PROTO 1.4 ECO - BLACK PLATINUM
THE BIGGEST REVOLUTION IN SURF TRACTION SINCE IT WAS INVENTED. MORE GRIP, LESS WASTE, ULTIMATE PERFORMANCE.
After 3 years of intensive development with World Champs Mick Fanning and Italo Ferreira, Creatures have created a traction pad that both elevates your surfing and drastically reduces manufacturing waste.
THE UGLY TRUTH
- 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. it’s an ugly truth that produces a mountain of EVA foam off-cuts and dust.
WHY IS MOULDED TRACTION BUILT BETTER?
Instead of cutting from blank EVA foam blocks, every element is injection-shaped for ultimate precision. PROTO™1.4’s moulded tech reduces waste to just 5%! Mixing 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.
WHAT ABOUT PERFORMANCE?
- Because moulded technology offers unlimited potential, there's no longer the archaic constraints of routing, cutting and sanding. Working 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-FIRST MULTI-DIRECTIONAL GRIP PATTERN
- 13X World Titles have been won using Creatures proven Square-Loc and Diamond-Loc traction patterns. This influenced the fundamental development of MULTI-LOC™.
- Through the 3-year R&D process, and introducing 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 Creatures 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.
- Re-inventing traction through Moulded Technology, Creatures 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.