Stomp Pads & Grip at Behind The Pines Amsterdam
A stomp pad solves one small problem that happens twenty times a day: your back foot is out of the binding, the board is on hard snow, and there is nothing between your boot sole and a polished base. Getting off a lift, skating a flat, pushing through a lift queue — that is where the pad earns its place.
We carry Crab Grab, who make the sculptural ones people actually notice, and Union's flatter pads and rails. Below is the difference between them, and the part that matters more than the choice itself: how you stick it on.
The three kinds
Flat pads
A single piece of rubber or foam with a textured surface, sitting between the bindings. Simple, low-profile, and the safe choice if you are not sure. Union's U and Surf pads are this type.
Rails and strips
Thin raised strips rather than one block — Crab Grab's Grab Rail and Skate Rails. They give your boot something to catch on rather than something to press into, which works better with stiff boot soles that do not deform. They also take up less of the board's topsheet.
Shapes
The Bone, Squiggle Stick, Board Poop — 3D moulded pieces that grip through height rather than texture. Genuinely effective, and the reason most people buy Crab Grab is that they are also the only part of your setup with a sense of humour.
Fitting it properly
This is the part people rush, and it is the only part that determines whether the pad is still on your board in March.
Clean the topsheet with isopropyl alcohol and let it dry — not just a wipe with a sleeve. Board and pad both need to be at room temperature; 3M adhesive will not bond properly in the cold, so do this indoors, not in the car park. Place the board flat, put your back boot where it naturally lands with your front foot strapped in, and mark the spot before you peel anything. Then press hard for thirty seconds and leave it 24 hours before riding.
Do it in a cold garage the night before a trip and it will lift within a week. That is the single most common way these fail.
What to expect
- 3M adhesive backing — it needs a clean, dry, room-temperature surface and 24 hours to cure.
- Semi-permanent. Removal takes a hairdryer and adhesive remover, and placement is worth getting right first time.
- Rails and 3D shapes grip better with stiff boot soles; flat pads suit softer boots.
- Position is personal — mark where your back foot actually lands rather than centring it by eye.
Why buy from Behind The Pines
We ride in Amsterdam, which means most of our days out start with a flight and a lift queue, and the lift queue is exactly where this matters. Small purchase, but we would rather you fit it properly than buy a second one in February. Ask us if you want it stuck on in the shop.
Frequently asked questions
Where should a stomp pad go?
Where your back boot lands when your front foot is strapped in — usually just behind the front binding, angled to your stance. Stand on the board indoors and mark it before peeling the backing. Do not centre it by eye.
Will it stick in cold weather?
Not reliably. Fit it indoors at room temperature and give it 24 hours before riding. Cold is the main reason stomp pads fall off.
Can I remove one later?
Yes, with a hairdryer or heat gun to soften the adhesive and a solvent to clean up the residue. It is a bit of work, which is why placement matters.
Rails or a flat pad?
Rails and 3D shapes grip better against a stiff boot sole because your boot catches on them. A flat textured pad works better with softer boots that deform into the surface. If you ride a stiff boot, take the rails.
Do I actually need one?
If you ride resort lifts, yes — the first thirty seconds off every chair is easier with one. If you only ride powder and never touch a lift, it is optional.
Shop stomp pads at Behind The Pines Amsterdam
See the full Crab Grab collection, the Union collection, spares in Snowboard Binding Parts, or everything else in Snowboard Maintenance & Accessories.