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The Best Floor Traction Strips
Anti-slip traction products are essential for flooring in the home of aging individuals and those recovering from surgery. These products help to reduce the risk of falls and increase the safety of these individuals by providing a secure grip for their feet and canopying them with a cushion of protection. They provide extra traction and stability on slippery surfaces such as tile, marble, and other smooth surfaces, reducing the risk of slipping and falling. This is particularly important in areas where water or spills are common, such as bathrooms, kitchens, and outside wooden walkways. Anti-slip traction products are also beneficial in providing a secure and comfortable grip on stairs and other surfaces where falls are more likely to occur. With anti-slip traction products, aging and elderly individuals and those recovering from surgery can move around with confidence and safety in their homes.
Our Rankings of Suction Cup Grab Bars
Best Overall - LifeGrip Stair Treads Non-Slip with Roller
Best for Showers - LifeGrip Anti Slip Safety Tape, Non Slip Textured Rubber
Best Stair Tread- Linconson Carpet Stair Treads
How we analyzed traction strips
- Traction - We consider grit vs. textured plastic surfaces, and how they perform in various conditions.
- Adhesion - How strong and reliable is the adhesive on the back of the anti-slip tap? Does it leave a residue?
- Installations - Special installations considerations are noted. Some products from with everything you need, others you might need to pick up a couple more simple tools.
- Design and Aesthetic Score - Black, gray, colors, transparent. Which to choose? Many gravitate towards transparent, but some tend to pick up color over time from dirt and grim.
We also considers additional factors such as company expertise, price, and versatility.
Best Overall
LifeGrip Stair Treads Non-Slip with Roller
Pre-cut, Priced right, and Transparent options
Everything you need to get traction anywhere in your home.
The LifeGrip Stair Treads Non-Slip with Roller came out on top of our research as the best all-around option. Their transparent options are among the most transparent we cam across and the 4" x 32" 15 pack pre cut comes with a rubber roller to simplify installation. We liked how thin these trips felt and the minimal but effective texture on the surface. The 4" x 32" pre-cuts are great for stairs, but we recommend narrower if you're applying them in the shower or bathtub. This 2" x 30' roll or this 1" X 30' roll would be better suited for the shower or bath. A pair of scissors will be all you need to cut down to size. This would feel much better on bare feet than any grit-based traction surface. The only thing this product scored down for was it lacked any real traction-specific standardization (as described below in "Considerations"), however we found that most non-industrial products ( that is, products intended for residential homes), often lacked these ratings as well.
Best for Showers and Bathtubs
LifeGrip Anti Slip Safety Tape, Non Slip Textured Rubber
Super versatile and great on bare feet.
Textured rubber instead of grit makes this a great option for the bathroom. Gray, black and clear colors are available.
Showers and bathtubs are the most common place to slip and fall in a home. Between grab bars and anti-slip traction on the floor, you can reduce this risk. Fortunately, these products are among the most accessible to everyone regardless of if you own or rent your home, or what your budget is. Don't forget to complete your shower safety check list and stop by our top rated suction cup grab bars! There are great solutions and reasonable prices. In terms of traction, showers and bathtubs have two common solutions. A mat that suctions to the floor and the adhesive traction strips. We gravitate to the traction strips because they stay in place far longer, and will never get moldy or mildewy like some shower mats do.
In terms of color selection, consider the two images below. While transparent might look great freshly installed. After a month or two of use, discoloration will almost certainly show up (left image). It can be difficult to keep the transparent strips looking fresh without jeopardizing their adhesion from scrubbing them down constantly. Because of this we recommend black or gray strips for showers and bathtubs (right image). If you're not concerned with this, then we highly recommend the LifeGrip Anti Slip Transparent Anti Slip Tape, 2 inch by 30 feet Roll
Our research ranked LifeGrip highly again. We like the Anti Slip Safety Tape, Non Slip Textured Rubber in both black and gray for shower and bath uses. LifeGrip Anti Slip Safety Tape is a non-slip textured rubber product that is designed to be comfortable for bare feet and provide a strong, waterproof bond to smooth surfaces, including concrete, metal, plastic, wood, tile, and stone. It is suitable for indoor and outdoor use and easy to install and remove without leaving any residue. It is a great choice for anyone needing a little extra security in the bathroom or any of the other wide range of uses for ensuring safety on steps, ladders, ramps, trailers, decks, and other safety equipment.
Best Carpeted Stair Tread
Linconson Carpet Stair Treads
Warm and comfy on bare feet, good design selection.
If the standard traction strips aren't for you, consider a great carpeted alternative.
If you're not a fan of the transparent or black anti-slip adhesive strips for your stairs, you might enjoy a carpeted stair tread instead. Linconson is another company with a long history and domain expertise in durable tool accessories and safety equipment.
The Linconson Carpet Stair Treads are made with heavy duty, durable commercial grade materials and feature a non-skid backing to provide great traction with the feel of a dense carpet. They are safe for use on various household surfaces such as wood, marble, hardwood, laminate, tile and sealed concrete, and feel comfortable and warm on bare feet. The treads are easy to clean with a vacuum cleaner, soap and carpet cleaner, or a washing machine. The pack includes 15 pieces of 8” x 30” carpet treads, which may be trimmed with scissors to your desired size.
Linconson also offers up a really solid Clear Slip Resistant Stairs Tread Grip as well. They come pre cut in various sizes so you don't have to spend time trimming them to fit, and they come with a roller for installation.
Considerations
Traction
Anti-slip traction products come in two main types: grit sandpaper surfaces and texture plastics. Grit sandpaper surfaces are available in various grit levels, from extra coarse 50 grit for harsh, high-traffic environments, to coarse 80 grit for general use. Texture plastics, on the other hand, are generally more suitable for in-home use, as they offer a softer, more comfortable feel on bare feet. The typical materials we found products using in this category are textured PVC, polyurea (a durable rubber), pliable rubbers with silica pebbles (often more comfortable on bare feet than normal grit), and fine-textured or rubberized vinyl. It's important to look for products that meet or exceed one of the following traction standards: OSHA, ADA-compliant coefficient of friction, and NFSI certification for “High Traction”. We also saw a number of companies referring to an ISO 9000 standard, however, this appears to not pertain to the actual anti-slip nature of the product but the manufacturing and quality assurance process.
Adhesives and Installation
There are several types of adhesives commonly used in anti-slip traction products, such as acrylic, rubber-hot melt, pressure sensitive, and foil-backed. Each of these offer different levels of versatility and adhesion to various surfaces, such as painted wood, painted metal, or sealed concrete. It is important to note, however, that the effectiveness of the adhesive is largely dependent on the preparation of the surface it will be applied to. If the surface is dirty or greasy, the adhesive may not stick well, regardless of the type used. On that note, lets talk installation. Here's a quick overview, but be sure to always follow the specific products guidelines.
- Clean the surface! This is most critical. Generally good ole' soap and water will to the trick for most surfaces. Make a couple of passes to be sure its clear of dirt, grim, and built up oils. Then give is a good rinse with water to make sure no soap residue remains. Finally wipe it down with a little isopropyl alcohol. If you're working with a bare metal, or polyethylene/ polypropylene surface you may need to use a solvent. However this isn't very common for in-home residential use.
- Installation! Most products are simple 'peel and stick', so the most difficult thing is getting everything lined up and looking nice. We recommend making a little guide out of cardboard to help you keep everything square. It's best to use a rubber hand roller to firmly and uniformly press the adhesive into the surface and remove air bubbles. Nothing fancy needed, just something like this. Some traction products actually come with one of these tools. Lastly, there are building codes for how to install traction strips appropriately. While it mostly applies to stepping surfaces like stairs, you it's advisable to reference it before installing them in our own home.
- Wrap up. In professional and industrial settings, some opt to using an edge sealing acrylic lacquer to seal off the edges of the traction strips from liquid penetrating the edges. For general home use, it might be overkill, but if you're placing traction slips in a harsh setting, it might be worth it.
Also check out our installation guide here!
Lifespan
Lastly we wanted to make a note of these products lifespans. They do not last forever! It is very product dependent, but you can expect to replace these as needed. Over time, wear and tear can eat away at the traction surfaces, and even with normal use, the edges can begin peeling back. Keep an eye on them and replace as needed!
