, are used most commonly, and some pads will use various textures to ensure you stick on your board even at the most awkward of angles.

Arches

To arch or not to arch? While some people are huge fans of arches, other people can’t stand them. And the only way you’ll figure out which you prefer is by trying out different ones.

As a guideline, if you’re into flips, tricks, and turns, you’ll probably have your foot at the back of the board a lot, most likely up against the kick. This means that the arch is likely to add a touch of comfort to this position, and you might become a big fan.

On the other hand, if you’re footwork is a bit sloppy, and you never really know where your feet will end up, then the arch might end up feeling a bit odd at times (there’s no need to lift up your toes while you surf, after all).

Not all arches are equally aggressive, so if you aren’t sure, you could always go for a low arch while you get used to the feel of things.

Kicks

I’m sure you’ve all had the joy of experiencing that wonderful moment when you go to move your back foot and, wooosh, off it slips and into the sea you go. The main point of the kick feature on a surfboard traction pad is to stop this little moment from happening too often.

A kick acts as a little ledge that holds your foot in place, and it’s especially important when you’ll be putting some serious force into your back foot, like when you’re making super sharp turns.

If you’re into big maneuvers, then you’ll want a tall, steep kick that will keep your foot in place when you’re really hammering down with your back foot.

Tall, steep kicks can be a little uncomfortable though if you aren’t making good use of them. So if you prefer a more casual ride, a lower kick with a gentler angle will be more than enough to keep you in place as you make a few casual turns.

Installing a traction pad

The not-so-fun bit… installing your new traction pad.

There are a few things to keep in mind:

  1. CLEAN: Make sure your board is clean and dry before attempting anything – if not, it’s only a matter of time until your pad starts to peel

  2. PLAN: Line up your pad against your board before sticking anything down. This is especially important if you have multiple pieces – you need to check your ideal configuration will fit before you stick any pieces down.

  3. POSITION: Don’t be scared of the tail – you want your back foot to be able to go right to the back of the board, so you can have the best control for your turns and tricks. This means putting your pad waaay back and as close to the leash hole as possible.

  4. PATIENCE: Go slow – if you slam the whole thing down at once you’ll end up with pesky air bubbles in there!

But we won’t labor the details here, since there are plenty of solid video tutorials online that go through the process step-by-step. Like this pretty sweet one:

 
 

MORE INFORMATION

If you loved this round up of the best surfboard traction pads, then you'll likely love reading some of our other surfing related articles: