Surf Pads: The 5 best traction pads 2024?

Surfboards are more slippery than you would like and often need to be re-waxed or replaced. This is annoying in the long run and the surf wax pollutes the environment.

The alternative:

With Surf Pads, constantly buying and applying wax is a thing of the past. Even if you want to keep growing your board, buying a tail pad as an accessory is worthwhile for every surfer.

What many surfers don’t know:

Surfboard pads give you a firm footing on the board, more control and make vertical maneuvers and duck dives easier to perform.

Avoid buying mistakes:

After 19 hours of research, BeyondSurfing has compiled the most popular models for you at 2024.

The best traction pad 2024?

In a hurry? Our favorite surfboard pad:

These are the top 5 surfboard pads in 2024

1. FCS: Filipe Toledo Pad

Summary

This high-quality three-piece tail pad was designed and tested by FCS in collaboration with pro surfer Filipe Toledo. The sanded Diamond III surface ensures an ideal grip for radical maneuvers.

The kick of the tail pad is steep, so you can put a lot of pressure on the fins of the board and dive deep under the wave.

Conclusion

Performance tail pad in the high price segment.

Product details

Color: charcoal/lime | Parts: 3 | Kick: steep | Weight: 318g

Customer ratings

FAQ

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2. DAKINE: J.J.F. Traction Pad

Summary

A tail pad that consists of five parts and thus ensures optimum grip on the surfboard even in big waves. The simple design matches most boards and was developed together with John John Florence.

Thanks to the steep kick, a lot of pressure can be built up on the surfboard and the 7 mm arch ensures a good grip. Another plus point is that the EVA foam is biodegradable and protects the environment if a piece of the pad should come loose in the water.

Conclusion

Simple five-piece traction pad made from environmentally friendly foam.

Product details

Color: black/green | Parts: 5 | Kick: steep | Weight: 249g

Customer ratings

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3. Ocean and Earth: Simple Jack Hybrid 3 Piece

Summary

This surfboard pad also ensures a good stance for boards with a wide tail, e.g. a fish. It is made of high-quality EVA foam and has a good price-performance ratio.

The Diamond Grip surface, the 7 mm arch and the steep kick ensure a good stance and control on the wave. Weighing 181g, it is very light.

Conclusion

Tail pad with a good price-performance ratio.

Product details

Color: lime | Parts: 3 | Kick: steep | Weight: 181g

Customer ratings

FAQ

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4. RS Pro Surf Accessories Hexa

Summary

Unlike the other surfboard pads in this selection, these pads are not attached to the tail, but to the front of the surfboard. With this pad no or hardly any surf wax is needed. Thanks to the perforated surface and high-quality polyacrylic, both feet have a secure footing.

Conclusion

Surfboard pad for the front area of the surfboard.

Product details

Color: white | Parts: 3 | Kick: none | Weight: N/A

FAQ

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5. ION Footpad Deck Grip

Summary

This traction pad is almost unbeatable in price and therefore also suitable for beginners. It is well made and has a slight kick, which gives the surfer a secure stance and more control over his board.

The pad consists of only one part and therefore does not fit all surfboard tails equally well.

Conclusion

Inexpensive and good one-piece tail pad.

Product details

Color: turquoise | Parts: 1 | Kick: light | Weight: N/A

FAQ

Bestsellers: The most popular surfboard pads

(**Last update 2024-09-16)

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Buy a surfboard pad:
How to make the right decision

Tail pad, deck pad, kick and arch. These terms mean nothing to you? And have you lost your way in the huge range of surfboard pads?

In this guide from BeyondSurfing, you’ll learn everything there is to know about surfboard pads.

The position of surfboard pads

There are surfboard pads for the tail and deck of the board. Before buying, you should consider where you need more grip on the board. Tail pads are a very useful extra for most surfboards, pads on the rest of the deck are no longer commonly used.

All the following points are relevant for the tail pad, for the surfboard deck pad only the points surface and size are important, as the other elements are missing.

The right surf pad size?

The surfboard pad must also match the size of the board. Longer and wider pads are used for a very wide board or a longboard. However, there is usually some space between the individual parts of a surfboard pad, so the size does not have to be 100% correct.

How wide should the surfboard pad be?

The rails of the surfboard do not have to be covered by the pad. Therefore, there is a margin of approx. 5 centimeters or less between the rail and the pad. This edge is not a problem, as no grip is required at this point.

Kick

• Upwardly curved part of the tail pad
• Helps with duck dives and radical maneuvers

The kick is located at the back of the tail pad and is bent upwards. The foot is pressed against it, which makes duck dives or vertical maneuvers easier, for example, as more pressure is built up.

The angle of the kick can vary from very flat to almost vertical. If performance is important to you, you should choose a tail pad with a kick of more than 45°. With a relaxed surf style, the angle doesn’t have to be so high. Most pads have an angle between 35° and 45°.

Arch

The arch is the curvature of the tail pad. The curvature must adapt to the shape of the surfboard and help to stabilize the foot. How much the tail pad is curved depends on the surfer’s personal preference. It is best to stand on it before attaching the traction pad and test its comfort.

• The following applies to large feet: If your feet are long and have a strong arch, you should choose a strongly arched tail pad.
• For small feet, it is better to opt for a tail pad with less arch.

Parts

A tail pad consists of several parts, which are also called pieces. There are 1, 2, 3 and 5-piece tail pads. There are differences in price and performance.

The right tail pad surface

Surfboard pads are usually made of EVA or a comparable plastic. The surface of traction pads is often textured, e.g. with grooves, so that the surfer has as much grip as possible on the pad.

The deeper the grooves and the better the grip of the material, the better the stability and hold on the shaft. Some manufacturers use special surfaces, e.g. Diamon Grip, which is supposed to provide even better grip than simple grooves.

Attaching the surfboard pad in 3 steps

How is the surfboard pad actually attached to the board? The pad is not so easy to remove once it has stuck. To ensure that the pad fits properly in the end, here are three tips to help you attach it successfully.

1. Preparing the surfboard

   First, the surfboard is prepared, all wax residue is removed and then the remaining dirt and dust is removed with a cloth. If there is less dirt, the pad adheres better to the board.

2. Positioning the surfboard pad

   The next step is to set the position of the pad. With a tail pad, the center of the pad should line up with the stringer of the surfboard. The outer line of the pad is then traced with a pencil.

   With a three-part tail pad, the two other elements of the pad are also aligned on the left and right of the board and then traced. They can either lie directly against the center section or be attached a few centimeters apart.

3. Stick it on!

   Finally, the individual elements of the traction pad must be glued in place. The first step is to glue the middle section of the pad. To do this, peel off the adhesive strip on the underside and then stick the part to the marked position. You should then press the pad down firmly, even at the corners. This step is then repeated with the other elements of the surfboard pad.

Is a surfboard pad really necessary?

Many people ask themselves: Do I really need a pad on my surfboard? To answer this question, it helps to look at the advantages and disadvantages of a traction pad.

A tail pad and surfboard pads in general ensure a secure footing on the board as they prevent slipping. They facilitate duck dives and make it easy to find the right position for the back foot, which should always be on the tail pad and not further forward.

A secure stance also means a lower risk of injury, which is why a surfboard pad makes sense for beginners and advanced surfers alike. For advanced riders who like to perform radical maneuvers and want to get as much performance out of their board as possible, a tail pad is an absolute must.

Surfboard pads as a surf wax alternative?

Some surfers have surfboard pads on their entire surfboard, apart from the nose. Today, most surfers use a tail pad and wax the rest of their board.

Whether wax or pads provide grip on the board depends on the surfer’s taste. Pads are often used on the deck for big waves or for surfers who do a lot of airs, as more grip is helpful here.

The initial cost of a surfboard pad can be a deterrent. The price is usually between $30 and $70. But the purchase is worthwhile, as the riding experience is much better with a tail pad than without.

Well-known brands and manufacturers

The best-known and most popular surfboard pad manufacturers and brands include

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FCS, Slater Design, GORILLA, Ocean and Earth, Creatures of Leisure, ION and Dakine

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With surfboard pads from these brands, you are guaranteed a good grip.

Tail pads at Consumer Reports and Öko Test

So far, no tests have been carried out by Consumer Reports or Öko-Test.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions and answers about tail pads

Why do I need a traction pad?

A traction pad provides a better grip on the surfboard and improves the feel when surfing.

How do I stick a surf pad on correctly?

Follow these three steps to glue a surf pad properly:

1. Preparing the surfboard
2. Positioning the surfboard pad
3. Glue the surf pad in place

You can find detailed instructions on attaching trail pads here.

How do I remove a traction pad?

Carefully run a razor blade under the traction pad and slowly remove it from the board.

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Conclusion: The most popular surf pads reviewed

Slipping on the surfboard is a thing of the past with a surfboard pad. If you’re still not convinced, it’s best to try it out for yourself. Because once you have a tail pad on your board, you won’t want to do without it.

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Specialist literature, sources & further links

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