Bodyboard Leash Guides & FAQs
(Frequently Asked Questions)
You don’t need a leash do you?
Well….yeah, you really do! Ever try losing your board in 10ft surf? It’s no fun
getting it back, we promise. A leash is potentially a life saver if the waves
are coming in quickly and you need something buoyant to hold onto when you’re
exhausted. So when it’s all said and done, you need the best leash you can
afford.
How to Wear a Leash
It’s not rocket science, but the
more we pick these things apart the more complicated we can make them, but
we’re going to make it simple for you.
Wear the cuff with the leash
going straight to the plug. The leash will stay out of your way and will stay out
of the water like this, thereby creating less drag when you are paddling.
Simple?
Below we’ve listed the main
components of the leash, their purpose, and what to look for when buying one.
Plugs
Leashes will come with a durable
plug, for the most part. It’s important to make sure your plug has a flat head
on it so you can bang your head of it without causing any damage to yourself,
because you it will happen eventually!
When the plug is installed on
the bodyboard, make sure the two pieces are connected and screwed in snugly. It
should be flush with the board, if not you should screw it in more tightly.
The String
This string connects the plug
and the leash. Make sure it’s tied tightly. You can test it by giving it a
swift tug to see if it falls apart. Make sure it’s short too, the shorter the
better.
Leash
Unless you’re buying a lower end
model bodyboard, most leashes will be coiled in order to keep you from getting
tangled up in the middle of a wave. Generally speaking, a tightly coiled leash
is the best. It’s important to buy a quality leash as you want something that
can be pulled to its limit and again recoil to exactly where it was, you don’t
want something that will stretch out and lose its coil.
Cuffs – Wrist & Bicep
Cuffs should be made of a nice soft material to
prevent blistering and chaffing. Cuffs are generally made of neoprene so there
usually isn’t a problem. The stitching on the straps should be tight and
durable to allow for the wipeouts in big waves. There should be a good amount
of Velcro on the cuff since Velcro tends not to work as well in water and when
sand has gotten on it. More Velcro also allows you to be able to put the cuff
on bigger parts of your arm and will allow you to grow without having to buy a
new size. Most bodyboarders tend to stick with bicep coils as they’re closer to
your body and therefore stay out of your way, but if you’re into Drop Kneeing a
wrist leash might be a better option as the leash will stay closer to the board
and out of your way.
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