New board: pad or not?

[psusurf]

Just had a new board finished and I am unsure about putting a full pad on it.  Double six ounce deck with vector net over 1.5 lb eps. Put a stomp pad on it, but I don't have access to a full deck pad, and I don't want to spend 100+ for only a portion of a pad.  I also don't want to destroy the deck with heel dents, I weigh 155 or so.  Any thoughts?

[newton333]

Pads are for girls......

[Beasho]

I want to know about that Stretch? 

How is Stretch at designing SUP's?

He used to make my windsurfers and the last one was my favorite ever.  I have to believe he would put some love into the SUP shape and durability.

PS:  I have 3 boards with pads and 1 board with wax.  I am actually indifferent.  The waxed board has held up just fine.  No extra pad weight, just the typically wax maintenance.  My SUP mentor confirmed he would go with all wax if it didn't get all over his car.

[supthecreek]

FCS dimple pad. Light weight and awesome traction, comfort and no fuss with negligible added weight.

[psusurf]

The stretch was my first sup.  9' with beveled rails, I think about 130 liters.  For a bigger sup you can really put it on rail and it is a paddle machine.  Built like a tank too, so it weighs a little more than I like but was great when I was beating it to crap.  It's definitely a surfer's sup and I still ride it when I don't want to kill my legs on long sessions.  Can also nose ride it too

[stoneaxe]

Your vector net is a natural for this.  Cut diamonds to fit inside each.

Best traction by far, arrange them with a focus on how you use the board. I buy sheets with the diamond cut and use them as a template. Makes it easy to make them of varying sizes. Lighter weight, better traction, cheaper. Heavier coverage in the standing area...out on the rails arrange the edge to resist the push of your foot...better hold, add a scattering on the nose. I can't understand why everyone isn't doing it. Personal preference for sure but nothing else works as well for me.

My Foote had a pad on it but I added the diamonds nose and tail.


My 8-4 Vec is all diamonds of varying sizes. Real easy to get a symmetrical pad if you layout a light pencil grid centerline and 12" along the length. But you don't even need to do that and I think matching the pad to the vector would look pretty cool too.

[surfafrica]

+1 on Creek's recommendation.  The FCS Dimple Pad is great stuff.  Thin, light, good grip.

[Bean]

PSU, it looks like you already waxed it.  Might as well give it some time and see if you like it.

[eastbound]

asym---interesting---you notice it? interesting lil squashtail

[newton333]

Wax is best, u can always make it more sticky. As wax gets thicker it becomes just like a pad.