Menu
 

BestReviews is reader-supported and may earn an affiliate commission. Details

Sports & Fitness Water Sports

Best Skimboard Traction Pads

Updated October 2021
Bottom line
Pros
Cons
Best of the Best
Ho Stevie! Premium Surfboard Traction Pad
Ho Stevie!
Premium Surfboard Traction Pad
Suitable for Beginners

This full-size pad gives your board coverage, and its contours help newer surfers keep their technique in mind.

Check Price
Check Price at Amazon
Suitable for Beginners
Bottom Line

This full-size pad gives your board coverage, and its contours help newer surfers keep their technique in mind.

Pros

Full size, 3-piece pad measures 12 by 12 inches. Spread apart if you prefer wider grip on tail. Grippy, yet forgiving on skin. 3M adhesive. Middle arch supports your foot. Kicktail lets you lock in your stance. Choice of color. Great adhesive. Looks fantastic. Doesn't retain water.

Cons

Does not work on soft top boards.

Best Bang for the Buck
Dorsal 5-Piece Surfboard Traction Pad
Dorsal
5-Piece Surfboard Traction Pad

Built for motion, this five-piece traction pad set is easy to apply and just as grippy as higher-priced pads.

Check Price
Check Price at Walmart
Bottom Line

Built for motion, this five-piece traction pad set is easy to apply and just as grippy as higher-priced pads.

Pros

Five-piece pad. Extended length helps eliminate heel and toe depressions. Grid groove pattern lets your feet sink closer to the board. Grippy surface. Multi-directional groove patterns respond to the different forces between feet and the board. High-quality and durable.

Cons

May have problems sticking. Be sure to clean board thoroughly before applying.

Punt Surf Ripper Traction Pad
Punt Surf
Ripper Traction Pad
Marine-grade Material

This traction pad set is a little smaller than name brands, but it gets the job done.

Check Price
Check Price at Amazon
Marine-grade Material
Bottom Line

This traction pad set is a little smaller than name brands, but it gets the job done.

Pros

3-piece traction pad set made of marine-grade, ultralight diamond grooved EVA foam. Place any way you like – spread them out for wider boards, put them together for narrower ones. Measures 10.5 by 11.75 inches. 10-millimeter center arch. 25mm tail kick. 3M adhesive. Does not scrape up the skin. Great grip. Good value.

Cons

Comes off if torn, but not without a lot of force. Smaller than name brand pads.

Punt Surf Skimboard Traction Pad and Arch Bar
Punt Surf
Skimboard Traction Pad and Arch Bar

This pad set is great for beginners since its raised surfaces help remind you where your feet should be placed.

Check Price
Check Price at Amazon
Bottom Line

This pad set is great for beginners since its raised surfaces help remind you where your feet should be placed.

Pros

Customize your pads to fit any skimboard. Arch bar measures 20 inches long when the pieces are combined. 3M adhesive. Marine-grade, ultralight, diamond-grooved EVA foam. Will stick to a wooden skimboard. Raised surfaces help you know where your feet should be.

Cons

No diagram or installation instructions included.

Own the Wave 3-Piece Customizable Grip Pad
Own the Wave
3-Piece Customizable Grip Pad

Provides a great grip for a great price. However, it does not come with an arch bar.

Check Price
Check Price at Amazon
Bottom Line

Provides a great grip for a great price. However, it does not come with an arch bar.

Pros

Made of ultralight EVA foam. Weighs less than 3.5 ounces. Features square-shaped tread pattern, raised middle arch, and one-inch tail kick. Grips come in three pieces for customization. 3M adhesive. Choice of colors. Provides nice leverage. Easy to apply. Strong hold on board.

Cons

No arch bar.

Why trust BestReviews?
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.About BestReviews 
HOW WE TESTED

We recommend these products based on an intensive research process that's designed to cut through the noise and find the top products in this space. Guided by experts, we spend hours looking into the factors that matter, to bring you these selections.

Click here for testing insights
First Reviewed
October 07, 2021
38
Models
considered
8
Hours
researched
Category cover
The team that worked on this review
Our Top Picks
Ho Stevie!
Best of the Best
Ho Stevie!
Premium Surfboard Traction Pad
Bottom Line
This full-size pad gives your board coverage, and its contours help newer surfers keep their technique in mind.
Shop Now
Dorsal
Best Bang for the Buck
Dorsal
5-Piece Surfboard Traction Pad
Bottom Line
Built for motion, this five-piece traction pad set is easy to apply and just as grippy as higher-priced pads.
Shop Now
Punt Surf
Top Pick
Punt Surf
Ripper Traction Pad
Bottom Line
This traction pad set is a little smaller than name brands, but it gets the job done.
Shop Now
Punt Surf
Top Pick
Punt Surf
Skimboard Traction Pad and Arch Bar
Bottom Line
This pad set is great for beginners since its raised surfaces help remind you where your feet should be placed.
Shop Now
Own the Wave
Top Pick
Own the Wave
3-Piece Customizable Grip Pad
Bottom Line
Provides a great grip for a great price. However, it does not come with an arch bar.
Shop Now
Related Reviews
Show More
Related Articles
Show More
You Might Also Like
Show More