When it comes to surfing, maintaining or feet gripped on our surfboards is crucial. A surfboard without grip is as useful as a car without oil: it may look beautiful but will ruin your trip. Usually, we use surf wax to achieve grip, but that doesn't make much sense to me... we use wax in the front of the board, but a tail pad on the back foot... Why? And despite front traction pads are gaining popularity in recent years, there are still too many waxed surfboards. Just wanted to share some of my point of view on what are the advantages of traction pads over surf wax. Let's (duck) dive in.
Environmental Benefits
As surfers, we are environmentally conscious and seek sustainable alternatives. Surf wax often contains paraffin, a petroleum byproduct, and other chemicals harmful to marine life. Even the bio ones, bring some problems and issues to the environment (read more here). Traction pads, on the other hand, because they are build to last (my next point), reduce your environmental footprint.
Durability
Traction pads are built to last. While surf wax needs frequent reapplication, especially after a few sessions in the water, traction pads are designed to withstand the rigors of surfing for a longer period. Also, this durability and flexibility means less regularly maintaining surf boards, adding top layers of wax before every session, using different waxes for different temperatures and finding melted wax sticking everywhere.
Not convinced yet?
Enhanced Grip and Stability
One of the most significant advantages of traction pads is the enhanced grip they provide. Made from high-quality, non-slip materials, traction pads offer a consistent and reliable surface for your feet. Unlike surf wax, which can wear off or become slippery in different water temperatures, traction pads maintain their grip under various conditions.
Consistent Performance
As mentioned, surf wax can be affected by water or environmental temperature, requiring different waxes for different conditions. This variability can lead to inconsistent performance. Traction pads offer consistent performance regardless of the water temperature, ensuring you always have the grip you need.
Easy Setup
Traction pads are relatively easy to install; you simply peel off the adhesive backing and stick them onto your board. Also, with a hexagonal shape, our surf grip can adapt easily to any kind of surfboard. You can even make your own pack on our high tech calculator :D
Aesthetic Appeal
Over time, surf wax grabs sand and other debris, tends to turn brown, and can even melt from your surfboard, ruining your car seats on a hot day. Our transparent surf grips make your surfboard always look new and shiny.
Conclusion
While surf wax has been a long-standing tradition in the surf community, traction pads offer several advantages that make them a compelling alternative. From enhanced grip and durability to environmental benefits and ease of use, traction pads provide a modern solution for surfers looking to improve their performance and reduce their impact on the environment. If you haven't tried our traction pads yet, it might be time to make the switch and experience these benefits for yourself.
And remember, if you don’t like it, you can always ask for a refund go back to that old melted brown wax.
