How many of you surf without a deck pad ? Why or why not ??

[OUTSIDEWAVE]

what is that stuff?

[AJR]

Looks like peanut butter...

[maxsonic]

Max... i had the startouch deck on my Avanti, when I was just leaning... yikes... it almost destroyed my knees and toes. I got injuries in July that did not heal until November, because I was in the water everyday. I have a permanent scar on my knee... after 3 days, I bought and installed a deck pad. Startouch was fine on the nose... but I did not like it for the deck.

IT TAKES 30 SECONDS MAX TO WAX A BOARD!!    aint got time   wtf

SEA and Supthecreek you have me convinced! I'll save the Re-Dek and Startouch for my sailboards!!!  Screw the deck pads, Mr. Zogs it is for SUPs!!!   

[getsupngo]

Looks like peanut butter...

looks like crunchy,
but its smooth.

what is that stuff?

Cork, 1/8"

Outstanding traction and exceptional feel to the board.   

[Old School 213]

@Max- Ditto what Creek said. I wore the skin of the knuckles of my toes. IT was great with booties but murder on bare skin. I went with an Xtrac pad and was not sorry.

[Cardiff Sweeper]

IT TAKES 30 SECONDS MAX TO WAX A BOARD!!    aint got time   wtf

Board goes in car. Wax would get in car. I'm anal retentive. Pad is easier on my feet.

Oh, and off topic...



Ain't nobody got time for that!

[SEA]

I can see if you are wearing wet suits , deck pads will never bother your skin. However if your only wearing board shorts it can get messed up !! I like the cork , how is that on bare skin ??

I have used wax for 40 years and the wax now is super good especially for Hawaii. So i'm leaning on no pad for my boards. I will strip one and see how it feels .

[surfinJ]

When I was a teenager my room had a constant aroma from the stacks
of strawberry zogs, still love the smell.  With sup though I've come to
appreciate the ease and clean of the pad.  But Sea, totally in agreement,
when I crawl out of my full suit with the warming weather the abrasions
on my knees and toes will start.  That cork pad looks interesting.

[JulioSUPBrazil]

My favorite.

Is this cork (stople) waterproofed someway ?

[stoneaxe]

Startouch is terrible. Everyone I know has covered it with a regular pad. I also don't care for the thinner EPDM pads...they get slippery after a year or two then need waxing. I stripped it off my starboard cruiser and replaced with an x-trak. If I buy a complete pad I go that way but I prefer to cut up closed cell pad material and make a mosaic. Not only much better grip but a little custom or personal flair. The new board is going to have a graphic in the pad...not sure what yet. That cork looks nice. I think I'll go that way the next time I re-pad the cruiser.

[AJR]

IT TAKES 30 SECONDS MAX TO WAX A BOARD!!    aint got time   wtf

Board goes in car. Wax would get in car. I'm anal retentive. Pad is easier on my feet.

+1.  Plus the wax would be on the passenger side which is where the wife sits when we're riding together.  That means wax on her clothes... 'Nuff said.

[1tuberider]

No wax no pad for 2 seasons.  Startouch finish with booties works.  I surf cold
water exclusively.  Only problem I see with startouch or wax is that the deck needs
to be really solid.  My carbon board is but others may have foot wells to the concaves on the bottom. 

Oh why
Because I am lazy.

[Ucycle]

Is this cork (stople) waterproofed someway ?

Cork is naturally waterproof, it doesnt need any seal.  the air space between the cork bit will absorb some water(not noticeable weight unlike hydro turf) but it dry out pretty fast. It probably the cheapest deckpad you can find that have moderate good grip.

[J-Bird]

I gotta agree with Stoneaxe, Startouch grip is terrible, if you are going to surf with it.  I love Starboards, but hate the grip.  I just wax right over it and it works great, better than any pad I find, and it reminds me more of surfing, so its just way better.  Sure pads are cleaner, but thats not what were talking about is it?

[JulioSUPBrazil]

Cork is naturally waterproof, it doesnt need any seal.  the air space between the cork bit will absorb some water(not noticeable weight unlike hydro turf) but it dry out pretty fast. It probably the cheapest deckpad you can find that have moderate good grip.

Nice! I think I'll give it a try soon. It looks like it take some wax coat easy.