I switch to footstraps on my Easy Foiler 6' 6" 2 months ago and I am convinced that you get WAY more control with the straps.

It takes about 20 sessions to get comfortable with straps. I have been using old windsurfing straps. They are 'fine' but I am seeing some beefier looking straps on the guys boards from Hawaii.

What are the preferred straps?

I assume the newer ones will hold their shape better under pressure.

If you are NOT convinced that Straps are the way to go for High Performance I present:

1) Austin Kalama
2) Watch how many of these guys are competing Without Straps (Hint: ZERO!)

Noting that they are high performance riders, from a beginners prospective at what wave high/energy would they consider not using straps
Specially @ 1.53 and locked in.

Give yourself 6 months NO straps. Then consider them.

When learning it's probably best on a bigger board free feet.

My advice on straps, based on decades of windsurfing without any ankle injury:

- the more rigid the better. But try to use regular sized ones, not the wide ones. Also simpler straps are lighter. Be wary of wide straps that tend to twist more (added leverage on the side)

- have some way to prevent them to rotate around the screws. The best solution would be to have 2 screws per tip, as with sailboards, but no SUP board use them. So use steel plates with teeth and screw hard,such as: www.24-7boardsports.com/starboard-footstap-anti-twist-washer/
DaKine has some anti-twist system with plastic plates above and below the strap, but I find them a hazard for the toes.

- Be aware that the pad will compress with time, so you should check the screws before each session. There should be absolutely no rotation of the straps around the screw.

- the foot must slip in, and especially out, very easily. This means your foot must not get in too deep. Ideally the junction between the toes and the foot should be protuding by 1/2" - 1" max on the other side. Too little and you will not control anything, too far and you may not get out easily.

- The pad grip will tend to keep your foot in, especially soft pads where it will "sink in". This means we must avoid having the strap pressing downwards, locking the foot into the pad. The solutions can be to use an incompressible pad (hexatraction),or have the strap push more on the sides of the foot than on the top: this means have very narrow straps that block the foot more than the side than the top. It will also help the foot rotate on its side on wipeouts and get out easily.

There is a common misconception that a wide, open strap is safer. It is the opposite.

Boots are a pain with straps. Try not to use ones with grippy soles, or you wont get out. Straps on top on the boot may also lock the foot in it.

Some images:

Wide open straps like these below are extremely dangerous: the solution is to use closer screw holes: ( plus they seem to twist)



This is excellent :-) narrow straps with a very round opening. Note the pool noodle bits to keep their shape between sessions:
(The front strap has not enough angle in this photo, I added some more since then for more comfortable paddling)




This is bad: you can see they are not screwed tight enough, or the screw plate is not rigid enough: the strap twists:

Using straps makes learning much, much more easier.
- it puts your feet at the proper place, especially the front one
- it avoids falling on the foil
- it is very reassuring when you get to high speeds, as it will warn you of a wipeout in advance

I can seen however that I may remove them when I get better, to enjoy a more natural and free feel, even though I will lose control in turns.

Just about any surf straps from kiteboarding companies will do, or slimline straps from windsurfing are fine.

I particularly like Dakine Contour or Slim straps. Use the twist control thingies to fix them nice and solid. A single screw and washer will work, but the ends twist a bit.

www.dakine.com/collections/windsurf-accessories
If you look closely at the first picture in the thread the straps are Dakine (you can read the name upside down). I'd be betting they're just old windsurf straps they had lying around.

I put rubber balls into the straps to stop them being crushed in the board bag. It's not strictly necessary. They will come back a bit once they get wet and you wedge your feet in. It's just annoying having wonky crushed straps and it can sometimes be hard to get your feet in quickly.

Not a fan of adjustable straps. They're too thick and bulky. It's easier to simply change screw holes.

Select to expand quote

colas said..

- it avoids falling on the foil

Very informative but still debatable if "locked in" @ 1.53
Thanks

Select to expand quote

kitenow said.. colas said..

- it avoids falling on the foil . . . . Very informative but still debatable if "locked in" @ 1.53

Thanks

It DOES Prevent falling on the foil: Agree!

I will add that I too come from 30+ years of windsurfing background. Comfortable wave sailing in Mast High condition, doing forward loops . . . High performance windsurfing was impossible without straps. The "Strapped Crew" e.g. Laird, Dave Kalama & Company figured out that high-performance Tow-In surfing was impossible without straps.

I am learning that there are HUGE advantages to having straps in Small waves but I understand the fear of getting stuck in the straps mostly in bigger stuff.

Then there is this example of Kai. When pushing the limits in Big Waves he is in Straps:

Dave Kalama's perspective 5 months ago.

Given the performance he/they demonstrated at the China Uemura surf competition I think he is being too 'gentle' with his verbal advocacy.

Follow their feet:

Select to expand quote

Beasho said..

kitenow said.. colas said..

- it avoids falling on the foil . . . . Very informative but still debatable if "locked in" @ 1.53

Thanks

It DOES Prevent falling on the foil: Agree!

As a beginner but with surfcraft experience. I still feel concern if the right hand board rail grabs and bury's on the wave face @ 1.53
I'll go with Dave Kalama comment @ 1.20 for now
Thanks again

Select to expand quote

kitenow said..
Very informative but still debatable if "locked in" @ 1.53

The only dangerous situation is if you fall on your back and fold your kees completely, basically doing a layback turn, like:

In this situation, once your back hits the water, its pushes your body against the back leg which, being totally folded, has no room to move the foot, and the board is locked flat by the foil. This is also why using only the front strap is a good solution: it is only the back foot that can get locked under the body weigth.

But it never happens if you bail out as soon as you feel you are losing it, which is the golden rule of foiling: you cannot recover when you start to fall, and the danger awaits you if you try.

Beleive me, the rider has no risk @ 1.53 in the video: you can see that he bails out as soon as he loses balances, and has still plenty of room to flex more his back knee to get out.

Kitefoiling with straps is much more dangerous, as the power of the sail can pull from a very wide range of angles and lock you in the straps.

In my experience, the danger is not at high speeds, but at low speeds when you cannot tap into the kinetic energy to get out. A bit like most serious injuries while skiing is falling while stopped or at very low speeds.

Select to expand quote

colas said..

kitenow said..
Very informative but still debatable if "locked in" @ 1.53

The only dangerous situation is if you fall on your back and fold your kees completely, basically doing a layback turn, like:






Kitefoiling with straps is much more dangerous, as the power of the sail can pull from a very wide range of angles and lock you in the straps.

Agree,
Good thread, beginners coming through the ranks can make informed choices in this young sport

Cheers

Still No Answer on WHAT TYPE OF FOOT-STRAP TO BUY?

Meanwhile this guy was Significantly ahead of his time:

Blast from the Windsurfing past and advocate for Foot-Straps on SUP's: Mickey Eskimo