Standup Zone Forum
Stand Up Paddle => Gear Talk => Topic started by: sflinux on March 09, 2021, 07:44:07 AM
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Not sure if this has been mentioned on the forum, but I was browsing Blue Planet Surf website and saw that they are selling a Retractable Foil Waist Leash.
https://www.blueplanetsurf.com/retractable-foil-waist-leash-with-shock-cord.html
When I started kiting I used a similar product that was attached to my harness. I stopped using it when leashes were frowned upon.
Has anyone tried one of these in the surf?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7G_98DuGKQ (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7G_98DuGKQ)
https://youtu.be/4E2C5XlF1dY (https://youtu.be/4E2C5XlF1dY)
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Sflinux,
I haven't tried it in the surf, just on lake. I am sold:
- No more leash under your feet
- No more dangling of the leash in the foil
- No more jerking on the ankle or leg when falling. The pull is barely noticeable. It's like you don't have a leash at all
- A bonus belt to attach your wing leash to
So yes it's pricier and heavier than a traditional leash and requires more cleaning but I would buy it again without hesitation.
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I use this reel leash for wing foiling in flat water, bay swell and ocean surf. Made belt with hook myself. I connect leash's clip to a fixed line that is length of distance from my waist to boards leash plug (this keeps the reel leash's spring in 'relaxed', unengaged state).
Advantages
- I hated stepping on a surf cord and this is much better now.
- I like that the excess is not dragging through the water.
- The available length gets the foil quite far away from me when I crash in the surf (or when just returning to the beach through beach break -- this process is rarely pretty).
Disadvantages
- need reel leash coming between legs when getting onto board prior to going from knees to "on foil" to prevent wrapping around leg
- sometimes wraps around leg... but lifting and flipping leg when riding can correct this
- cost
- trust me this reel leash is never going to be cool.
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I use this reel leash for wing foiling in flat water, bay swell and ocean surf. Made belt with hook myself. I connect leash's clip to a fixed line that is length of distance from my waist to boards leash plug (this keeps the reel leash's spring in 'relaxed', unengaged state).
Advantages
- I hated stepping on a surf cord and this is much better now.
- I like that the excess is not dragging through the water.
- The available length gets the foil quite far away from me when I crash in the surf (or when just returning to the beach through beach break -- this process is rarely pretty).
Disadvantages
- need reel leash coming between legs when getting onto board prior to going from knees to "on foil" to prevent wrapping around leg
- sometimes wraps around leg... but lifting and flipping leg when riding can correct this
- cost
- trust me this reel leash is never going to be cool.
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Thanks for posting this sflinux.
For more reviews, please also check out the Amazon listing:
https://www.amazon.com/Blue-Planet-Release-Designed-Foiling/dp/B08CBRWWMX
Liv2surf, that is a nice looking custom hook. I originally used the Oceanus reel leash with a loop attached to a belt like you are, which works fine. Having the reel mounted directly to the belt as on our current waist belt design has less play/ dangling and makes it less obtrusive. See if it's possible to retrofit it to mount directly to your belt without the nylon loop.
Here is a video with Derek Hama showing how he uses the belt and attaching other things to it. We are having a custom hook made by NSI that also allows you to use the belt as a harness. Derek is testing it in the photo. He's using an old Ozone wing leash attached to the wing as kite a line. I think he invented a whole new sport, haha.
https://youtu.be/6O0lGkniQVY
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We now have the custom NSI harness hooks that are made to fit on our waist belt available on our website, works great if you already have the retracting waist leash:
https://www.blueplanetsurf.com/nsi-wing-ding-for-blue-planet-foil-waist-leash-2-w.html
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Live2Surf's is not a custom hook, it's a Da Kine Maniac kite hook. I use the same one. I bend the hook out so it releases better but that's about all the customization it takes.
I'm going to switch to the NSI hook though, I've been catapulted a few too many times lately. I'm also ordering your reel. I'm tired of stepping on my leash. Even with a waist belt I manage to get it under my back foot a few times per session.
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Derek Hama talks all about the retracting leash in this video:
https://youtu.be/soIxBI3xVSY