Standup Zone Forum

Stand Up Paddle => Gear Talk => Topic started by: Norwegian SUPer on August 25, 2012, 12:27:56 PM

Title: Looking for waist leash
Post by: Norwegian SUPer on August 25, 2012, 12:27:56 PM
Hi,

I have a bad knee, so I'm looking for a leash that won't put strain on my rear leg (when in surfstance).
I've looked at this http://salamanderpaddlegear.com/product/sup-bag-with-coiled-leash-carry-strap (http://salamanderpaddlegear.com/product/sup-bag-with-coiled-leash-carry-strap) ,but I'd prefer one that didn't have a bag attached to it. I also read somewhere on this forum that a guy named Crow Haley makes waist leashes, but from the look of the website I found, they seemed kind of focused on local business (I sent them a mail anyhu).

So if any of you know where I can get a waist leash for SUPsurfing, I'd love to hear about it.


Regards

Espen
Title: Re: Looking for waist leash
Post by: SUP Viking on August 25, 2012, 04:51:20 PM
http://www.imaginesurf.com/?post_type=imaginesurf_product&p=841 (http://www.imaginesurf.com/?post_type=imaginesurf_product&p=841)

Good luck on the search! This one seems solid. I'm sorry i dont know much about that style.  :)
Title: Re: Looking for waist leash
Post by: Norwegian SUPer on August 26, 2012, 09:20:45 AM
Thank you! That looks like a more streamlined option.

Only, it states that the leash is only 4 mm thick so, as it says, it will snap under minimal pressure. Maybe I can use the waist attachment and just swithch out the leash with a more robust one...

PS How thick would you recommend a SUPsurf leash should be?
Title: Re: Looking for waist leash
Post by: PT Woody on August 26, 2012, 04:33:40 PM
Yeah I've seen one of those 4mm coils attached to an 18' board with a fairly heavy rider paddling out into a bit of chop and small waves. It wouldn't last the first fall, I don't think.
Title: Re: Looking for waist leash
Post by: Dave J on August 27, 2012, 06:39:01 AM
A friend of mine uses a nylon belt and attaches the leash to the belt. He has problems with knees and ankles. He is a longboarder and says this also keeps the leash out of his way when moving around on the board.
Title: Re: Looking for waist leash
Post by: Matt Ivey on August 27, 2012, 11:02:55 PM
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=nrs%20sup%20belt%20leash&source=web&cd=2&cad=rja&ved=0CCcQtwIwAQ&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DEIHfxkbDsQw&ei=iF48UL3gPOT2iwKK4IGQCA&usg=AFQjCNECsHyTP52r77ubsFcxJ7EPMJxAYQ (http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=nrs%20sup%20belt%20leash&source=web&cd=2&cad=rja&ved=0CCcQtwIwAQ&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DEIHfxkbDsQw&ei=iF48UL3gPOT2iwKK4IGQCA&usg=AFQjCNECsHyTP52r77ubsFcxJ7EPMJxAYQ)
Title: Re: Looking for waist leash
Post by: Northern Supper on September 15, 2012, 02:10:04 AM
Call Crow on the Phone http://www.resinworks.net/crowhaley.html (http://www.resinworks.net/crowhaley.html)

He waist leashes work. I blew my MCL and have used them for 2 years.
Title: Re: Looking for waist leash
Post by: sup_surf_giant on September 15, 2012, 04:04:54 PM
Is the waist leash like the fanny pack of SUP?  :D
Title: Re: Looking for waist leash
Post by: Beasho on September 17, 2012, 05:46:37 PM
2 1/2 thumbs up for waist leashes.   Around here everybody who rides big waves uses a waist leash.  All Crow Haley's for that matter.

I have realized they are in fact superior to ankle leashes for everything but fishing from a SUP. 

For starters when getting dragged backwards you can roll over and breath.  Those people who have been dying in Rivers and from snags were no doubt wearing ankle leashes.  I have been dragged so fast backwards that I was nearly planing, yet I got pulled to the surface like a fishing lure and was breathing the entire time.

When you are ready to start switching your feet, go left, go right . . . no problem.  Just go. 

To add to the goof, when I use a longer, big wave leash I coil it up with little velcro and keep the leash from dragging.  Sure they call me the cable guy and other funny things but it works, and no drag. 

Title: Re: Looking for waist leash
Post by: madmax on September 18, 2012, 10:50:47 AM
I use a knee leash in surf and a waist leash in WW.  I can see the waist leash easily working for surf.
Title: Re: Looking for waist leash
Post by: SteamboatBORN on September 18, 2012, 11:28:44 AM
4mm for the Imagine seems thin! Have any larger guys (200+ lb) used one? Being able to swim properly in surf or the river after a spill seems the biggest advantage of a waist leash.
Title: Re: Looking for waist leash
Post by: tautologies on September 18, 2012, 01:32:09 PM


Hvor store boelger skal du ut i? Jeg ville vaere veldig forsiktig med aa ha waist leash hvis det er noe stoerrelse paa boelgene...hvis du blir dratt fra midten vil det vaere ryggen din som tar stoetet og det skal ikke saa mye til foer du skader deg.

:People: waist leash will break someones back. Any kind of size to the wave, and your back will take all the effort. Pull from the front and you do not have much flexibility....
Title: Re: Looking for waist leash
Post by: Beasho on September 18, 2012, 03:43:14 PM
1,011 words or less: SUP bigger waves, waist leash, crow haley
Title: Re: Looking for waist leash
Post by: lopezwill on September 18, 2012, 09:28:28 PM
Hey Beasho

  Can you take a close up photograph or explanation of your waist leash for big waves.  I bought a 2 inch nylon diving belt ($8.00) and was going to attach my big wave leash to it.  You just pull the buckle and the belt releases.  Haven't tried it out yet. 

  What waist leash release do you use?  Thanks.

In anticipation of a good winter season of BIG surf.
Title: Re: Looking for waist leash
Post by: tautologies on September 19, 2012, 12:41:32 AM

Well, hell.

I know a guy who broke his back from kiteboarding. Kite pulled him, he was in the water. 

Yeah I know different but listen: If you get pulled from the front center of your body through water, your back will take the hit. You can say that your stomach muscles will hold, but most of us aren;t built like Laird.

I mean an argument can be made that board is travelling at the same speed as you in the wave, but surely most of us have been pulled pretty hard on our legs in reasonably sized surf?

I guess the proof is in the pudding. I am not willing to be the experiment on this one.
Title: Re: Looking for waist leash
Post by: Beasho on September 19, 2012, 08:42:32 AM
To quote Northern Supper twice call Crow Haley.  Northern Supper is the middle guy in the photo above:

Quote from: Northern Supper on September 15, 2012, 02:10:04 AM
Call Crow on the Phone http://www.resinworks.net/crowhaley.html (http://www.resinworks.net/crowhaley.html)

He waist leashes work. I blew my MCL and have used them for 2 years.
Quote from: Northern Supper on August 13, 2012, 01:39:09 AM
With big boards on big waves and an ankle leash, it is just a matter of time before your knee get blown ruin. The board will pull on your knee that it is likely that you will tear a ligament or cartilage or both.
Title: Re: Looking for waist leash
Post by: Beasho on September 19, 2012, 08:51:25 AM
Here is a shot of the Crow Haley leash.  It is a basic ankle leash that has a ~ 40" Velcro to wrap around your waist.  I have added the chicken loop, sewn on to the Velcro.  It used to be sewn on the pull tab, but the pull tab ripped off easily.  The loop is key because you will never find that little tab in a panic.  I nearly drowned being bashed on the rocks, prior to chicken loop, and couldn't get my leash off.

I am not advocating getting pulled by a truck with this rig, or a kite for that matter, from your stomach side.  You can see my leash is 20 feet long and pretty spongy.  But it will break, hopefully before my back. 

No right answers here, just better and worse bets.
Title: Re: Looking for waist leash
Post by: lopezwill on September 19, 2012, 06:16:20 PM
Beasho

  Thanks for the photo and Chicken loop info. 

   I'll give that Crow Haley guy a call.
Title: Re: Looking for waist leash
Post by: Norwegian SUPer on October 19, 2012, 03:55:48 PM
I ended up ordering this waist leash; http://www.coloradokayak.com/Salamander-SUP-Leash.html (http://www.coloradokayak.com/Salamander-SUP-Leash.html)
Thanks for all the inputs, guys (and gals).

@tautologies: You're probably right about not using a waist leash that pulls you forward in big waves, but the connecting point to the belt is usually in the back, also there's a quick release. I guess there will always be a chance of injury when something is pulling hard at any of your limbs. In my case my knee is fu%&ยค# up to the point that I can't really expect it to take much more pounding. My final point is that I'm not really that great a surfer, so I usually don't challenge the bigger waves. Hopefully I'll live to surf another day, with both a working back and knee.

SUP-luv
Title: Re: Looking for waist leash
Post by: Beasho on December 23, 2013, 02:27:52 PM
Quote from: lopezwill on September 18, 2012, 09:28:28 PM
Hey Beasho: Can you take a close up photograph or explanation of your waist leash for big waves. . . . In anticipation of a good winter season of BIG surf.

I drew up a graphic of the waist leash in action and thought I would update here:

The waist leash can be a lifesaver.  Hopefully this gives insight as to why it works better than ankle leashes.

We all know the phenomena of being dragged by your ankle, face down and disoriented not knowing which way to swim for that gasp of fresh air.

With the waist leash you just arch your back and VOILA you pop to the surface being dragged UPWARD like a fishing lure in reverse.  On a big enough wave you will actually find yourself planing backwards. Despite an enormous amount of violence it can look like this:
Title: Re: Looking for waist leash
Post by: SaltH2Opaddler on December 23, 2013, 03:17:17 PM
love the graphic!!!

I like the idea.
Title: Re: Looking for waist leash
Post by: lopezwill on December 23, 2013, 05:56:09 PM


  Another update since this was first posted back in Sept 2012.  I've used the Crow Haley waist leash for about six months and really like em.  They do take some getting use to as they pull differently.  I kept injuring my knee and ankle from the leashes attached there.  Nothing serious just a slightly swollen ankle or pain in the knee.  This I believe was caused by the pulling of the sup in surf.  Since going to the waist harness no knee or ankle pains.

Another huge benefit is you can loosely wrap the leash behind you when surfing in thick kelp causing much less drag.
 
The "Release pull tag" on the waist leash is easy to pull.  Just reach down to your waist and you can release the whole leash at anytime.  This is much easier than attached at your knee or worse yet ankle.

I do have a fellow sup friend who will not use the waist harness because he somehow got it wrapped close to his neck and skimmed his ear.  He told me this happened a couple of times and won't use em.  That wrapping around the neck has never happened to me but I feel obligated to explain about it as some people may not like the waist leash.
Title: Re: Looking for waist leash
Post by: waterman60 on December 23, 2013, 06:34:31 PM
Fun Day today, it was good to see you throwin the style around on the Yellow     PSH 12'.  Keep an eye on it for the weekend.   Hopefully the weather will cooperate
Title: Re: Looking for waist leash
Post by: Alkasazi on December 23, 2013, 07:15:10 PM
this is the Salamander belt I've been using for whitewater. Originally built for towing boats, but works well so far as a leash. definitely packs down much smaller than their SUP fanny pack leash:

http://www.outdoorplay.com/Rescue-Tail-Tow-Tether (http://www.outdoorplay.com/Rescue-Tail-Tow-Tether)

I'd love to make a version with a bit of bungee for give (similar to sea kayak tows), and a quick-release  ball on the buckle. But so far it's my favorite out of the waist belts I've tried.
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