Traction boards and mats keep you from getting stuck in the mud, sand, snow and rocks. Make sure you carry at least two with you when heading out into the back country (four is even better). Here are the Best Traction Boards and Mats in 2022.
CAUTION: If you are new to using traction mats please read our article on the different ways to properly use traction mats found here: How To Use Traction Boards and Mats
What We Use:
We’ve carried the XBull traction matts for years (and another brand not on this list). They have been used for mud recoveries, rock crawling bridges and to level off our vehicle when car camping. They work fine for general use and have saved us when needed. They do wear down quickly if you allow excessive tire spin so go easy on the gas. When used as a bridge it’s better to double up or they will bend. When used as a level for a campsite, they work just fine. They will bend outward a little bit under the tire but nothing to worry about. We chose this pair for a balance of cost and function. They’re not the best on the list but at 1/3 the cost we’re pretty happy with how they turned out. (BTW – we store them inside so can’t speak to the UV resistance)
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In This Article:
- Best Traction Boards and Tracks in 2022
- Rigid Recovery Board
- Roll Up Recovery Mat
- How We Determine Which is “Best”
Rigid Recovery Boards
ARB TREDPROBB Vehicle Recovery Boards Traction Tracks and Extraction Device for Off-Road Mud, Sand, & Snow, Black with Black Teeth
ARB is a tried and true equipment company from Australia where basically all the cool overlanding equipment comes from! The TRED PRO traction boards are infused with special nylon for additional flex and durability. The knobs are extra strong using glass filled resin nylon teeth to reduce premature wear from wheelspin. And they come with recovery leashes to make pulling them from mud easier. Additionally, they offer a wide range of mounting pins, carry bags, and accessories to compliment these traction boards.
Maxsa 20322 Orange Escaper Buddy Traction Mats with Metal Grips for Sand, Mud, Ice and Snow, 2 Pack
The Maxsa traction boards are smaller than most but make up for their dumunitive size by putting traction knobs on both sides, one side grips the tires and the other grips the ground. On top of this, it uses metal knobs against the tire for maximum wear. Made of high-impact polypropylene they’re lightweight, durable, and strong enough to handle any type of vehicle. If you need a compact size solution these might be perfect for you!
X-BULL New Recovery Traction Tracks Tire Ladder for Sand Snow Mud 4WD(Orange)
X-Bull sits conveniently in the middle of the pack with a good balance of cost and features. It’s made of reinforced nylon for strength and flexibility. It also comes with a carry bag and mounting pins to make it quite a bargain compared with more expensive options.
Maxtrax Xtreme Olive Drab Recovery Boards with Black Metal Teeth
The original traction board manufacturer, Maxtrax started it all and continues to lead the industry with the highest levels of innovation and quality. These are the Cadillac model of traction boards (but the Toyota model when it comes to durability and lifespan). They’re expensive but come with a lifetime warranty and are made from engineering-grade nylon instead of lesser plastic. This is the model the most serious and demanding off road and overland enthusiasts swear by.
ORCISH Recovery Traction Boards Tracks Tire Ladder for Sand Snow Mud 4WD(Set of 2) (Bag, Black)
ORCISH are the bargain models of the list providing basic traction board capability at a fraction of the cost. They are the lowest cost option and while they might not last as long as the Maxtrax or other boards, you can easily replace them several times and still save yourself money. These boards are probably fine for the occasional off roader.
Rough Country Traction Boards | 45″ Long x 13″ Wide | Deep Studded | Carrying Case | Recover Mud Snow Sand Ice | 10590
The Rough Country model takes a decidely different design approach using very deep treads to increase grip against the tire surface. The traction boards are made of tough resin for long life and the unique edge creates additional mounting opportunities. Additionally, it comes with a carrying bag and a lifetime warranty.
Smittybilt Element Ramps (Pair) – 2790
The Smittybilt Element Ramps are a hybrid option featuring deep treads like the Rough Country with traditional knobs like the other manufacturers. This combination is said to increase traction across a variety of conditions. They are made of heavy-duty nylon reinforced plastic construction and come with a carrying case.
Foldable Traction Boards
Pinto, Inc GoTreads Emergency Automotive Traction Tool – 2-Pack
GO-TREADS are perfect for keeping in your car for those backroads trips where you want to get off-road. These foldable traction boards provide traction when you get stuck in the mud, sand, or snow but fold up to store easily when not in use. GO-TREADS can also be used as shovels/pans if you find yourself at camp with a need to pan for gold, dig a hole to build a fire, or scoop sand and water for sandbags.
Roll Up Type Recovery Matt
RELIANCER 2PC Traction Tracks Mats TPR 31.5″ L Tire Recovery Track Pad Roll Car Vehicle Tyre Traction Boards Tire Ladder Track Grabber Auto Emergency Traction Aid w/Bag for Off-Road Mud Snow Ice Sand
Traction mats have an advantage of rolling up into a smaller size that be stored easily. The Reliancer traction mats roll up into about 9″ x 6.5″ and provide traction across a wide variety of terrain. They are made of indestructible UV-stabilized thermoplastic rubber (TPR) joined by a galvanized steel core which is anti-rust (0.15inch diameter steel) to deliver strongest traction and durability.
EVTIME Emergency Devices 2 pcs Tire Traction Mats 39.3″ (L) x 10.8″ (W), Portable for Snow, Ice, Mud, and Sand Used to Car, Truck, Van or Fleet Vehicle(2PCS 39in)
EVTIME’s traction mat is another roll up option that also comes with a carry bag and is made from upgraded tungsten steel.
How We Determine Which is “Best”
We currently own or have owned at least one of the products mentioned on this page. Our advice is based on real world usage of the product category. However, because we are a “one man shop” with limited resources we don’t get to put our hands on every single product we review. Wish we could! (hint hint) We try our best to communicate honest and accurate product descriptions to you so that you can make an informed decision. While our ranking system isn’t perfect – it’s the best we are able to provide to you given our current resources. Thank you so much for your support!
How we rank products: We read a ton of magazines, websites and social media comments and watch a lot of videos on YouTube each month and notice which products are receiving the highest praise. We aggregate this information and check out the products ourselves to see what kind of ratings they receive based on user experience, to see what value they deliver (combination of function and cost), and narrow down to a list of products we think TX:GX Overland viewers would be interested in. We generally try to provide several types of products: expert (no cost is too much, give me the best), mid-range (I care about price but also want function/quality) and budget (I need an entry level option, not something to circumnavigate the world with ). We then display this curated list of products on our TX:GX Overland website.
Vehicle recovery can be dangerous and should only be performed by appropriately trained and experienced individuals. Don’t risk hurting yourself if you don’t know what you are doing.