In case anyone else bothered by bubbles in the stuff. I noticed I got them too when I was stingy with water during application process. It's easier if you have someone to help and glug water on right before you put first half of hex down, and again when you put second hex down. While it's still wet, if you see any bubbles, you can work them out.
This guy makes it look easy peasy without any bubbles though:
I did the nose of my Nalu.
They aren't joking about the water... lash it on to minimise bubbles and the squeeze out the excess. Leave it for a day to dry out and you should have very little bubbles.
Don't squeeze the water out with your thumb though ( the grip gave me a big burn for 2 weeks)
Don't squeeze the water out with your thumb though ( the grip gave me a big burn for 2 weeks)
For applying pads, I use an old skate wheel at the end of a round wood shaft (with some pad):
Have a look at a product called nowacs . I have it on one of my boards and its great. Sold from a shop im WA . Comes in sheets and can be cut to any size or shape .
Just reporting back in. Went for paddle this morning and got up on the nose a couple times. The RSPro grip works great. Never felt like I was going to slip and for the nose it's fine (doesn't need to be soft like the deck grip). Now I just need to get better at nose riding!
Have a look at a product called nowacs . I have it on one of my boards and its great. Sold from a shop im WA . Comes in sheets and can be cut to any size or shape .
Not a bad product but much heavier than Rs pro deck grip
I must say that the idea of packaging in small hexagons is pure genius:
- easy to ship
- one-pack-fits-all. no need to choose between sets for SUPs, longboards, surfs, ...
- easy to apply (remember the hell of applying properly a 4'x2' pad in one piece)
- easy to maintain: if one hex get used you can change it easily
Anyone using this stuff on surfboards?
I've applied hexa on the nose of pretty much all of my surf SUPs & love it however, I'm not convinced about it as a substitute for wax on surfboards....I've actually waxed over the top of hexa on both my longboard & mal which definitely provides more grip
I have friends using it on surfboards and they love it.
I bought some to put on my beautiful wood vernier mal.
It's not so much the lack of grip once you're up & surfing but more the paddling around & making sure there are hexa pads exactly where you push to stand up which is why I personally prefer wax on a prone board.
That being said, if its aesthetics you're after along with a no-mess/no-fuss solution....then hexa is a no-brainer.
PS - looking at the pic from Deano72, it looks like the hexa is spaced a lot closer vs the standard template...maybe this is the answer
This is a great product and recently borrowed a ten foot mal style Sup done tip to tail with it. Looks great feels good under foot.
I did find it not as grippy as typical grips in standing area and tail when foam hopping or jamming a solid turn. Possibly slipping in small gaps between pieces?? Felt great walking the toes up the nose. Also no dimples giving free a acupressure treatment when standing still long periods waiting for waves.
Personally I prefer a tail pad/ block right back and the softness and extra grip of a high quality deck grip from tail to standing area.
At five bucks a block of wax I think on a ten foot board it is a money saver even if you add a touch of wax to it. Solid base coat.
I would use it on front area with spaces small enough between each piece so toes can't slip in the gaps.
A new, seemingly very similar product, has appeared 6 months ago: "Van der Waal"
It is a Portuguese company, they ship worldwide for free, and there are boxes of various number of hexagons to choose from.
They seem to hint that they work via micropores providing suction, a bit like versatraction, rather than the regular grip of the hexatraction, so it should be less abrasive, and traction increases when wet, but more sensitive to dirt/mud. But I never saw the product so I don't really know.
The site: www.waal.co/
Some reviews, that are good but with boots.... with boots everything has enough traction, the real test will be barefoot.
360guide.info/gear-picker/surf-gear/review-van-der-waal-surf-grip-wax-alternative.html
www.theinertia.com/surf/i-tested-this-wax-alternative-heres-what-i-think/
Hey Colas, what is the width of the little black spacer provided with hexa traction? Just asking because all of the custom grip jobs I've done, I made the spacing about 10mm.
Hey Colas, what is the width of the little black spacer provided with hexa traction? Just asking because all of the custom grip jobs I've done, I made the spacing about 10mm.
The spacing is 14mm
The branches themselves are 45mm long from center to tip, so 2 spacers fit perfectly along one hexagon edge
Hey Colas, what is the width of the little black spacer provided with hexa traction? Just asking because all of the custom grip jobs I've done, I made the spacing about 10mm.
The spacing is 14mm
The branches themselves are 45mm long from center to tip, so 2 spacers fit perfectly along one hexagon edge
Cheers mate. Like the roller idea too. Hope you haven't patented it yet.
Ok, took the plunge and shelled out the big $$ to give it a go on my surfboard 5"8' short board. Verdict? Crapola, save your pennies gents. Was great under foot so probably fine for a SUP or kite board, just as good as wax in my opinion but slippy as all hell on my wet suit (RipCurl FlashBomb 3x2 '17). Made paddling especially positioning on a wave to catch it a real challenge. Ended up having to put wax on it which kinda defeats the purpose.
The front eva traction pad I put on my Sweet Potato works heaps better so will stick with that for now.
I did the nose of my Nalu.
They aren't joking about the water... lash it on to minimise bubbles and the squeeze out the excess. Leave it for a day to dry out and you should have very little bubbles.
Don't squeeze the water out with your thumb though ( the grip gave me a big burn for 2 weeks)
You've missed the important bit at the top
I use wax on my pads...just works best for me.....so wax on the nose for me.....old skool lol!
Ok, took the plunge and shelled out the big $$ to give it a go on my surfboard 5"8' short board. Verdict? Crapola, save your pennies gents. Was great under foot so probably fine for a SUP or kite board, just as good as wax in my opinion but slippy as all hell on my wet suit (RipCurl FlashBomb 3x2 '17). Made paddling especially positioning on a wave to catch it a real challenge. Ended up having to put wax on it which kinda defeats the purpose.
The front eva traction pad I put on my Sweet Potato works heaps better so will stick with that for now.
yes you're right there, particularly if it is the smooth neo. Actually after several months of using hex grips my conclusion is there great for additional grip i.e.; used up front of existing deck pad. Unfortunately they do lose their grip after a few months,
yes you can replace them, but really for the cost you would need to weigh that up. For me back to deck pad with hex in front
Ok, took the plunge and shelled out the big $$ to give it a go on my surfboard 5"8' short board. Verdict? Crapola, save your pennies gents. Was great under foot so probably fine for a SUP or kite board, just as good as wax in my opinion but slippy as all hell on my wet suit (RipCurl FlashBomb 3x2 '17). Made paddling especially positioning on a wave to catch it a real challenge. Ended up having to put wax on it which kinda defeats the purpose.
The front eva traction pad I put on my Sweet Potato works heaps better so will stick with that for now.
yes you're right there, particularly if it is the smooth neo. Actually after several months of using hex grips my conclusion is there great for additional grip i.e.; used up front of existing deck pad. Unfortunately they do lose their grip after a few months,
yes you can replace them, but really for the cost you would need to weigh that up. For me back to deck pad with hex in front
Does it become slippery due to age or use?
I'm going to order some so I'll let know.
For how many boards ?
Ok, took the plunge and shelled out the big $$ to give it a go on my surfboard 5"8' short board. Verdict? Crapola, save your pennies gents. Was great under foot so probably fine for a SUP or kite board, just as good as wax in my opinion but slippy as all hell on my wet suit (RipCurl FlashBomb 3x2 '17). Made paddling especially positioning on a wave to catch it a real challenge. Ended up having to put wax on it which kinda defeats the purpose.
The front eva traction pad I put on my Sweet Potato works heaps better so will stick with that for now.
yes you're right there, particularly if it is the smooth neo. Actually after several months of using hex grips my conclusion is there great for additional grip i.e.; used up front of existing deck pad. Unfortunately they do lose their grip after a few months,
yes you can replace them, but really for the cost you would need to weigh that up. For me back to deck pad with hex in front
Does it become slippery due to age or use?
I did find it became slippery, depending on how much use the board gets will determine use by date. One day they'll get it right