Does anyone not use foot straps?
I am looking at a board that has no strap holes and wondering if I should get the builder to insert some or I will be fine without?

Thanks

You will be fine without.. unless you want to jump.

Yep I have been winging for over a year and never used them I very rarely used them in 14 years of Kiting either, I just prefer to be freer.

Having said that I may get them on my next board which will no doubt be a lot smaller because I might like the jumping option.

If you don't plan to jump it, you don't need them.

Prefer free feet. Feels better.

They are not needed for pumping a wing board.

You're adding a failure leak point.

so what about for just riding in the surf, would straps help even if you dont plan on jumping?

I do not use straps but they help in many ways. Feet in right place every time, stability, turning on waves, hitting the white water, pumping and jumps. will never use full straps due to trashing my right knee due to straps kiting. Have just bought some DaKine cobra half straps to see how they go.

After doing plenty of boosting with a kite over the years, and checking the footage of people who are jumping wing foils, I have decided for me it is not going to be a sport for jumping.

As It looks like there is to much swing weight below, you really don't go that high, landing is difficult and problematic and there is probably a fair degree of risk with hitting or damaging the foil when the landing goes wrong.

So this is good, as it means no straps and therefore you have much more freedom to move around the board and put the weight exactly where it is needed.

How about for learning stages of wing foiling for us non sailor types, in less than ideal conditions, do straps provide any advantage? Or is there any particular stage you should use a strap temporally for quicker progression?
How about when not on foil (which is most of the time for me) i find my feet all over the board with my main focus on going upwind can straps help at all when not on foil?

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Fishdude said..
How about for learning stages of wing foiling for us non sailor types, in less than ideal conditions, do straps provide any advantage? Or is there any particular stage you should use a strap temporally for quicker progression?
How about when not on foil (which is most of the time for me) i find my feet all over the board with my main focus on going upwind can straps help at all when not on foil?

I would recommend not using straps in the early stages of learning and I don't think they help when not on the foil or going upwind.

Select to expand quote

Fishdude said..
How about for learning stages of wing foiling for us non sailor types, in less than ideal conditions, do straps provide any advantage? Or is there any particular stage you should use a strap temporally for quicker progression?
How about when not on foil (which is most of the time for me) i find my feet all over the board with my main focus on going upwind can straps help at all when not on foil?

My opinion....

Foot straps will be a distraction when you are initially learning and will not provide any additional benefit in going upwind.

After you have experience riding strapless and have sorted your feet position with regard to the foil, go back and try straps. The first thing you will end up doing is adjusting your foil position so it works with the rigid foot positions cause by the straps.

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bigtone667 said.. The first thing you will end up doing is adjusting your foil position so it works with the rigid foot positions cause by the straps.

I will go the other way and put the straps where my feet go strapless. Got 6 holes so lots of options. Looking down the other day it was 3rd hole back from front.

Select to expand quote

Fishdude said..
How about for learning stages of wing foiling for us non sailor types, in less than ideal conditions, do straps provide any advantage? Or is there any particular stage you should use a strap temporally for quicker progression?
How about when not on foil (which is most of the time for me) i find my feet all over the board with my main focus on going upwind can straps help at all when not on foil?

I tried a front strap when learning but quickly learned it was dangerous particularly when gybing. I had a couple of falls where my foot got stuck and was lucky to escape injury to both my foot and to my body contacting the foil.

If you have to get out though the surf line you need a front foot strap on to control the board. You can't hang onto the board under your arm or by the bottom handle when a wave hits.

Same if you are out in the break and fall off riding and the one behind is going to get you. You have to grab the handle to take the hit and control the board to protect yourself from the foil.

Otherwise in flat water your don't need them.

There's lots of good reasons to have or to use straps. Even if you have them there's no reason why you have to put your feet in them. In fact, one of the most important things in being successful at foiling is being able to walk around the deck while on the foil.

If you can't foil without having your feet locked in that one special place then chances are you're using only part of the capability of the foil.

Another thing is that possibly the most important skill in foiling is the ability to trim the foil instantly and by feel. You can do that by moving your head and shoulders, or hips, or by moving your feet. Once you can do that intuitively you'll be able to handle anything that happens while riding.

It's possible on shorter board that you can get away with your feet locked into one place. On longer boards you can get a huge benefit from small movements of your feet.