Stuck in a Rut? Best Traction Boards of 2024, Tested

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Traction boards, also known as recovery boards or traction mats, are essential tools for off-road and overlanding enthusiasts. These boards provide a way out when a vehicle gets stuck in soft or slippery conditions, allowing you to be your own hero instead of calling for help from a winch, AAA, or your dad, who warned you not to drive on the sand in the first place.

At the Gear Team, we aren't exactly seasoned off-road adventurers. Before this test, only one of the authors had ever been to an off-roading park and had spent most of that time hyperventilating and asking for directions to the bathroom. Despite this, we were determined to put our new Gear Team test vehicle, a Hyundai Santa Cruz, to the test at The Mounds ORV Park, an off-roading park in Flint, Michigan.

After a long day at the park, we sat muddy, eating Flint coney dogs and reflecting on our adventure. There was one undeniable truth: The Gear Team were officially traction-board converts.

Things to Consider

At The Mounds, we intentionally got our Santa Cruz stuck in sand and mud to test a variety of top-rated traction boards, taking notes on their performance in various scenarios. After a tiring day and several sticky situations, we learned the power of traction boards and the strength of the off-roading community. A big shout out to a kindhearted lineman named Randy and his family, who answered our questions and offered support while we figured out the best way to get moving.

Before you spend your money on a set of traction boards, there are several factors to keep in mind.

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Durability

Traction boards are usually made from hardened plastic. They take a lot of abuse, so getting boards that will last is key. If you plan to use them regularly, especially in strenuous situations, opt for stronger boards—perhaps with metal studs for a longer-lasting grip. Look for those made with UV-resistant materials; some plastic is susceptible to UV degradation. It's best to keep them clean, dry, and out of the sun when they're not in use.

Storage

Although plastic construction is designed to be lightweight, traction boards are large and take up a lot of space. They have to fit somewhere.

Many off-roaders mount them to the outside of their vehicles. Some boards come with mounting points and hardware for this. If you're looking to store them inside your vehicle, though, make sure you have ample storage space.

Tires

Your tires can have a major impact on the effectiveness of traction boards. The right set of rubber can probably keep you from getting stuck in the first place, and you can air down to increase the contact patch if you find yourself in a pickle. Also, remember that your rubber can suffer if your tires spin across the grippy nubs on a traction board, particularly those with metal studs. It's important to inspect your tires after you use traction boards.

Preparation

Traction boards are not the endgame for getting unstuck. For example, they may not work if your vehicle is beached or high-centered and there isn't any (or enough) weight on them. You’ll want to have other methods of getting unstuck. Having a portable shovel is the bare minimum; a recovery strap is also key. A winch and a bottle jack won't hurt. Obviously, off-roading with friends who can help you out of a jam is always a good idea.

Warranties

Some companies offer lengthy warranties that may be useful in case of damage or increased wear. Do be sure to use the equipment properly to guarantee you are covered.

The Best Traction Boards

Smittybilt All Element Ramps 2790

In the traction-board market, standing out can be a challenge. But at first glance, you can see that Smittybilt's design is distinctive, with a variety of nubs well suited for a range of vehicles and situations. The ends of the board have smaller nubs; they transitioning to larger ones, with ridges in the middle and domes on the sides. During our tests, we couldn't get them to fail—they were effective in every recovery attempt. We truly loved these boards.

However, not everything is perfect. We couldn't find any information about UV resistance, so if you plan to store them mounted on the outside of your vehicle, you might want to consider a UV-stabilized option, as prolonged sun exposure could make plastic brittle over time. But that didn't stop us from enthusiastically labeling the 2790s as best overall; after a day at the off-roading park, they were easily our favorite.

Maxtrax MKII RecoveryTracks

For off-road enthusiasts, the Australian brand Maxtrax has become almost synonymous with "traction board." We put the standard-length Maxtrax MKIIs to the test. (Maxtrax also offers an Xtreme model for high-intensity recovery situations.) We immediately noticed several impressive features of the MKIIs: six handles, aggressive tire nubs, lightweight construction. They also come in 12 colors to match your style—and make them easy to find in the mud.

Among all the traction boards we tested, the MKIIs saw the most use. In addition to our off-roading test, where they performed effectively with minimal wear, our testing director, Dave VanderWerp, also put them to use during a Gambler 500 event in Michigan. Dave's most capable vehicle got stuck in the water and needed to be towed out by a modified Oldsmobile. The Oldsmobile, in turn, got stuck in the sand. While the Maxtrax MKIIs didn't work miracles, they provided enough traction to get the Olds moving.

However, Dave noted that the shovels integrated into the sides of the traction mats were not particularly effective. We also observed this, but it was a common issue across all the traction mats we tested. So it's not a drawback specific to Maxtrax. Remember, a portable off-road shovel can be your best friend in a sticky situation.

X-Bull Gen 3.0 Traction Tracks

If your budget is your main consideration, go for the X-Bull Traction Tracks. Are they the best? No. Were they the worst? Also no.

For around $100, you get two boards, a bag, and even mounting brackets—something we didn’t get with any other product. They are listed as UV-stable, and they're stackable. It doesn't take a lot of math to figure out that you could buy three sets of X-Bulls before even approaching the price of the most expensive traction boards.

They weren't outstanding during our mud test, but they were impressively effective in the sand. Even when buried deep, they kept traction against the tires during recovery. Will they last forever? Probably not; construction didn't feel as robust as some of the higher-priced boards we tested, but that's to be expected at this price point.

If you need a pair of traction boards just to be prepared, we think this is a great option—especially if you want to save your cash for other off-roading gear.

ARB Tred Pro

ARB Tred Pro recovery boards are a top choice in the long line of off-roading gear offered by ARB, a trusted brand in the industry. Known for their durability, these boards have a lifetime warranty, ensuring they stand the test of time.

Key features that set the ARB Tred Pro apart include their directional tread patterns and the built-in "shovel" portion, which is hands-down the most ergonomic shovel end of all the boards we tested. During our testing, we noted that the nubs on these boards showed significantly less wear after use, likely due to the unique design using glass-filled resin in the nubs.

Overall, the sturdy materials and a lifetime guarantee make the ARB Tred Pro recovery boards a worthwhile investment for serious off-roaders looking for a reliable one-time purchase.

Rhino USA Recovery Traction Boards

If you like supporting family-owned companies, Rhino USA is a fantastic option. These recovery boards come with a storage bag, recovery leashes, and two handles on each side. During our test, the boards took some time to work in the sand but eventually got us unstuck, although they did wind up with significant wear on the nubs.

They were less effective in the mud. We did, however, learn the importance of the provided leashes during the mud portion, as the boards got buried deep. Installing these straps would have saved us from digging into six inches of sticky mud. We highly recommend attaching the leashes right away.

If you're looking for affordable and reliable traction boards but also want to support a family operation, Rhino USA is an excellent choice.

ActionTrax Self Recovery Track

If you are an extreme or advanced offroader, the Action Trax might be for you. The first feature that stood out was the replaceable bolts at the beginning of the ramps. While these are not exactly made for the all-season tires we had on our Santa Cruz, they are a great fit for beefy off-roading tires.

The second feature that set these boards apart was the flexibility. These boards are almost rubbery, allowing them to serve multiple purposes: tire protection in tight rock squeezes, bridging deep muddy ruts or acting as a ramp down a decline without the risk of snapping.

Since this model with the bolts is designed for off-roading tires, we chose to limit our recovery time. While we aim to evaluate products under rigorous conditions, we had to admit to ourselves that this bolt design is not meant for standard road cars like the Santa Cruz, and we also did not wish to pop a tire out of stupidity. These traction boards are designed for serious off-road enthusiasts with beefy tires, extreme conditions, and a genuine sense of adventure. So if that’s you, we say go for it!

Bunker Indust Tire Traction Mats

If you're seeking a portable traction mat for occasional sticky situations during everyday driving, these Bunker Indust rubber roll-out mats should do the job. They roll up and conveniently come in two carrying cases, making them compact enough to fit into your trunk or cargo hold without taking up much space.

During our test, they didn't perform as well as the other serious traction boards on this list, which wasn't surprising given the six inches of mud and sand we tested them in. However, they could be useful for light ice, snow, sand, or mud in the driveway. Sometimes all you need is a slight traction boost to get going, and in those cases, these mats could be your saving grace.

Priced around $50, they offer an affordable solution to save you from a stressful winter afternoon. However, if you plan to tackle deep sand and more challenging terrain off the beaten path, a heavy-duty traction board will be a better choice.

How to Use a Traction Board

Using traction boards isn't an exact science. Your success depends on a combination of things: vehicle, whether it's in front- or four-wheel drive, tire type, what you're stuck in, other tools you have (or don't have) at your disposal, and your problem-solving skills. There's no universal rule for what method will work best, but the key is to get the boards under your tires to gain traction and get your vehicle moving.

Here are some general steps to follow if you're stuck:

Deflate Your Tires

As a rule of thumb, any time you leave pavement, it's worth considering airing down your tires, particularly in sand, loose gravel, mud, and snow. Reducing your tire pressure, a.k.a. "airing down," increases the contact patch of your tires, improving traction. Make sure you have a tire inflator onboard for airing up later.

Assess the Situation

Determine how you're stuck. Are you in a muddy rut or on ice? Which tires are stuck, and how deep are they? These factors will guide your next steps.

Clear Debris

If you're in a deep rut, use a shovel to clear loose debris around the tires. The goal is to make direct contact between the traction board and the tire, or at least create a clear path.

Position the Traction Boards

Place the boards directly in front of (for forward motion) or behind (for reverse motion) the stuck tires. Position them as close to the tires as possible. This may require critical thinking and problem-solving, as you might need to adjust the placement based on which tires are most stuck. Trust your instincts and problem-solving skills.

Drive Slowly

Gently accelerate to allow the tires to grip the boards. Avoid sudden or excessive acceleration, as spinning on the boards can damage them and wear down your tire tread. Drive slowly over the boards until the vehicle is free. You'll also want to use low gear.

Once you're unstuck, retrieve your boards. If they come with leashes, keep those installed on the handles, as traction boards can get buried.

Reddit's r/overlanding subreddit is an excellent source for real-world tips and advice on traction boards. We also like Action Trax's Tips and Tricks Page for more resources and ideas.

How We Tested Traction Boards

This was a fun test for the Gear Team. We assessed each set of traction boards by taking them to The Mounds ORV Park in Flint, Michigan, and putting them to work "un-stucking" our Hyundai Santa Cruz. They were evaluated on several metrics, such as durability, portability, performance, and other features, if any. Each board was tested in numerous environments to see how effective it was at getting our vehicle unstuck from various surfaces.

Although the little pickup put up a good fight, showing great traction on its own, we eventually found a sand pit from which the Santa Cruz could not crawl out. Not without help, anyway. Out came the traction boards, and we set to work.

To control as many variables as possible, we kept the vehicle in the same gear and power settings for every attempt, placed the boards in the same positions, and then reset the scene to move on to the next board. Here's what we tested for:

Durability

We examined each board's material and assessed its durability after multiple uses. We also noted each board's flexibility by driving over it in a curved rut.

Portability

For this metric, we put each board in the 4.3-foot-long bed of the Santa Cruz to see how well it fit. We also measured the size and weight of each, and noted how easy they were to carry and move around. (We found that those with three handles to grab onto were far easier to move than those with just two.) Although we didn't have a place to mount them on our vehicle, some of the boards here do come with mounting hardware.

Performance

This metric was the most important, as it measured whether each board was effective in getting our vehicle unstuck. We used them in both sand and mud, keeping conditions consistent as much as possible. Some boards could also be used as shovels, although an actual shovel works much better.

Additional Features

Another important consideration is what else comes with the boards. Travel cases, mounting hardware, replacement lugs, leashes, and warranties are factors to keep in mind when purchasing. While we did not dock the boards that lacked these extra features, we did award bonus points where applicable.

*Note: This test will be updated in the winter so we can test each traction board's performance in snowy conditions.

FAQs

When should I use traction boards?

Traction boards are most useful when a vehicle is mildly stuck and needs more traction to get going. If you're stuck, and there is weight on the tire, it certainly won't hurt to shove a traction board in there to help. While it might not solve the problem on its own, it will certainly be of some assistance.

How many traction boards do I need?

Traction boards are commonly bought in sets of two, which is usually enough for recreational use, especially when combined with other recovery equipment. Serious off-roaders and overlanders should carry four traction boards.

Will traction boards damage my vehicle?

If used correctly, traction boards should not harm tires or vehicles. Following the manufacturer's instructions will ensure you use them properly and safely. Always examine your tires after you use traction boards.

Do I need traction boards?

That depends. Traction boards can be nice in a pinch, but they won't get you out of extreme situations—although it won't hurt to use them for extra support. Supplement yours by carrying a portable shovel and recovery strap.

That said, traction boards can be used for things other than getting you unstuck, like bridging gaps or anchoring. Additionally, because they can work on ice and snow, it's not a bad idea to keep a set in your vehicle if you live in a wintry area.

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