Is it possible that a type of deck grip could contribute to foot numbness issues whilst paddling?
I have been paddling a ONE EVO 2.0, 14' SUP, 2-3 times per week , 12-14km on flatwater (approx 2 1/2hrs) for the last three years. Still struggling with foot discomfort. I am holding off on a knee replacement, so my feet stay pretty much planted for the entire paddle time. I realise this would contribute to circulation issues. I do try and wiggle my toes throughout the paddle and get the blood circulating, with little effect. The foot issue is impacting on the ability to paddle longer distances. I notice the EVO deck grip is more raised, than the deck grip on some other brands.
I have included a picture of what the deck grip looks like on the ONE Evo, so you get an idea of the raised surface.
Appreciate any input.

Anything is possible Dave, you could try wearing booties and or seek medical advice.

As micksmith said, you should try wearing shoes (not necessarily booties). Pads with deep bumps can push into the "blood bag" we have underneath our feet and stop the blood flow. A shoe with a sole stiff enough to "flatten" the pad.

Or really move your feet, not just your toes. Our body is optimized to walk, not standing still. The blood bad acts as a blood pump when you move your feet. Lift the heel, flex your sole, ...

Hey DaveL sorry to hear about your foot issues - goodonya for doing something about it - don't ignore that whatever you and think it will go away> Have you tried putting your feet into ice water? hot/cold hydrotherapy helps circulation tremendously, as does cayenne pepper into your food. you can also make a CP type of poultice to encourage blood flow. Just spray some olive or coconut oil onto a paper towel ans sprinkle a very little bit of CP onto it then wrap it onto the sole of your foot with a bandage. The CP draws blood to that area you apply it to. Also you can try putting your feet up the wall to help circulation for a bit. Sugar makes bad blood / slow blood. Have you tried MSM for your knee issues? It helped my old knees a lot - no more pain after just a week or two of taking MSM mixed with vit c powder to soften the taste... aagh anyway, bitter things heal.
Our feet work so hard all our days for many of us, so maybe try another exercise like swimming or kayaking for a while to give your feet a breather. Have you had professional shoe fitting? A podiatrist sent me off to athletes foot last year and turns out i have been using too small of a shoe for years!! Maybe try those crazy lookin toe-shoes. Colas is right about standing still not being good for us - keep moving mate!

Appreciate the input guys. I really think that the type of deck grip is contributing to the issue. Any suggestions for a suitable aquatic shoe/brand would be helpful.

I have the same problem which I partially attribute to rough deck grip. Been trying to source source softer deck grip, I rode a mates board the other day with Flying Objects grip and it was really soft underfoot. Looks like they only do board covers now. Can anyone recommend a soft deck grip?

I have had five short(er) boards (9'6" to 7'11")over the past six years and reckon the pads make a difference to foot comfort. Colas' comment on deep bumps resonates with me. Am on a Starboard Blue Carbon Pro now and liking its pad. I think they do downwinders, so u might investigate their pads. (I've also got knee and hip replacements on opposite sides. So glad I did!)

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Saltydog888 said..
Can anyone recommend a soft deck grip?

Look for 3mm thick pads, not 5mm. It will keep the bumps small enough.
For instance, it is expensive, but the FCS "dimple pad" is very nice.

Removing a deck pad is a hassle however. You may want to try to sand it a bit first to see if it fixes things. If not, well, you were going to change it anyways.

Anyone had experience using the BPS SUP 12 piece traction pad?

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DaveL1963 said..
Anyone had experience using the BPS SUP 12 piece traction pad?

Haven't heard of BPS but I did have a quick look for FCS dimple sup pads and I see there is some available through Amazon under $200. I did see them through a retailer for $400 which is insane imo. I had them on a board several years back and would have to agree with Colas they're comfortable and grippy, without losing the solid feel

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DaveL1963 said..
Is it possible that a type of deck grip could contribute to foot numbness issues whilst paddling?
I have been paddling a ONE EVO 2.0, 14' SUP, 2-3 times per week , 12-14km on flatwater (approx 2 1/2hrs) for the last three years. Still struggling with foot discomfort. I am holding off on a knee replacement, so my feet stay pretty much planted for the entire paddle time. I realise this would contribute to circulation issues. I do try and wiggle my toes throughout the paddle and get the blood circulating, with little effect. The foot issue is impacting on the ability to paddle longer distances. I notice the EVO deck grip is more raised, than the deck grip on some other brands.
I have included a picture of what the deck grip looks like on the ONE Evo, so you get an idea of the raised surface.
Appreciate any input.

Why don't you throw down something smooth on the deck as an experiment to see if it still happens?

Even after several years I still get numb feet on long paddles ( 10 to 15km).
One thing that helped me was to move one foot back so you are not standing with your feet parallel. Help me a lot and made me more stable. I went the same stance bias as when surfing but not as wide. BTW wearing shoes made it worse for me.

Thanks for the feedback mate. Appreciate it.

I had the same thing on my sunova. I used crocs to paddle in and that worked. The reason they have straps on the back is so they don't come off during sex.

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dcenzed said..
I had the same thing on my sunova. I used crocs to paddle in and that worked. The reason they have straps on the back is so they don't come off during sex.

I took a pair of crocs to Europe on a 5 week base jumping trip to lounge around in, between jumps. My mate took the piss out of me the entire time for wearing them. On return home we were doing a jump up the Blue Mnts, and the same mate, realised he'd left his boots at home. Our landing areas are very rocky and full of trees. His options were, don't jump, jump in bare feet, or wear my crocs and jump. The crocs won out. Probably the only base jump ever done in crocs. I'll let him know they also get the tick of approval for use during sex as well.