So I bought an Outer Reef 8 as recommended by the sales guy when I got my 8 footer. Over the course of the last six months or so there have been a few waves that have stretched that leggie. He last one was a fortnight ago up north when it really felt like it was about to ping. I have broken a leggie up there and the swim is ugly.

Anyway, when I was ordering my a new board last week I mentioned I wasn't impressed by his recommendation and he pulled out a new one and compared it. Noticeably thinner and a foot longer than original. So he replaced the old with the new on the spot. I was happy to get a longer one - I was dying off the Outer Reef 12 - but he is adamant the 8 is long enough and suggested the urethane had come from the end of a run.

i have no idea. Does this sound feasible or should I retire the 8 to one of my smaller boards and get the big kahuna? I use my 8 footer in 5-8 foot waves.

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thedrip said..
So I bought an Outer Reef 8 as recommended by the sales guy when I got my 8 footer. Over the course of the last six months or so there have been a few waves that have stretched that leggie. He last one was a fortnight ago up north when it really felt like it was about to ping. I have broken a leggie up there and the swim is ugly.

Anyway, when I was ordering my a new board last week I mentioned I wasn't impressed by his recommendation and he pulled out a new one and compared it. Noticeably thinner and a foot longer than original. So he replaced the old with the new on the spot. I was happy to get a longer one - I was dying off the Outer Reef 12 - but he is adamant the 8 is long enough and suggested the urethane had come from the end of a run.

i have no idea. Does this sound feasible or should I retire the 8 to one of my smaller boards and get the big kahuna? I use my 8 footer in 5-8 foot waves.

Leg ropes inevitably stretch in bigger surf. The sales guy was generous in giving you a new one- good service!

All leggies stretch some faster than others,I'm a fan of O&E The One,they too have stretched overtime.

If your not nose riding you can drop a foot from your board length.

I think the SW is just one of those places that is really hard on leg ropes. I broke more leggies in the 5 years I lived there than the rest of my surfing life combined.

I really think that if you have to dive off the front...you need a few feet before the board starts to follow you...can't be far enough away from them in serious waves I reckon....go long.

I tend to change mine every year to avoid breaking them. I kept one a bit longer than that on a back up board this year and paid for it dearly when it snapped on me and had to swim in over a shallow reef with an outgoing tide and got mauled. Big fan of the the O&E leggies as a general rule. Broken one only in the last 5 years - but I do make a point of buying three new ones every year on the same day - birthday present to myself !

Never broken a long board leggie - but never really surfed them enough to do so.

Yeah it was great service. May as well give a shout out as I always get great service from Yahoo Surfshop in Dunsborough.

Arkgee, your right. I use to always buy the thickest leggies I could find and get them between 8 and 9 feet for my 6'6" boards. I've never owned a comp leggie in my life as I hate swimming for boards. I blew a take off at 6-8 foot Gnaraloo a fortnight ago and got pitched - your comments about being as far from the board as possible are right on the money as I remember thinking, "Oh s--t...think flat...where's the board?"

Macaha, that's pretty much what I thought. My experience tells me longer leggies stretch thin less. I just thought he was being generous but still giving me a slightly dodgy leggie.

Ted, I did that for years too. I would buy three new leggies the week before my mid-year up north trip. It's a good idea and I should return to it as I saw it as an insurance policy.

Thanks for the replies guys. It's reminded me of things I used to do that I should return to again. The 8 is going on a 7' board and I will get a bigger leggie for the 8 footer.

Several years ago I pretty much stopped surfing for nearly a coupla years. I'd been living on an island with lots of juice for a while, heavy waves, surfing daily and then moved back metro and got stuck into working lots and saving for a house (again)

Perth pus was doing nothing for my soul, so I just flagged the surf and on it went, got fat and unfit. A while later I caught up with an old mate at a 40th who was living down south and organised to catch up down his way and get wet again. The first day was perfect head and a bit beachies, had a phat time. Got shacked, did hacks, the whole kit and kaboodle.

The next day was a double head plus cobblestone point, waves weren't terribly serious but big enough. Only four out and a lot of water between us, to cut a long story short I got belted, snapped my leggy and discovered how out of shape I really was. Very nearly gave up the ghost at one stage and needed to be helped in by Andy. Inspiring to say the least.

I don't scrimp on leggies and now that I'm getting to be a bit of an old carnt I always take a long, hard look at what I'm about to paddle out in and ask myself
" You wanna swim out of that?"

Perfect Smicko. If you can't swim it, you shouldn't surf it. Leggies don't snap in two foot waves.

Lots of water moves around there and the inside is so friendly and forgiving - coming in must have been easy.

I use the Creatures of Leisure Teahupoo ones....****ing heavy duty...no issues so far....now that I have said that I should probably prepare to swim

DaKine leggies are the go for me, find the quality on the ankle strap much better than a lot of the other makes. I guess they are all much of a muchness though and from time to time there is bound to be one or two in a batch where the urethane is weaker/sub standard. Guess you can't tell until it breaks.

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Tux said...
I use the Creatures of Leisure Teahupoo ones....****ing heavy duty...no issues so far....now that I have said that I should probably prepare to swim

You are doomed.

I've snapped plenty riding the barge

SUP leggies are good if you are surfing a heavier longboard in bigger waves- thicker urethane.

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DaveBasher said...
SUP leggies are good if you are surfing a heavier longboard in bigger waves- thicker urethane.

As far as I know, the Outer Reef series is the thickest urethane Creatures of Leisure do. 9mm. Then it just becomes degree of length.

I have 12 foot one on my SUP and it seems to be holding up well, buts it's only been tested in four foot waves.

Since i bought my kombi,grew a beard and purchased a beaver tail, i haven't really felt the need for one !

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Prawnhead said..
Since i bought my kombi,grew a beard and purchased a beaver tail, i haven't really felt the need for one !

Sadly the number of bearded leashless log riders is on the increase. Have a shave mate

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thedrip said..

DaveBasher said...
SUP leggies are good if you are surfing a heavier longboard in bigger waves- thicker urethane.

As far as I know, the Outer Reef series is the thickest urethane Creatures of Leisure do. 9mm. Then it just becomes degree of length.

I have 12 foot one on my SUP and it seems to be holding up well, buts it's only been tested in four foot waves.

+1 for 666 leggies,cheap sup leggies do the trick in the big stuff.

if that breaks go the balin storm.

if that breaks,check the back of your fins,,if sharp sand them down a bit.

if they still break,,,never go to chopes,,,,you will find it to small

I always liked creatures lb leggies but they changed the design of the ankle bit and they don't seem to keep it away from your feet as well now.

O&E are good but always found them to wrap around your feet easier.