anti-slip versus pad on a foilboard

[Frankieboy]

Hi Guys,
Getting a new board soon so what are pro's and con's on using a pad vs anti-slip on a foil board?
I can imagine and experienced this on kite (surf)boards but do you really feel any benefit from using a pad once on the foil?
thanks
Frank

[Pedro Marcos]

Pad is more confortable but heavier, and no one likes heavy stuff

[revhed]

Consider if you wear booties or not because if yes they really "grip,stick" to a board if padded, making foot micro adjusts harder.
Booties sure help protect feet from many things including sharp trailing edges of foil, shells , rocks, glass, plastic, ect on beach and in shallow water.
Where we ride in the summer there are also a fish that has sharp poison spikes sticking up that if you walk on you will hurt!
When I test a board with pad and booties it feels so uncomfortable, feet stuck like velcro to board!
Many use a grip tape that has very little texture or use famous sugar, salt epoxy then sand to get just enough grip.
R H

[cwood]

Check out wax mat. Great stuff for those who don't want foam.

[OzBungy]

I surf on a SUP with no pad, wax or grip deck, just booties. The grip is fine for surfing. I change stance and walk around quite a lot on the board. I can easily paddle out through white water.

I hate wax. Horrible ugly messy stuff. Wax mat looks like a good alternative.

My foil boards have deck pads. I wear booties most of the time because some of our spots have reefs downwind. It is not all that unusual to be forced to walk in over the reef if the kite goes down and cannot be relaunched.

I do ride without boots in summer sea breezes.

Aesthetically I like the full deck pad on my current board. It looks nice and is comfortable to ride on. Apart from the grip it provides some protection for the board from impacts with the harness hook or kite bar.

[foilonfoil]

Pads lift, tear, and wear out. Peel ply full deck lasts indefinitely.

[TomW]

- A full pad on a 120cm pocket board weighs 300g.
- They cost quite a bit of money.
- They absorb some water and capture water adding weight during ride
- Takes some time to dry ( most often in my car)
+ It helps prevent heel problems developing.
+ they protect the board
+ good for barefoot riding when travelling to warm and sandy places.

[cwood]

- A full pad on a 120cm pocket board weighs 300g.
- They cost quite a bit of money.
- They absorb some water and capture water adding weight during ride
- Takes some time to dry ( most often in my car)
+ It helps prevent heel problems developing.
+ they protect the board
+ good for barefoot riding when travelling to warm and sandy places.

You can cut down on weight by only doing pad segments under straps.

[BWD]

Since oysters, mussels, wings, stabs etc are sharp and last year’s season was interrupted by an oyster foot gash, I go with booties >90% these days.

[TomW]

Since oysters, mussels, wings, stabs etc are sharp and last year’s season was interrupted by an oyster foot gash, I go with booties >90% these days.

Yes, and foot injuries, even mild ones can beach you for a while. And they seem to take forever to heal. I wish there was a good low shoe for warm climate and sandy place. My low shoes fill up with sand....tips?