Why Should I Buy A Dog Grip Pad For My Paddle Board?
Dogs are amazing. Why wouldn’t you want to take your four-legged friend paddle boarding so they can enjoy the water and spend time with you?
A dog brings unique problems to both hard foam SUPs and Inflatable paddle boards. They can scratch the surface of your SUP and possibly puncture your ISUP.
See Also: Best Inflatable Paddle Boards (ISUP) For Dogs
There are a few things you can do to protect your paddle board from your dog’s nails.
The first thing you should always do is trim their nails followed by buying a paddle board with a large foam footpad or if you already have a paddle board buy a dog grip pad or mat to protect the part of the paddle board your dog spends the most time on.
Another reason to buy a paddle board dog pad is it helps your dog get a grip so they can stand confidently on your board. It’s safer for them and it’s safer for you.
In this article, I review some of the best dog pads for SUPs and inflatable SUPs. You can also use them on surfboards and even kayaks.
![PUNT SURF Dog Traction Pad - 4 Piece Customizable Deck Grip for The Nose of Your Paddleboards, Longboards & Surfboards Guaranteed to Stick Forever on Your Board [Black]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41zqapriaOL.jpg)
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Paddle Board Dog Pad & Mat Reviews & Info
1. Punt Surf Dog Traction Pad
The Punt Surf paddle board dog pad gives you lots of options for dog grip pad placement. They use quality 3M peel-n-stick adhesive that can adhere to almost any surface making it compatble with soft top SUPs, inflatable paddle boards, epoxy SUPs, kayaks and surfboards.
The footpad itself is made with the standard soft yet durable marine-grade EVA foam. The pattern is “diamond groove” which means there are little diamonds popping out of the foam your dog can get a good grip.
See Also: Best Life Jackets (PFD) For Dogs
There are 4 pieces that create a U shape together to be placed on the nose of your board in a stylish lined pattern that is 23.5″ long and 18″ wide. If you want a different shape you can easily cut the pieces and place them however you want.
There are 3 color options available.
The Punt Surf Dog Traction Pad is one of the best paddle board dog mats in the business and can be used in a wide variety of applications including some extra traction for yourself. The company Punt Surf is also a member of “1% for the Planet” which is a nonprofit dedicated to protecting the oceans and the environment. A portion of every sale including the paddle board dog pad goes to this nonprofit.
PROS
- Multiple Color Options
- U Shape For Nose Of SUP
- Good For Inflatable & Solid SUPs
2. Seattle Sports SUP Dog Board Pad
The Seattle Sports SUP dog pad is a solid piece of EVA foam measuring 38″ long and 28″ wide. It has a classic diamond groove pattern and can easily be cut down to any shape and size you want with scissors.
The paddle board dog mat can adhere to almost any surface and uses 3M peel-n-stick. Just peel off the back paper and stick it on your SUP or inflatable paddle board.
See Also: Best Coast Guard Approved Adult Life Jackets
The dog pad has a U shape that starts wide and gets very narrow at the tip. It’s perfect for pointed touring SUPs and will give your dog some excellent grip while protecting your paddle board, kayak, or surfboard.
The Seattle Sports SUP Dog Board Pad only comes in a light grey color. While the sectioned foam EVA footpads are very stylish a solid dog mat like this one offers more protection and will stick to your paddle board better and longer because there aren’t as many edges that can peel on a solid piece of foam.
PROS
- One Solid Piece
- U Shape For SUP Nose
- Good For Inflatable & Solid SUPs
3. Better Surf Than Sorry Pup SUP Pad
The Better Surf Than Sorry has a fun take on the SUP dog grip pad. Their EVA foam is shaped like paw prints. It’s cute, looks awesome on a paddle board or kayak, and gives your dog plenty of grip.
The EVA foam is 1/4 inch thick which is a lot of material for this kind of application and will hold up against even the most energetic dog. The foam looks smooth but has a brushed finish so your pet’s paws can get a good grip.
See Also: Best Multi-Person Inflatable Paddle Board (Giant ISUP)
The paw dog pads use 3M peel-n-stick adhesive and can be placed on almost any surface. That means your inflatable and epoxy paddle boards are good to go.
There are 3 color options: blue, pink and grey for any style of paddle board and dog.
The Better Surf Than Sorry Pup SUP Pad is a unique and fun way to give your dog some extra grip and your paddle board some more protection. They may not be as protective as a solid SUP dog mat but for a smaller dog with trimmed nails, they will be just fine. And the foam is the thickest on this list making it very durable.
PROS
- Unique Pattern
- 1/4 Inch Thick Foam
- Multiple Color Options
- Good For Inflatable & Solid SUPs
4. Airhead SUP Paws Pad
Airhead is one of the few paddle board companies that makes its own SUP dog pad. This paddle board dog mat has a very clean and finished look with the soft finished edges, the light grey color, and the paw pattern going across the mat.
It’s made with thick durable EVA foam and has a brushed pattern that looks smooth but still has some texture to it for grip. It’s big measuring 24″ long and 19″ wide.
See Also: Best Electric Pumps For Inflatable Paddle Boards (ISUP)
Installation is easy and they use peel-n-stick adhesive and can be placed on inflatable or hard surfaces. The SUP dog pad is a U shape to fit perfectly on the nose of your paddle board. You can cut this SUP dog mat if you want to but if you can make it fit on the nose of your paddle board without cutting it I would recommend it.
The Airhead SUP Paws Pad is another great solid piece of EVA foam to stick to your board. It looks great and has the Airhead name backing it. The smooth brushed surface does not offer as much grip as the diamond pattern but it is more comfortable to stand on for long periods of time. If your dog is a stander this may be a better option for comfort.
PROS
- Comfortable To Stand On
- 1 Solid Piece
- U Shape For SUP Nose
- Paw Pattern
- Good For Inflatable & Solid SUPs
5. Abahub Non-Slip Grip Mat
The Abahub grip mat is not necessarily a dedicated paddle board dog pad but it’s made of the same material and durable enough for dogs. This is a square 30″ long 20″ wide diamond grooved EVA foam mat that can be used on any kind of board. Paddleboards, kayaks, surfboards, skimboards, inflatables you name it.
The mat is large and very easy to cut down to any desired shape with scissors. The back is coated with 3M adhesive that is peel-n-stick for easy cutting and installation.
See Also: Inflatable Paddle Boards vs. Solid (Hard) Paddle Boards
There are 6 colors available so you might even be able to match the exact color with the EVA footpad already on your SUP or ISUP.
The Abahub Non-Slip Grip Mat is the same as any paddle board dog pad and it’s even the exact same thickness and pattern as other dog mats. The only downside is it will be slightly more work as you will have to figure out what shape you want it to be and cut it down to size. This can also be a plus because you can customize it to your paddle board, kayak, or surfboard.
PROS
- Large Single Piece
- 6 Color Options
- Good For Inflatable & Solid SUPs
6. Oceanbroad Deck Pad
The Oceanbroad deck pad is another square EVA foam pad for paddle boards, surfboards, or kayaks. The difference between this one and the Abahub is the pad comes in either 4 or 8 square 15″x10″ pieces.
The pieces are backed with 3M adhesive and use the classic peel-n-stick backing for easy installation. There are 4 colors available. These will stick permanently to almost anything.
See Also: Best Coil SUP Leash For Stand Up Paddle Boards
If you like the stylish look of a sectioned footpad the Oceanbroad Deck Pad is the perfect option. You can cut one side to fit the curve of your paddle board’s nose perfectly then use the straight edges for a clean sectioned look. As far as your dog is concerned they will have plenty of grip from the diamond pattern and this pad is just as thick as the other ones on this list.
PROS
- Easy To Manage & Cut
- Good For Inflatable & Solid SUPs
- 4 Color Options
My Recommendation For Best SUP Dog Pads
I’m going to have to give the title for the best paddle board dog mat to Punt Surf. They use thick EVA foam for high durability and very strong 3M adhesive for a solid bond on almost any material.
The sectioned curved style is so clean looking and the U-shape will fit any paddle board nose without any cutting necessary. Just peel, stick, and go.
For my feet, I prefer the smooth brushed textured footpad but dogs have tough paws and they need as much grip as they can get on a wobbly paddle board. That’s why I think the diamond groove pattern is better for pets.
All-in-all Punt Surf has created a fantastic paddle board dog mat that will keep your furry friend stable and your precious paddle board protected.
Frequently Asked Questions About SUP Dog Pads
How do I fix a peeling footpad on my paddle board?
If your footpad is starting to peel or you are about to install a new footpad or a paddle board dog mat using 3M spray adhesive (click to view on Amazon) is the way to go. You can use it to resecure the edges of a footpad or spray it on before you stick the foam pad to your board for a super-strong bond.
What do I do if I put the SUP dog pad in the wrong spot?
The bad news is removing a foam deck pad is really difficult and always takes a bit of work. If you put your SUP dog mat in the wrong spot and want to remove it just know the foam will be ruined and you will have to buy a new one. Also, the glue residue may never fully come off.
One of the tricks to removing an SUP deck pad is to first soak it in something like goof off to break down the adhesive. Then the only thing you can do is take a plastic scraper and carefully start removing the foam pad.
If you have an inflatable paddle board you need to be extremely careful. Make sure you don’t soak the seams in any kind of chemicals because you don’t want to weaken the adhesive holding the inflatable paddle board together.
How to install a paddle board dog pat or SUP traction pad.
Have any more questions about paddle board dog pads? Leave a comment below.