How long surfboard leash
PS—make sure you can swim! On occasion surfboard leashes will get tangled around something on the sea floor, such as a reef protrusion. You should be able to easily take off your leash with one hand in one motion.
Surfboard leashes do not give you a license to ditch your board all the time. When you let go of your board it is capable of seriously injuring or dinging the boards of anyone in your vicinity.
You better check behind you before you do this. If nobody is around you, you can take the risk. Just beware that surfboards are heavy, and leashes are elastic. That brings us to our next warning:.
Surfboard leashes can and will cause the board to rubber-band back at you, hitting you in the face. If the leash is pulled to its limit, sometimes the board will come shooting back at you fins first. This is not a good situation! When you surface for air, try to get into the habit of shielding your head with your arms. I would also advise against trying to hold onto the leash with your hands in medium to large waves.
This is a good way to hurt your fingers. Comp or competition surfboard leashes are thinner than normal, and are designed for surfing in competitions where leash breakage is not as important as decreasing the drag incurred by the leash. There are several brands of surfboard leashes out there, but I would invest a couple extra dollars and get a well constructed one. Dakine and FCS make great leashes.
Check the leash to see if it is well stitched and the ankle part looks comfy. Also check to make sure the leash has swivel points where the cuff connects to the leash and where the leash connects to the rail saver. This helps reduce tangling. Typically speaking, the thicker the leash cord, the sturdier and stronger it is making it harder to break. However, the thicker the cord, the more drag it will create in the water and slow you down.
General rule: Go as long as your board length. Leash lengths range from 5ft to 12ft and are not a one fits all solution. The right leash for your board depends on the length of your board and your surfing level. A general rule when choosing your surfboard leash is that it should be the same length or slightly longer if your board is in-between sizes as the board its being used on.
For example, if your surfboard is 6'0, use a 6'0 leash. If it's 6'6 Surfboard, grab a 7'0 Leash. Beginners , you may like to ride with a little bit bigger leash just so you're a little further away from your board when taking beatings is more of an occurrence than actually surfing.
BUT don't go more than 1ft bigger than your board as your fellow surfers might hate you when they get your board in their teeth. Also, don't go too short, you might get a nice head bruise when you fall off and the board rebounds straight back at you. If you're an advanced Surfer, it can be nice to go shorter to reduce drag on those smaller days.
Surfing bigger waves? Grab a bigger leash. You want that board as far away from you as possible without having to haul in an anchor. Basically, the thicker your leash, the stronger it is but the more drag you will incur.
The collection of surf leashes ranges from shortboard to longboard they are lightweight performance surf leashes ideal for all waves types. Sympl are taking the surf industry into new territory with an incredible range of products and an environmental ethos unrivalled in the surfing world.
With leashes that are both durable and comfortable in a wide range of conditions from 1 — 10ft, these leashes really are the business, super comfortable neoprene cuff, stainless steel double swivels and a triple wrap rail saver. The leash also comes with a branded leash string and a key pocket……. The Sympl Re-Leash surfboard leash is functional, well designed and guarantees performance, another team favourite.
When we decided to work with Sympl the key factor was the environmental element to what they do……….. Sympl is the future. The epic Dakine Kaimana Leash is now available in pro comp and team versions this leash is set to be another game changer in the Dakine range of leashes. The Kaimana surf leash offers increased durability, comfort and performance. The Dura-Cord is refined for reduced drag without compromising on strength. The low-profile ankle cuff conforms to the shape of your ankle for a zero-distraction fit.
As always with Dakine every aspect of this leash has been detailed for maximum performance. Patent-pending Zero Distraction ankle cuff with ergonomic base plate reduces bulk and conforms to the ankle. A new take on the width and the weight of the cord, and materials used in the ankle strap and rail saver means this is as light as it gets, less weight equals better performance of course.
This new Slimline leash design has improved stretch and memory retention. The Slimline Lightweight Comp One Piece leash has a 6mm urethane cord, stainless steel swivels, neoprene padded ankle cuff and a webbing rail saver.
The Sympl Standard Pro surfboard leash is an absolute Banger and super comfy to boot. These leashes are made from post consumer plastic bottles.
I agree with "Shred" up above about having the right swivel. Rust is a real thing ladies and gentleman. Without a good quality leash with stainless steel parts, your leash will get rusted and could very well break.
I recommend getting a dakine, or even a Prolite leash. I have had both but decided to strictly stick with Prolite due to their durability.
I bought a 5'6" leash meant for a 5'3" board. I got a 6' board instead Is that too short? Picking a high quality leash is key and the best surfboard insurance for the money. Trusting your expensive surfboard to a cheap aftermarket brand just isn't an option. No cheap no name brand surfboard leashes for me. Personally I have stuck with the FCS surfboard leashes for years and have never been disappointed.
Keep in mind that if you use a leash long enough it will break. So make sure to take a minute to check you leash for wear and replace as necessary. And always carry an extra surfboard leash or two along with your surf gear.
JD shredfactor. I've never had a leash rust. All of mine have have had brass swivels. They get corrosion on them and I try to keep them oiled. I've never had a leash with stainless steel swivels but that should eliminate the corrosion problem.