Now Available Online!
THE BIGGEST REVOLUTION IN SURF TRACTION SINCE IT WAS INVENTED
After 3 years of intensive development with World Champs Mick Fanning and Italo Ferreira, we've created a traction pad that both elevates your surfing and drastically reduces manufacturing waste.
GOLD WINNER
The Good Design Awards are the highest honour for design and innovation in Australia and are recognised on a global level, rewarding diverse projects across 11 disciplines, including excellence in architectural design, engineering, fashion, digital and communication. The Awards have been setting the international standard for good design for more than six decades and embody the philosophy that design has the power to shape a better world. Past winners include the likes of the Tesla Model S, Flowhive, A-380 jet, and more.
2023 SBIA Awards
PROTO™1.4 was honoured with 3 awards during the Surf & Boardsports Industry Association Awards this October 2023!
- Surf Accessory of the Year
- Innovation of the Year
- Environmental Award
“It feels pretty amazing to have PROTO™1.4, and Creatures in general, recognised by our peers in the industry like this. To have the vote of confidence from shop owners and other heavyweights really helps validate all that hard work our team puts in behind the scenes. A massive thanks to those crew who support what we do.” -Beau Campi, Creatures Head of Product & Brand.
THE UGLY TRUTH: 67% WASTE
Traction has been left in the dust. Nearly 50 years from its creation, traction has yet to take the giant revolutionary leap like surfboards, leashes, wetsuits, fins and boardshorts have.
Surf grip is still made using the same inefficient and limiting processes as it has for decades.
Currently, making one tail pad creates 67%* EVA foam waste. And with anywhere from 13 to 24 Million surfboards being sold each year, it’s an ugly truth that produces a mountain of EVA foam off-cuts and dust.
*analysis undertaken using Creatures of Leisure Icon III pad using industry standard manufacturing methods
WHY IS MOULDED TRACTION BUILT BETTER?
Instead of cutting from blank EVA foam blocks, every element is made using moulded technology for ultimate precision.
PROTO™1.4 reduces waste to just 5%!
We mix in EcoPure® organic additive to the EVA formula ensuring the material biodegrades at its end of life.
The end result is an ultra-precise tail pad that creates radically less waste and ultimate performance.
More grip. Less waste.
That’s the difference.
WHAT ABOUT PERFORMANCE?
Because moulded technology offers unlimited potential, we no longer had the archaic constraints of routing, cutting and sanding.
We worked with World Champs Mick Fanning and Italo Ferreira to re-imagine traction as we know it. And when it comes to performance, they each have radically different approaches and preferences...
Mick Fanning: 5'11" natural foot with a fundamental approach that's calculated and precise.
Italo Ferreira: 5'7" goofy foot with explosive, unpredictable flair and a massive bag of tricks.
With 4X World Titles and an Olympic Gold medal between them, we had the confidence to raise the bar.
MULTI-LOC™: WORLD'S FIRST MULTI-DIRECTIONAL GRIP PATTERN
13X World Titles have been won using our proven Square-Loc and Diamond-Loc traction patterns. This influenced the fundamental development of MULTI-LOC™.
Through the 3-year R&D process, we introduced foot mapping to analyse exactly what Mick and Italo required to push their level of connection and response.
Mick altered every detail down to a fraction of a millimeter, including the direction, angle and space of each traction element.
Italo increased the profile of the traction on the kick incline and in the "sweet spot".
Prototype Notes: Mick and Italo settled on a 55 duro for the perfect density. Not too hard, not too soft.
RECOIL KICK: SPRING LOADED KICK TAILS
"I love! Can I get a steeper kick?" - Italo
The RECOIL kick is where it all started and was identified as a potential game-changing component to modern surfing. The rear hex pattern offers a natural folding point that springs back when compressed. The steep alpine kick provides engaged response through critical manoeuvres.
The form-fitting concave underside is designed for the convex deck of a performance surfboard for premium application. A channel on the top of the kick allows flex to form-fit any shaped deck.
Italo steepened the kick to a 46° angle.
Prototype Notes: The increased kick angle raised its overall height from 32mm to 38mm.
PRO-FORM ARCH: COMFORT AND SUPPORT LIKE A RUNNING SHOE
"I'm constantly moving my back foot, the arch provides support exactly where I need." - Mick
The PRO-FORM arch is based off our proven tear drop shape and is over-moulded by a grip pattern that is designed for comfort. The result is a squishy base and contoured shape that hugs your foot, helping soften the impact of hard landings.
It is compression moulded to the MULTI-LOC™ traction without the use of glue. This creates a single component that keeps water out.
Prototype Notes: Mick and Italo softened the arch squishiness at a duro of 40 for added comfort and impact absorption.
NEXT LEVEL TRACTION BUILT FOR THE FUTURE.
Prototype after prototype, test after test, we worked with World Champs Mick Fanning + Italo Ferreira to revolutionise the gold standard in traction. Re-inventing traction through Moulded Technology, PROTO™1.4 provides the world-first multi-directional grip pattern, MULTI-LOC™, to lock your foot in place. A PRO-FORM arch gives cushioned support, and a RECOIL kick helps lift projection through critical manoeuvres. In our aim to make a product that is BUILT better, moulded technology has allowed us to dramatically reduce our manufacturing waste.
MORE GRIP, LESS WASTE, ULTIMATE PERFORMANCE.
Tick the PROTO™1.4 filter box below to find your nearest stockist!
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PROTO™ 1.4 - A Sustainable Revolution in Surf Traction
The production of surf grip has remained stagnant, relying on outdated and ineffective processes for decades. Crafting a single tail pad generates a staggering 67%* waste in EVA foam. With an estimated 13 to 24 Million surfboards being sold annually, this sobering truth results in an overwhelming accumulation of EVA foam off-cuts and dust. It's an alarming reality that demands attention and innovative solutions.
Creatures’ PROTO™1.4 traction grip pad offers that change. Using moulded technology, we’re able to reduce that 67% material waste to just 5%! To make things even better, we use an EcoPure® additive as part of our production, which makes the PROTO™1.4 Traction Pad and its offcuts fully biodegradable in landfill at its end of life. A win for the planet. A win for our oceans. Pure innovation.
To learn more about the Creatures PROTO™1.4 Traction Pad, browse above.
Next-Level Performance with PROTO™1.4 Traction Pads
PROTO™1.4 surfboard grip offers more traction than possible before. Because of the limited production methods of cutting EVA foam blocks, regular options are constrained to 90 degree angles. The innovative moulded tech of PROTO™1.4 means we’ve been able to fully map the shape of a surfer’s foot and create the world’s first multi-directional traction pattern to suit. Other performance innovations in the Creatures PROTO™1.4 traction grip pad include:
PRO-FORM ARCH
The PRO-FORM arch on PROTO™1.4 surfboard grip is derived from our well-established teardrop design. It features a grip pattern that ensures optimal comfort. As a result, it boasts a plush cushioned base and an ergonomically contoured shape that embraces your foot, effectively mitigating the impact of jarring landings. By employing compression molding technology instead of glue, it seamlessly integrates with our MULTI-LOC™ traction, forming a cohesive unit that effectively repels water, staying lighter on the board.
RECOIL KICK
The Recoil Kick’s rear hex pattern creates a natural folding point, swiftly springing back after every compression. With its steep alpine kick, it offers unwavering responsiveness during critical manoeuvres. Designed to fit seamlessly onto the convex deck of a performance surfboard, the form-fitting concave underside ensures a premium application. A top channel also allows flexible adaptation to any deck shape.
The innovations in the Creatures PROTO™1.4 Traction Pad make it even better performing than traditional options. It’s no wonder that world champ and Olympic Gold Medalist Italo Ferreira prefers to use moulded traction pads..
Find Creatures PROTO™1.4 Traction Pad At Core Surf Shops
PROTO™1.4 surf grip is only stocked by core surf shops. Why? Because they’re the lifeblood of our industry and hubs of our rich surf culture in Australia. A way to reward those who have helped make our lifestyle what it is, and help other surfers understand the innovations that will take us into the future.
If you live remotely, you can still get PROTO™1.4 online with Creatures.
Otherwise, find your closest PROTO™1.4 Surf Grip retailer on our special store locator (remember to tick the PROTO™1.4 finder box too!)