Leashes again (I'm freaking out here)

fullung
May 2008
Hello all,

I'm back with my continuing leash saga. My leash history right now:

1. Started bodyboarding in March 2007. Had a Custom X I bought from Sport Unlimited in Somerset Mall that lasted 6 months. Cord snapped in the middle on a small day at Betty's Bay.
2. Bought an Island Style from Natural Energy in Strand. Lasted about 5 months. Cord snapped in the middle on a medium day at Caves.
3. Bought an Island Style and Reef from Natural Energy on the same day. Put in the Reef.
4. Reef leash snapped on first use after a gentle wipeout. Defective plastic. Took the leash back to Natural Energy and swapped it for an Island Style. Len kindly arranged a replacement Reef as well.
5. While I was waiting for the replacement, used the Island Style I bought along with the Reef leash. This time the plastic tore right through the bicep strap after about a month.
6. Put in the new Reef leash about 3 weeks ago. Cord snapped today just where the coils starts. Set wave on the head at Caves. Contacted Len again, but I guess he's offline at the moment.
7. Just fitted the remaining Island Style I had left over. After putting it in, I gently tugged on the area between the bicep strap and the leash itself. Plastic attaching the leash to the bicep strap cracked.

This raises some questions:

1. Have the rest of you guys reached the point where you never wipe out anymore and don't use a leash?
2. Assuming you wipe out from time to time, or take a set on the head, is it in 0.5ft surf?
3. Assuming you wipe out in or take serious waves on the head, what kind of leashes are you using, because I'm desperate to buy anything that works?

In my desperation I dropped R660 on 3 Custom X leashes at Factory 7 today. We'll see how they go. I have a new ATD board on the way, and I would hate to lose my new baby because I can't find a durable leash.

Any thoughts would be much appreciated. Peace out.

Cheers,

Albert

Bodyboarding 1,997 views

15 Replies

Elementree
May 2008
In my experience i have never had as many problems as you say that you've had and i've been bodyboarding for over 14 years - you've just got bad luck when it comes to leashes!...ha ha.

Just kidding!

Ok...this debate has been raging for a while now and a lot of useful info has been shared by some of South Africa's most experienced riders so if you sift through the posts i am sure that you will find most of what i am about to say.

Firstly...no leash will last forever.

They either break or get over stretched and get in the way.

Secondly...most leashes with slight kinks in them where they begin to coil tend to snap at that point because it is weak.

The only leashes i have ever had that snapped were Island Styles and i haven't snapped many - must be because i never surf if its bigger than 2 foot - ha ha. No seriously, some people go through lank leashes others don't...who knows why?

I have never tried a Reef leash so can't comment on them.

At the moment i am using a Nomad Bicep leash that i got from Factory 7 about a year ago and it is still holding strong - it has become a little too stretched for my liking so i will be replacing it soon with my spare - a Creatures leash.

Based on comments from my mates and what i have seen in the water i have come to the conclusion that the best leashes on the market today are in no specific order - and i say this not to put any company down!

Nomad, Creatures and the Hubb.

Ah i feel the burns coming!
Spy Dude
May 2008
bru... bummer man, i think maybe you should go old school and get a ankle leash cos seriously you seem to hav e the worst luck in leashes.

Last time i snapped a leash was like 10 yrs ago (touch wood) but then maybe i dont go hard enough
May 2008
eish sounds like some bad luck there dude!!

last time i snapped a leash think was about 2 seasons back on the northshore of hawaii getting a clean up on the head, since then havent snapped a leash touch wood and been out in big out of control surf from Bayview to Sunset reef and other spots.

Leashes i use / used... used to use the Custom X bicep leash, but the one with the big coils... worked a charm and never had any issues!

Generally picked up a new leash a few months ago as was over the colours of the other leash, using a Creatures of Leisure leash which i love and its been really good. Trust it as also been using another one on my water housing for the last few years.

BZ leashes are also coolish, problem is when they strectch they strectch and stay stretched!! Got the hubb leash at home from when i used to ride with BZ International so had a whole bunch of stuff from them. Comfy leashes but they stretch easily and stay stretched.

But leashes that come back from a big working is Custom X bicep big coils and creatures of leisure i find which i love about them!! Local brands, never really tried to be honest so couldnt tell you... when was a grom used Island Style but snapped loads

Apart from that, ride hard and dont bail when you getting a clean up set no matter how big unless there are dire measures like dry reef to save your life or something...but had 10 - 15ft sets break on my head and trust me trying to sub is impossible but holding onto your board and leash not snapping can save your life!! Few times had to climb my leash to try work out which was way up or down to live another day

A) dont bail unless you really really have to on the paddle out etc!!
B) ride harder, if you have a close out section either pull in properly and should spit you out the back with big air pocket, or smash the section and launch big and hard into the flats, or make sure you pull through or bail properly without trying to bail your board.
C) Push to land things and dont hold back.... you will probably find these simple steps will help to push you to a new level and you will find with that you wont really need the use of the leash that frequent anymore even though its there.

good luck and hope the next set of leashes goes well!

see you in the water...
May 2008
ps - dont forget to look after your board and leash also give it a good rinse off after every surf if you can in fresh water as helps to maintain life span in some ways.

the only thing i do find that i have snapped a few times is the leash plug!
craigtrilivas
May 2008
Jeez bro I really think u'v just had really really really really bad luck wit leashes hey!
I reckon u get a gyrol if u can get ur hands on one but then u stand the chance of it rippin right thru the nose of ur stik too which happened to me, not cool.
Also thos etend to yank the bejeepers outta ur arm and shoulder too so u'd have to put up with that aswell.

I hav only ever snapped like 2 leashes myself in almost 16 yrs hey.
I still hav a gotcha leash that i've had for more than 10 yrs bro!!!

I hav stuck with the thickest island style bicep ones i can find and hav never ever had a problem with them.
But taking a set wave at caves is probly not the best thing for a leash to bro
But ja snappage in 2 foot is not good and i would b bummed too.
Also ur probly the only dood i know now with an ARSENAL of leashes too LOL!!!

Hope ur new ones last cuz.

B kiff.
rickyrabbott
May 2008
sounds like a swak story,

maybe its the water temp where you surf, or there s and oulet of chemicals by your local spot which eats you leash.fÂ£$% knows...

never heard of such things unless its big powerfull surf.
do you duckdive or through your board, had to ask?

good luck wif the knew range , hope it keeps your board close by.
Len at Science
May 2008
hi Fullung
the first leash that bought i know there were the default. but the reef leash that broke now , i believe were just bad luck. i surfed my reef leash last saturday big waves at heaven, took really bad wipes and my leash is still going well. i do have new coils that you can repace the broken on with. just use am elm key to take the swivels apart. if a leash is to strong your board will break. my cell no is 0825633804, phone me anytime during office hour. please not during my family time at night.

will drop you a spare coil at natural energy next week.

have a nice weekend

len
Spy Dude
May 2008
len... that sounds soooo wrong...

drop you a coil... can see you squatting on the counter..bwahahhahahhaha
May 2008
no comment from me...
craigtrilivas
May 2008
Ja my comment is also a no comment which effectively is actually a comment isnt it?
Spy u make me lag boet.
Im buggin out here with swell and no place to ride within my limitations!!!!!!

One of my mates said he was in the water wif a shark at Blouberg just now
Great.....just frikkin great

But then again he stays in the water when he knows he's bleeading to which pisses me off cos he's the 1st one to joke around about em.
fullung
May 2008
Hello all,

Thanks for all the comments. To answer one question, yes, I do duck dive, as much as is possible.

I got two new Island Style leashes from Natural Energy today. Gavin said he was going to send back my two busted leashes.

The part near the bicep strap that cracked on my unused leash has been completely redesigned on the new leashes, which indicates to me that there was something wrong with the old design.

This leads me to conclude that it isn't my fault my Island Style leashes are dying left and right.

Thanks Len. I'll contact you for a new coil next week.

Cheers,

Albert
Heinrich van Rooyen
May 2008
sounds impossible
fullung
May 2008

Heinrich van Rooyen wrote:
sounds impossible

Hello,

While it certainly sounds impossible, it isn't (unfortunately).

Fact: Len is on record as saying that older Reef leashes used recycled plastic that was brittle. This explains the problem I had with my first Reef leash.

Fact: many people on these forums have suggested that shaped coils then to be weaker. This could explain why the coil of my second Reef leash didn't last very long, and indeed snapped very near to where the shaped part of the coil starts.

Fact: between 3 March and 23 May, the design of the plastic swivels of Island Style leashes available from Natural Energy in Strand has been changed completely. I can only guess that they did this because the old design was weak. This explains the problem I had with my unused Island Style leash.

Fact: the bicep strap on Island Style leashes isn't the thickest thing you'll ever see. By comparison, the straps on Reef leashes appear to be much more robust. This explains the problem I had where the buckle on my Island Style leash ripped right through the strap.

As far as my first two leashes go, they failed after a reasonable amount of time in the only place I would expect a well-constructed leash to fail: in the middle of the coil.

Cheers,

Albert
Jared Houston
May 2008
Hey albert.

Yeah I just recently got a Reef leash and I think they are really sick.
It held just fine on that day I surfed campsbay shorebreak.And I bailed paddling out a few times.

So yeah,I think you just one of those guys who go through alot of leashes.
Its the same with boards really,I have never snapped a board,whereas I know of someone who snapped one at two foot 3steen awhile ago.
Just the way the cookie crumbles.Custom x leashes are pretty decent.Only problem I have had was thaT they tend you pull straight.

Have a good one.
Scarecrow
May 2008
They need to bring back the old Island Style 8mm big wave wrist leashes! Man I've always bought those and I think I've snapped maybe 3 in about 16 years of bodyboarding. I've had my current one for about 2 years without problems and I've had many a set on the head (wonder why that is ). I've tried my boet's board a few times with the bicep leash and I hate it, can't get used to it. Dunno what I'll do when my leash eventually gives in.

Post a Reply

You must be logged in to reply to this topic.