Choosing the Right Traction for Your Board

Traction pads — sometimes called deck grip or tail pads — are one of the most personal choices on your board. Here's how to think it through.

What a traction pad actually does

A traction pad sits on the tail of your board and gives your back foot a grippy anchor point. All your drive and power comes from your back leg — it's what you push down through to generate speed and drive into turns. Getting that connection right matters more than it might seem.

Piece count: 2, 3, or 5

• Two-piece — simple, no-fuss, often used where a full arch bar isn't needed
• Three-piece — the most popular layout, and RYD's default across most of the range
• Five-piece — two extra pieces so you can build out exactly how much traction area you want, without adding weight

Because each piece goes on individually, you can also position them to match your board's actual tail shape — a step-up might need something narrower, a fish might need something wider.

Flat pad or arch bar?

This comes down to your foot, not your board. An arch bar is moulded to sit under your foot's natural arch — a bit like an insole, it either feels great or like a stone in your sock, depending on your foot shape. If you're not sure, a flat pad is the safer starting point.

Tail kick height

Most pads have a raised kick at the back. A taller kick does two things: stops your foot slipping off mid-turn, and gives you something to push against when you're going a little more progressive.

RYD's range, at a glance

• Fish — two-piece, no arch bar, shaped for fish outlines, 25mm kick
• True — three-piece, our most popular all-rounder, highest tail kick in the range, full arch bar
• Alt — three-piece, no arch bar, best foot-to-board feel for flat-foot riders
• Good Vibes — our newest addition, built for narrower tails and grom-sized boards
• Roboto — five-piece, fully customisable traction area
• Layback — lighter thanks to horizontal slits, highest arch in the range
• Drone Ranger — a front-foot pad for the same grippy feel under both feet

Still not sure?

Every RYD traction pad uses the same world-standard 3M backing tape, so however you choose, it's going on solid. Sort your foot shape first (flat vs arch), then your board second — that's usually enough to land on the right one.