Olazz is a big fan of those and has used them in anger. If he says they're good, then trust me they're good. However, a lot of this depends on the application that you want them for. Maxtrax are good for getting unstuck, but you can't use them to bridge ditches, or as a table, or to level a vehicle with etc. Waffle boards, though, have limited success with getting unstuck in those wheel-deep situations. They are not as grippy as a Trax. It's a bit of a toss up. I use waffles as I have front and rear winches plus a ground anchor system. If I was going to do a desert trip, I'd probably take Trax
Chris