I've been using coil leashes (board to ankle) for a long time but I wind up snapping one or two a season. Typically when I snap a leash its top speed wipeout where the board gets planted and I go flying. chances are the leash has already been knicked by the foil at some point as well. Thinking about trying a 5' uncoiled leash but wondering if I'm going to snap these more without the dampening of the coil? Also, is 5' enough to get the board away from me?
what's working best for others? I know there are some other threads on this but they are very old. Not interested in a waist leash (they always get wrapped around my leg or between my legs).

Have used this on the leg as well as attached to my harness for 2+ years and I've never broken it.

www.surffcs.com/products/fcs-sup-ankle-essential-leash?variant=8472912953405

7' is a long leash. Does it drag?

If you do it as an ankle it slaps a bit from time to time. That's why I switched it to the back of my harness. I found the 1/2 coil doesn't get tangled on my leg like you mentioned (which was a problem for me with full coil too). I've only been hit by my board once with this setup but it was a bit of a fluky thing involving weeds and getting tossed over the nose and then the board ran me over.

I've never used a leash and I've literally never had a problem with it. Now that I ride strapped I super extra don't need a leash. on the very rare occasion I'm separated from the board at all It's very easy to body drag down wind to collect your board.

Thats impressive, but not for me. I've ridden without a leash when mine broke and found myself chasing my board, or having my board get rolled in waves and washed up. I ride more conservatively when I don't have a leash to avoid those situations. Maybe I just fall too much!

In the gorge I'm always impressed by the guys who ride without leashes. Swell carries the board one direction, current pulls your body the opposite! I was demo'ing a board and the shopkid tied the leash knot super loose. First time I fell in the water the board was gone. Tried everything to retrieve it and failed. Fortunately it washed up and got returned a few days later.

I made myself a hybrid leash about a year ago, a 4' boogie coiled leash attached to a calf longboard cuff and 4' of bungeed dyneema braid at the board end (basically the same as the Kaohi inviz).

By far the best leash I've had, it's so light with the dyneema and the coiled part just sort of dangles next to my calf that I barely notice it and it hardly ever tangles.
I used to go leashless unless I was in the surf at my local spot that's all rocks and cliffs on the inside, but now I always wear the leash.

If you are in the surf, an 8-10' leash is nice because your board and foil won't flop around right next to your wing during a whitewater rinse. I've been worked by some sizeable sets where both board and wing got away from me and did not shred my wing thanks to a short wing leash and a long board leash.

Made my own "Inviz" leash as well though I'd just buy the Kaohi next time. It's a lot of hours to do a good job.

The only downside I find is the dyneema has a tendency to tangle more easily with your feet when on your knees. Inevitably it ends up between my toes.

"Not interested in a waist leash (they always get wrapped around my leg or between my legs)."

After using the ankle leash for 2 years, I was the same up until 6 months ago. Now onto waist leash and wouldn't go back. Yes, I too had the leash between my legs, but when I remount after crashing, I just make sure the leash is hanging on the outside of either the left or right leg and there are no problems.
Not to mention never having the leash wrap around my foot ever again. Swings and roundabouts I suppose.

Leashes are definitely the weak point in winging. I am constantly trying new stuff and still haven't a setup i like. Currently using a bungy waist leash for the board and a coil wrist leash for the wing. Always have to sort things out in the water before getting on the board and again on the board before standing.

In addition to the waist leash wrapping my leg or going between my legs, I also just don't like having both wing leash and waist leash attached to my harness. I do like the waist leash for my wing. I've found keeping board and wing separated generally eliminates tangles, and complications and keeps the gear spread apart more. So I'm pretty set on sticking to the ankle for my board, but still searching for the ideal leash. I have an Inviz leash for my DW board, maybe I'll try it on the wing setup to see how I like that.

Calf is a better choice than ankle. Keeps the leash out of the water and gives some separation from your feet.

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Thatspec said..
Made my own "Inviz" leash as well though I'd just buy the Kaohi next time. It's a lot of hours to do a good job.

The only downside I find is the dyneema has a tendency to tangle more easily with your feet when on your knees. Inevitably it ends up between my toes.

I don't have that issue, are you using a calf cuff? I used waist and ankle attachments before and found the calf tangles a lot less. Might depend on board and leash plug position, I'm on a ML or DW board with the leash plug at the tail so the dyneema part is normally stretched away from my feet

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jdfoils said..
Calf is a better choice than ankle. Keeps the leash out of the water and gives some separation from your feet.

Agreed, calf has the least tangles of anything I've tried

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JonahL said..

Thatspec said..
Made my own "Inviz" leash as well though I'd just buy the Kaohi next time. It's a lot of hours to do a good job.

The only downside I find is the dyneema has a tendency to tangle more easily with your feet when on your knees. Inevitably it ends up between my toes.

I don't have that issue, are you using a calf cuff? I used waist and ankle attachments before and found the calf tangles a lot less. Might depend on board and leash plug position, I'm on a ML or DW board with the leash plug at the tail so the dyneema part is normally stretched away from my feet

No, it's attached to the right side of my waist and I'm regular footed. I'd say it's a little over 6' fully stretched out. Calf cuff is going to drag in the water which is at least a psychological no go for me. The whole reason for the dyneema in the lower part was of course to eliminate the constant slapping of the urethane cord and swivel against the board while pumping and that has at least been solved. I think I'm at best case scenario with it unfortunately.

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Velocicraptor said..
In addition to the waist leash wrapping my leg or going between my legs, I also just don't like having both wing leash and waist leash attached to my harness. I do like the waist leash for my wing. I've found keeping board and wing separated generally eliminates tangles, and complications and keeps the gear spread apart more. So I'm pretty set on sticking to the ankle for my board, but still searching for the ideal leash. I have an Inviz leash for my DW board, maybe I'll try it on the wing setup to see how I like that.

Ahhh, there's the rub...I like my wing leash on my wrist :-)

It would be rubbish if we were all the same. Wouldn't make for a very interesting world.

re: everything on the waist

That's how I have everything and I don't have tangle issues. However.. I did have a waist belt failure in the surf once and it sucked to suddenly lose everything. I use a lot more robust waist systems now but that is a danger for sure.

I think as with all things you get used to your own system and get good at using it.

I find tacks difficult with the wing on a waist leash, gone back to the wrist.

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airsail said..
I find tacks difficult with the wing on a waist leash, gone back to the wrist.

I have my wing on a slider on the harness behind my back. Can pre-wrap myself for a tack (or post unwrap). I also often have to swim out through shorebreak and the wrist leash is a no-go for the paddle out.

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Thatspec said..

JonahL said..

Thatspec said..
Made my own "Inviz" leash as well though I'd just buy the Kaohi next time. It's a lot of hours to do a good job.

The only downside I find is the dyneema has a tendency to tangle more easily with your feet when on your knees. Inevitably it ends up between my toes.

I don't have that issue, are you using a calf cuff? I used waist and ankle attachments before and found the calf tangles a lot less. Might depend on board and leash plug position, I'm on a ML or DW board with the leash plug at the tail so the dyneema part is normally stretched away from my feet

No, it's attached to the right side of my waist and I'm regular footed. I'd say it's a little over 6' fully stretched out. Calf cuff is going to drag in the water which is at least a psychological no go for me. The whole reason for the dyneema in the lower part was of course to eliminate the constant slapping of the urethane cord and swivel against the board while pumping and that has at least been solved. I think I'm at best case scenario with it unfortunately.

Mine stays nice and tidy behind my back leg, but again all my boards have some tail length that stretches it out a bit. Mine is also made from a 5.5mm coiled section so it's very light and stays coiled up. I just tried a new one that I made from a 7mm coiled section and does not have the standoff horn on the cuff. It's fine but did feel a little sloppier than the lighter one.. not sure if it's the extra weight of the 7mm or the lack of a horn

Another all on the waist user here.
I'm also a believer in using a harness and have been for at least three years, so I attach both my leashes to the waist harness.
I use a bungee style for both, I'm not a fan of the coiled (and in the past I used a coiled calf leash and many moons ago, a quest leash). For the board I use a quick release attached to the harness so that I can release it in waves if I have to (I've never had to, a friend recently ran into trouble in the waves so it's a thing)
As others have said, if you want ever need to paddle out through waves as we regularly do, this approach is best. A wrist leash attached to a wing is like an anchor paddling through waves.
I have no issues tacking and gybing and 360s, in fact I find I just forget about the leashes.

Board release is a good idea, i also use one. Getting rolled in the shore break leashed to a foil is definitely a nightmare scenario.

No leash and a good board recovery technique is the ideal answer for me.. but yeah recovering an upwind board is not easy..

I use something like this retractable leash, attached to my waist. It never drags and seldom tangles. Better than anything else I've tried.
supboardermag.com/eqplus_guide/blue-planet-retractable-foil-waist-leash-with-shock-cord-2022/

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choosywinger said..
I use something like this retractable leash, attached to my waist. It never drags and seldom tangles. Better than anything else I've tried.
supboardermag.com/eqplus_guide/blue-planet-retractable-foil-waist-leash-with-shock-cord-2022/

Same thing as an Oceanus Eel retractable leash, which works great. It'd be good to add a quick release to the waist belt (if not already present) just in case of getting tangled and dragged in surf, and I also find a break-free link onto the board is good to have if you ever get really catapulted beyond the 3m or so extent of the leash.

I've used Dakine PROCOMP 5' X 3/16" SURF LEASH for years now both prone, SUP and wing. They last about a year before I replace. Winging I attach to my harness. Parawing, SUP and prone on the ankle. 5' feels like more than enough length. I think these thin leashes are fine until you're in big powerful waves than I'd size up.

This is the new Blue Planet retracting leash belt/ wing foil harness system:

Waist leash only. Board leash on the right, being regular, and wing leash on the left. Using the Kaohi Inviz leash now for a month. Pretty damn perfect length and no more leash between the legs problems. No info on durability but looks good so far. riding without a leash is, depending on the area you're surfing, pretty anti social in my opinion.

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blueplanetsurf said..
This is the new Blue Planet retracting leash belt/ wing foil harness system:

Great job Robert.. That looks awesome..

Hopefully some shops here start selling it..

Hopefully they upgraded the reel, I've had one blow up and seen a few others do the same. Too bad since it's brilliant to use.