Is it okay to use a standard Longboard leash for a 9ft 6 SUP...or do I need a stronger leash? Not using it in big surf...just waist high.
Its ok imo unless you have been using leash on LB in larger surf, either way why not buy another leash, then you'll have a spare.
www.psups.com.au/sup-shop/
That leash is hand tied! Trust me, that is actually stronger. Balin also know this, which is why they opt for hand tied in certain situations. No as pretty, but it is stronger...
Modern leashes always tend to break at the joints. Hand tied leashes will eventually break near to the hand tied end at your ankle (usually), but they will often last longer than the modern versions.
To entice market competition... Ring Balin direct, and place your specific order, and tell them you can't find the colour/length/cord dia, or ankle/calf/knee attachment, etc at your local joint...
They will actually do a custom leggie on request... No two of us water freaks are alike! 
(03) 5986 6069
They will mail it out to you.
I decided to buy a stronger 10 ft leash anyways....being a surfer I did not want to take any chances of a SUP turning into a missile.
They are definitely tougher and stronger than your standard legrope - and we spent a lot of time talking with the guys at Balin on this. In the interests of competition, they can be mailed out on request.
A good quality longboard leash about the same length of your sup is all you need. Highly recommend Creatures. Super thick leggies are way too heavy and createe heaps of drag and are really only useful in massive waves or if you are a kook and fall off all the time in waves you probably shouldnt be surfing.
Yer, go a big wave leash in waves bigger than 4 foot and if your not falling in ever, your either not trying hard enough or you just love heading straight to beach!
only joken dont know that was better the stars over night or the surf
Was sat watching the Sup crew at Cottesloe today, and very suprised at the number of people getting onto boards without a leash. I could be wrong but i couldn't make out anyone outhere with a leash attached.
No leshes ......so be it,,,,but not good practice
If you fall of backwards at any level and it takes off on you .......(ok it could hit some one) ........but the main point is your up the creek with out a paddle Rather have me board stuff the paddle
It dosnt take much wind chop or waves and your boads off faster than Black Cavior,,, you wont catch it
I've written on this before but here's my 35 years of leash making theory.
You are all forgetting one thing. Leashes are breakable it just depends what you do to it. if you dont want it to break try stainless steel wire, Oh what no stretch! maybe we'll have to compromise.
We use a grade of poly urethane that is compromised between it's tensile strength and it's softness. PU is a thermoplastic. Excellent abrasion and chemical resistance, fantastic stretch memory and it can be extruded and moulded. Modern formulas are also water clear and UV resistant. Warning : exposure to chlorine will perish it quicker than anything. Example locking a leash up inside a board cover lined in the usual PVC (poly vinyl chloride) laminated materials seems to hasten the degradation of PU. Takes a long time though (years). Overstretched
Leashes or coils will return to proper shape if heated. Say about 100deg C. Too hot and you'll reshape it.
Now for the what's best theory. With surf boards stretch is strength. If a leash can stretch out while the wave pressure deminishes then it won't get to break point. Remember PU is still quite a soft plastic. Stretch far enough and it break at the weakest point. So the heavier the wave choose a longer leggie. For long boards you need to go up in thickness to counter board weight and surface area. A small wave pushing on a sidways oriented board puts a lot more pressure on the system. So it's not always wave size, it's the actual wipe out situation. Some people just seem to fall the wrong way and break more leggies than others.
So what is the weakest point? Any knick or cut (sharp fins) will result in a tear point. UV aging can degrade the surface. Need magnifier to detect. Look after your leash. Why did we develope the first PU mouldings and patent them? Because we wanted a stronger system than the hand tied knot. Knots strangle the cord and become the break point. Having said that they are bloody good when there is no other way. Notice how they disappeared from the market.
Now without going into our intellectual property knowledge, suffice it to say our moulding system is the best. Ask shops about our return. Can a leash maker survive poor quality ??
But you do have to use a product that is "fit for pupose". That brings us to whats best for SUPs? Consider all the variables of size, weight, conditions already mentioned in the thread and it turns out that even if you've selected what might be right you can still find yourself in conditions that will bust your leash in the surf.
Generally a longboard leash at least 9ft or better will do until that fatefull day when all the stars line up and you eat it in the impact zone (doesn't have to be big) and you go one way and your board goes the other......like I said maybe you should have gone for stainless wire! Serious surfers seem to be regularly breaking longboard leashes of all types on SUPs. That's why we have been trialing some thicker urethane we had in stock. It was too heavy for surfboards but it does work for SUPs. We hand tie them because they are prototypes. We have not comitted to a moulding expense,yet. I expect we wil have some more comercial models available by summer but for now they are basic but they work. They aren't cheap but if you are breaking leggies then it could be a good investment. The cost is in the PU and the labour and the freight.
Having said all that be confident, our leash are fit for purpose and we back them as being the best avilable. Most specialist stores can advise you.
BALIN
Thanks for your post Balin.. Interesting stuff.. We are lucky to have a local Aussie surf company making leashes for us that are such a high standard and constantly improving.
I still have my first Balin leash (yellow half coiled and half straight) and I used it on today's down-winder.. It's still like brand new after a few years of constant use.
I still see people wrapping their leashes around the tail of their boards when on the roof of their cars and I often advise them not to because of the risk of fin cuts and unessesary uv rays.
DJ
