Deck grips?

Question

Are deck grips a matter of personal preference or a necessity?

Are they a substitute for wax or do you still need wax?

Answer 1

If you are riding a short board, a traction pad for you back foot can be a good idea (matter of preference). You need to wax your board, with a traction pad or not. You don't want to keep slipping off while paddling, and your front foot needs traction just as much as the trailing foot. If you are talking a hybrid, or funboard or mini-mal, forget it. A traction pad couldn't be properly placed for your back foot, especially because you may have to adjust your stance. Same thing for sure on a long board.

If you are talking about stick-on gripper pads on the length of you deck, forget it. They have been around on and off since the sixties. I out a set on a board in '69, peeled 'em off in week. The best traction comes from good surf wax.

Answer 2

Preference...no wax required for your back foot if you have one.  Obviously you still have to wax the body of the board for paddling and for your lead foot.  I like them beacuse I think they provide a little extra grip than a waxed back deck and help when doing turns and cutbacks.