Recently bought a 12'6 X 30 Fanatic and I am going to buy a coil leggie for it.
There seems to be two main types. One type has the coil all the way from the cuff to the railsaver, the other has two straight sections with a smaller coil section in the middle.
The other question is knee or ankle fitting. I tried using a knee style when I used a mal for a while but never liked it(probably from 20 years of ankle style leggies). does the Knee style have benefits when downwinding.
What do people use/ recommend/ would get next time

thanks

I recommend the Balin half straight and half coiled leggie with a knee cuff.. You'll never step on it and it won't drag in the water.

DJ

I am a big fan of coiled leggies for racing and downwinders.
Coiled ones dont get snagged by over paddlers mid race (yes I have seen this happen and have possibly snagged someone leash mid race my self, sorry Pete.) and they dont cause drag in the water.
I like the knee fitting as it leaves less chance of standing on it when you walk around the board and the knee style keeps it further from the water as well.
Hope my 2 cents assists.

You can use the all coil on a 12'6" and maybe a 14' but not anything longer. It doesn't stretch that far comfortably and also you have to be aware of the recoil when you fall in. You don't want a board coming back at your face really fast as you surface.

Knee or ankle? Certainly the ankle is more comfortable but you are more likely to step on it if you need to step back. The only thing wrong with the knee type is if you spend time paddling on your knees (which hopefully you're not doing anyway).

There's a new style of leggie that I acquired recently, I think it's FCS and it has a fabric strap between the rail saver and the cord/coil that is extendable or retractable. Great idea in theory but trust me, you don't want to have that strap wrapped around your fin in the middle of a race and not realise.

I've used both the Balin half coil and the full coil and I prefer the full coil. With the half straight/half coil I found myself stepping on it, or it dragging a little when i'm right at the back of the board (but I always wear it on my ankle - maybe it's not so much a problem around the knee?), but I've never had the same problem with the full coil.

Thanks all for the replies.
DJ, I researched your old topics about the Balin half and half leash and it looks the goods. It's called the "SUP monster coil" in their catalogue. I also did a big search on standupzone and found lots more info.

The FCS with the adjustable railsaver looks like a great idea. If I had two different length boards it would be my choice, but I think I'll go with the Balin one.

I also think I'll go with the knee version. If I don't like it I can put it around the ankle anyway. I could do this with my mal leggie, it will just depend on how the velcro is positioned.


Cheers

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Flaker said...

Thanks all for the replies.
DJ, I researched your old topics about the Balin half and half leash and it looks the goods. It's called the "SUP monster coil" in their catalogue. I also did a big search on standupzone and found lots more info.

The FCS with the adjustable railsaver looks like a great idea. If I had two different length boards it would be my choice, but I think I'll go with the Balin one.

I also think I'll go with the knee version. If I don't like it I can put it around the ankle anyway. I could do this with my mal leggie, it will just depend on how the velcro is positioned.


Cheers

Good idea.. You can put a knee cuff around your ankle but you can't put an ankle cuff around your knee.

DJ

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Ali Cat said...

I've used both the Balin half coil and the full coil and I prefer the full coil. With the half straight/half coil I found myself stepping on it, or it dragging a little when i'm right at the back of the board (but I always wear it on my ankle - maybe it's not so much a problem around the knee?), but I've never had the same problem with the full coil.

Just what I've found Ali Cat, I use the FCS Ankle full coil and never step on it because it's always under tension, but it does make the board 'sproing' back pretty hard when you fall!

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DavidJohn said...

Flaker said...

Thanks all for the replies.
DJ, I researched your old topics about the Balin half and half leash and it looks the goods. It's called the "SUP monster coil" in their catalogue. I also did a big search on standupzone and found lots more info.

The FCS with the adjustable railsaver looks like a great idea. If I had two different length boards it would be my choice, but I think I'll go with the Balin one.

I also think I'll go with the knee version. If I don't like it I can put it around the ankle anyway. I could do this with my mal leggie, it will just depend on how the velcro is positioned.


Cheers

Good idea.. You can put a knee cuff around your ankle but you can't put an ankle cuff around your knee.

DJ

I can.

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PTWoody said...

DavidJohn said...

Good idea.. You can put a knee cuff around your ankle but you can't put an ankle cuff around your knee.

DJ

I can.

me too, all power to the lightweights!!!!

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Blackant said...

PTWoody said...

DavidJohn said...

Good idea.. You can put a knee cuff around your ankle but you can't put an ankle cuff around your knee.

DJ

I can.

me too, all power to the lightweights!!!!

Hmmm, I'll try the ankle one around the knee too. See which one fits best!

I use the 6ft Naish Coil leash - it comes with a warning not suitable for use in surf, but I've taken a few on the head in sizable surf with my 14' with no issues so far. It always stay on top of board and I've never once stepped on it - it's an angle leash.

The only issue I've had is that it has on a number of occasions snagged around fin when remounting after a fall...then you have to jump back in and undo it which really sucks if you are in a race situation + it's too short for running starts......but I'd add a little extender if I ever had to run.

buy a cheap boogie leash, undo the swivel and attach to a snapped short board leggie.

made a coil leash identical to a SUP coil leash but guess what????

it didn't cost $65...

winner..

Your leggie is probably the single most important piece of safety gear you need for downwinding. I would not recommend skimping on this to save a few bucks, unless you really know what you are doing when you make one up. Iv'e got one of the early full coil ankle ones but would swap over to the knee strap type any day.

After reading about DJs Port Phillip bay "adventure" with his modified leggie, I will gladly pay for the real thing.

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Flaker said...

After reading about DJs Port Phillip bay "adventure" with his modified leggie, I will gladly pay for the real thing.

Yes, its important that we learn from the mistakes that have been made in the past and make sure we dont repeat them. In the early days we didnt use leggies on downwinders but soon learn that that that was not a good idea.

Lets keep things safe and encourage people to keep on using good leggies out there.

Here is one I develloped for SUPs

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doggie said...

Here is one I develloped for SUPs

Is that "fanatic fly" red?

Flaker the BALIN coiled legrope is the go equals no drag retails around $50
Just ask for the Downwind legrope named after