Rage Traction Buyer's Guide: Which Pad Fits Your Surfing?

Six signature traction pads from Rage, each designed by the rider whose name is on it. No focus groups, no design-by-committee—just functional gear shaped by how each surfer actually rides.

This guide breaks down specs, textures, and who each pad is actually for.

Quick Reference

Noa Deane Front Pad

The Only Front Pad in the Lineup

5-piece36×36cm3mm square gritFlat (no kick)

Noa's pad goes on the front of your board, not the tail. Five interlocking pieces with 3mm square grit texture across the entire surface. No kick, no arch—just maximum grip for your front foot.

This is for surfers who want skateboard-style control: front foot steering, technical maneuvers, and the security to really drive from the nose half of the board.

Who it's for: Aerialists, skate-influenced surfers, anyone who wants more front foot grip than wax provides. Pair it with any tail pad from this lineup.

Creed McTaggart

The Power Surfer's Footprint

3-piece40×34cm (largest)45° kickNo archSquare grit + ribs

Creed's pad has the largest footprint in the Rage lineup at 40×34cm. Three pieces with a 45-degree kick tail and no arch bar. The texture combines square grit with directional ribs for extra traction during hard rail turns.

The oversized dimensions accommodate surfers who move their back foot around—or who just want more real estate to work with.

Who it's for: Power surfers, bigger riders, anyone who shifts foot position based on the wave. The no-arch design works for surfers who find arch bars uncomfortable or unnecessary.

Wade Goodall

Trotter Locker Technology

4-piece32×32cmVert kickSmall center archRaised walls

Wade's signature pad is the most technical in the lineup. Four-piece construction with a vertical kick tail, small center arch, and "Trotter Locker" technology—raised walls that keep your foot locked in position like a bear trap (their words, not ours).

Square grit traction with the arch positioned at the optimal distance from the trotter locker wall.

Who it's for: Barrel riders, chargers, anyone who needs absolute foot security in critical situations. The vert kick and locking walls are built for commitment surfing.

Shaun Manners

Checker Plate Industrial

3-piece37×33.5cm45° kickNo archChecker plate texture

Shaun's pad features checker plate texture—the diamond pattern you see on industrial steel, truck beds, and the back of Australian utes. Three pieces, 45-degree kick, no arch.

The texture is different from standard square grit: more aggressive in some ways, with deeper grooves that channel water differently.

Who it's for: Surfers who want a different feel underfoot. The industrial aesthetic matches a no-bullshit approach to equipment. Good for powerful, rail-focused surfing.

Beau Foster Bug

Minimalist One-Piece

1-piece32×32cmNo kickLow arch barRaised flatline strips

The Bug is Beau's stripped-down design: one piece, no kick tail, low arch bar, and raised flatline strips for texture instead of traditional grit. The smallest footprint in the signature lineup.

This pad works on alternative shapes where a traditional three-piece wouldn't fit or feel right—fish, hulls, eggs, asymmetrics, anything with a pulled-in tail or unconventional outline.

Who it's for: Flow surfers, alternative board riders, minimalists. If you ride shapes that aren't designed for vertical snaps, this pad matches that approach.

TM Grip

Team Consensus All-Rounder

3-piece32×32cmStandard kickSmall arch4mm square grit

The TM (Team Model) Grip is the Rage baseline—the pad the whole team agreed works for everyone. Three pieces, standard kick, small arch, 4mm square grit texture.

No extreme features, no specific riding style baked in. Just a solid traction pad that does the job.

Who it's for: First-time Rage buyers, all-around surfers, anyone who doesn't have strong preferences about kick angle or arch height. The safest choice if you're unsure.

Still Unsure?

Start with the TM Grip if you want a no-risk all-rounder. Go with Creed's pad if you want maximum footprint. Try the Bug if you ride alternative shapes.

For the full Rage story—who founded it, why it exists, and the Kai McKenzie shark attack story—read our Rage brand profile.

Browse the full Rage collection →

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