How do I decide between traction or non-traction?

Our patented Apolla traction is the only refreshable grip on the market. It's designed to be customized to YOUR floor and YOUR feet, and engineered to wear down during break-in to your preferred level. That also means we'd rather you skip traction on the surfaces where you don't need it.

The simple test: how does the floor feel?

Walk on it in a regular thin sock or barefoot.

- If it feels grippy, tacky, or even a touch sticky, your floor is already doing the work. NON-traction.

- If your foot slides easily, WITH traction.

Full decision guide

What you feel under foot | Pick | Why

Already grippy or tacky. Well-maintained pro marley, sprung studio floor, freshly prepped stage, spin disc, sport-court. | NON-traction | Floor is doing the grip work. Traction can over-engage and transfer a small amount of adhesive to a surface that doesn't need help.

Slippery, even if it's marley. Worn or dusty studio floor, home hardwood, laminate, vinyl plank, polished gym wood, tile. | WITH traction | This is exactly what our refreshable grip is for.

Soft. Carpet, rug, yoga mat. | NON-traction | Traction needs a hard surface to engage.

In shoes. Tap, jazz, ballet flats, tennis shoes, sneakers. | NON-traction | The shoe is your grip. Traction inside a shoe wears down with no benefit.

On a turning disc, spin spot, or pivot tool. DancinDisc, Pirouette Master, etc. | NON-traction | The goal of these tools is to practice turns. The disc often already provides the right amount of grip, so a non-traction style is usually best for turn practice.

You travel between studios and the floor changes. | One of each | Keep a WITH pair for slippery rooms and a NON pair for tacky ones.

A note on marley

Marley isn't one thing. Studio quality, age, humidity, cleaning state, even the day's traffic all change how it feels. The same floor that needs traction in winter can feel grippy enough to skip it after a fresh prep. Trust how the floor feels under YOUR foot in the moment over any rule of thumb based on material name alone.

What "refreshable traction" actually means

If you go with traction, the grip is yours to maintain. Spray 5-10 pumps of E6000 Spray Adhesive (https://www.apollaperformance.com/products/e6000-spray-adhesive) on the traction area, let it dry 10-20 seconds, and you're back to full grip. You control the level: sticky, broken-in, or somewhere in between.

Customize & refresh traction (1-minute video) (https://youtu.be/IwYg4Upq4r4)

Still not sure?

Message us (hello@apollaperformance.com) with your floor type, where you mostly dance or practice, and what you're using your Apolla Shocks for. We'll point you to the right pick.

We stand by every pair with free returns & exchanges. If you pick one and it isn't right, we'll swap it. No risk.

Floor-safety note

Floor and finish compatibility varies. Before using traction, E6000, rosin, or any cleaner on a studio floor, home floor, stage, or turning tool, confirm with the floor or tool manufacturer, your studio owner, or the facility manager. Always spot-test first in a hidden area and follow that surface's care instructions. Apolla cannot guarantee results on every surface and cannot take responsibility for floor or tool damage caused by unsupported cleaners, refreshers, failure to spot-test, or use outside our care guidance.