6 Highly-Rated Recovery Boards You Can Buy On Amazon For Your Car

Being an adventurous driver doesn't necessarily mean being an ill-prepared one, especially if you like to challenge yourself by zooming through unique terrain. While you can practice driving safely on the sand, the reality is that there are plenty of things you can't control, especially when traversing through unpredictable situations. In some cases, you can drive on the same path dozens of times before, but it may feel different after you first experience it during a storm. If you're planning to push the boundaries of what you and your car can do, you'll want to make sure that you have the right overlanding essentials, just in case. Apart from bringing along gasoline packs and awning, a good recovery board can give you some added peace of mind.

Typically, recovery boards are used to create additional traction between your vehicle and the surface, which can either be sand, mud, or even snow. In this article, we gathered some of the best recovery board options on Amazon for you to consider. To help you, we've listed items designed for different-sized cars and from a range of budgets, as well as their prices, payment plans, and other helpful features. To know more about how we've selected these products, you can scroll to the end of the article. But, if you want to start adding useful accessories to your vehicle already, you can keep on reading.

If you want an affordable, full-sized recovery board, the Fiery Red Traction Boards are only $69.99. With an average rating of 4.5 stars from over 250 reviews, most people seem pretty satisfied with its performance. Weighing at 15.37 lbs, it falls somewhere in the middle in terms of weight. Available in two colors (black and red), the pair of recovery boards also comes with two leashes and a carry bag. For those planning to leave it outside, latched onto their vehicles, you'll be happy to know that it's corrosion-proof, rustproof, and UV-proof. 

Fiery Red shares that it can be safely used in freezing temperatures, even as low as -22° F, which far exceeds several of the other options on this list. With an ability to support up to 10 tons of weight, it has over sixty "teeth" that make it ideal for multiple terrains, from mountain roads to muddy areas. Plus, it's designed in a way that it won't easily accumulate particular build-up whenever it's used. That said, you'll need to spend a few bucks extra if you want the bundle with the mounting kit. If you regret not buying it from the start, you can buy the board mount pins separately for only $28.99, which has quick-release features that have an average rating of 4 stars from more than 190 people.

With its short 22.63" x 12" dimensions, the All-Top Recovery Traction Boards Mini is a recovery board that can fit even small vehicles, like compact cars and ATVs. Despite its relatively light 6.4 lbs weight as a pair, it can hold vehicles of just as much weight as every other option on this list at 10 tons. Made of reinforced nylon, it can manage temperatures that range from -13℉ to 140℉. Using its side handles, you can also turn it into a shovel in case of emergencies.

Retailing for $69.99, the All-Top Recovery Traction Board Mini is one of the cheapest products on this list and has an average rating of 4.5 stars from over 160 Amazon reviewers. It's available in four main colors: black, army green, grey, and orange, and comes with a mounting kit to help you get it hooked up to our vehicle in no time.

Alternatively, the classic All-Top Recovery Traction Boards are a little under twice the length of the mini at 42". Selling for $102.99, it has an average rating of 4.4 stars from over 320 Amazon buyers. Regardless of which design you choose, each traction board also comes with a two-year warranty, as well as lifetime customer support.

If you're looking for a recovery board with good value for money, the BUNKER INDUST Off-Road Traction Board is one of the most durable items on this list. With each pair weighing around 13 lbs, it's a little bit on the heavy side when it comes to weight. However, apart from being able to carry up to 10 tons, Bunker Indust mentions being able to bend up to 120° without any problems. In addition, it also has ergonomic side handles that you can use for easy handling with its accompanying leashes.

Priced at $87.99 for a pair, over a thousand Amazon users have given this off-road traction board an average of 4.7 stars. While its carrying bag only comes in the standard black and orange case, it is available in six other colors, including black, red, blue, and orange. Although, you might want to consider getting a bundle for $125.99, which includes a rooftop mounting kit and lock.

Despite its relatively affordable price point, it has an added jack base in the center, which you can use to lift the board higher when stuck on surfaces that tend to sink. If this is a common problem for you, the company also sells bundles that include a 48" Offroad Jack for $198.99.

Measuring 41.7" by 12.2", each X-Bull Recovery Board comes with a mount for your car's roof rack if you don't have space for it inside your vehicle. X-Bull mentions that it can carry an estimated ten tons and bend up to 90 degrees. Available in nine colors, a pair of X-Bull traction mats weigh about 11.2 lb and utilize cross-shaped teeth to help give your car a stable surface to grip. Designed to work in extreme temperatures from -4°F to 140°F, you can use it everywhere, from driving through the summer mud to slippery winter snow. On Amazon, the 3rd Generation X-Bull Recovery Board has an average rating of 4.5 stars from over 3,200 reviewers. Priced at $107.90, it also comes with a black and red X-Bull carrying case and although it's not the cheapest item on this list, it does have a lifetime service guarantee.

Previously, some reviewers did mention problems of the board breaking after a single use, but in general, most users thought it delivered what it promised, with more than 70% of buyers giving it an average rating of five stars. One reviewer mentioned that they use it for multiple reveries regularly without any issues. However, they did caution that the board did lose some of its color after repeated use, despite the supposed fade-resistant material.

If you want to support American brands, the Rhino USA Recovery Traction Boards will cost you $149.90 for a set of two recovery boards, along with a lifetime replacement program. On Amazon, it is available in six colors and comes with a pair of retrieval leashes and a storage bag. In tandem with reinforced nylon, it has extra knobs that make it suitable for different terrain, like mud, snow, and sand. Weighing around 12 lbs, the Rhino recovery boards strike in the middle when it comes to weight. With an average rating of 4.7 stars from over 200 users, it has also been noted by Amazon that most people who buy it, tend to keep it.  

Apart from being able to support ten tons of weight, Rhino mentions that they can be stacked up and used when crossing areas like ravines. Similar to other options on this list, it also offers an off-road jack base for those moments wherein you are extra stuck. But if you want to cover all your bases, you can even get the Rhino Recovery Tow Strap for as low as $36.90, which you can use to help pull out other stuck cars as well. On Amazon, this tow strap is available in five colors and sizes and nets an average rating of 4.8 stars from more than 9,600 customers.

For drivers with huge vehicles, the Jumbo-sized Maxsa Escaper Buddy Traction Mat might be what you need. Retailing for $255.56 on Amazon, the Maxsa Escaper Buddy has the largest surface area among the recovery boards on this list, which explains why it's also the most expensive. Measuring 59" on its longest side, Maxsa mentions that it can work effectively even with large vehicles, including RVs and trucks. With its tapered ends, it also works as a shovel if you can handle the combined weight of 30 lbs. However, one of the downsides is that it's only available in orange, and you'll need to pay for the mounting system separately, which will cost you another $103.39.

For owners of smaller cars, a pair of its Heavy Duty Escaper Buddy can also do the job for less than half the price, plus it has two added color options of olive drab and coyote brown. On the other hand, Maxsa also offers other traction boards, such as the Connectable Traction Board, which goes for $158.10, and the Metal Gripped Escaper Buddy for $183.27. Collectively, the Maxsa recovery board variants have garnered an average of 4.6 stars from over a thousand Amazon users. Among the options listed, the Maxsa Escaper Buddy Traction Mats can take the most heat. In fact, it shares that some of its products can work up to 212°F.

To select the recovery boards for this list, we first looked at the highest-selling recovery board products for cars on Amazon. Next, we checked for options that have been rated more than four stars by at least a hundred reviews. In general, we also took note of other things that come out of the box, such as mounting kits, leashes, and carrying bags. We also included whether they have any known lifetime replacement or repair policies.

In addition, we listed options that range from compact sizes to larger options for drivers of cars with bigger wheels. While it didn't affect their rankings, we also shared recovery boards that could be used in tandem with lifts for more difficult recovery needs, as well as those that have been tested to work in extreme temperatures. However, it's important to note that while recovery boards can be useful tools for getting past slippery situations, learning to drive safely on difficult terrain is the other part of the equation. So, once you buy the right recovery board for your off-road needs, you can check out our tips for winter driving as well.