The three best surfing leashes.
There are a lot of surfing leashes on the market today. We at Calibunga Surf Lessons have tried most of the major brands and the fact of the matter is, some are better than others. Why does it matter? Two important reasons, safety and comfort. A clumsy, flimsy leash can tangle and cause wipe-outs. A poorly made one can fail and send your board into the rocks or another surfer. Here are three sure-fire solutions to your problem.
The FCS Freedom Leash. A whole new approach to shortboard leashes. Instead of your usual plastic-based cord, these leashes are made of a woven fiber. It allows a little bit of tangle-free stretch, and a ton of strength. But the real benefit it the ankle strap. It’s a strong, low-profile velcro on an exreemly thin ankle band. No more bulk, no more drag, a rubberish grip that keeps the leash from twisting around your ankle, and best of all, the leash jets out an extra inch from the ankle making trip ups a non-issue. Our advice, pay the extra $20 bucks and get a leash that feels right, looks right and is reliable.
The FCS Helix Leash. This is the longboard and mid-sized alternative to the freedom leash. It offers the same comfortable ankle strap system, but instead of a woven fiber cord, it has an enforced traditional plastic approach which will provide extra durability when you are surfing a board with extra volume. On big days with a big board, I surf easier knowing that the leash can hold up to the waves I’m paddling it into.
The Creatures Of Leasure Superlite Lite. This is a wonderful alternative for short boarders looking to escape the FCS monopoly. The ankle strap is low profile, but more in line with the traditional strap thickness you’ve been used to your entire life, strong velcro, and the best part of all… a thin chord. That’s the real selling point here is that the chord itself is very thin and out of the way, creating less drag in the water and overall less annoyance. I personally use this on my shorter hybrid boards like the Takayama Scorpion 2 or the Firewire Cornice.
