Best SUP Leash Guide for Your Safety

Best SUP Leash Guide for Your Safety 1

How to Choose the Best SUP Leash

A paddle board leash is a crucial part of your SUP board setup. Wearing a paddle board leash can easily be the difference between life and death. If you find yourself exhausted or trapped in rough, windy conditions a leash will keep you connected to your life saving paddle board. Even falling overboard in a light wind you will find your paddle board out of reach and quickly drifting farther away.

Paddling without a leash is a gamble you don’t want to take

So every paddler needs a leash. However there is not a universal “do-it-all” SUP leash. Different activities require a specific leash.

Coiled or straight? Ankle or calf? Competition, standard or big-wave? A breakaway leash? And what paddle board leash length should I go with? With so many options what SUP leash should I use?

The Right Paddle Board Leash by Activity


Typical Flat Water Paddling

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For the typical recreational paddler the most important leash is the one you will wear. It really comes down to what feels comfortable.

SUP leashes come in two attachment points. Around your ankle or your calf (just below the knee). The advantages of a calf leash is that it is higher off the board and harder to get tangled up with your feet.

So if you like to move around on your board (like I do) you might like a calf leash. However some people don’t feel comfortable wearing a calf leash. In that case an ankle leash is fine. When I wear an ankle leash I quickly forget it is there.

Your choice on flat water is whatever leash feels the most comfortable, for most paddlers that is a coiled leash around the ankle

A coiled leash will have less length to get tangled up with and drag through the water. The negative to a coiled leash is that if your board goes flying there will be recoil. So when wearing a coiled leash you need to be aware that when you fall the board will recoil back in your direction. Make sure your coiled leash has plenty of length. 10′ is good for most paddlers.

Again with flat water paddling it comes down to being comfortable. A  straight leash will work fine and is the traditional leash.

For length 10′ is good. You can also go for the length of your board or about one foot longer. Here is a my recommended ankle leash on Amazon.

Paddle Surfing

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First thing to keep in mind when looking at a SUP surfing leash is to get a heavy-duty quality leash. I would go with at least a 6mm thick leash. And make sure it is securely attached to your board before you go out. You don’t want to lose your board in the impact zone.

Surfing paddle boards tend to be bigger than surfboards and can be a real danger in waves. If your board is out of control it could seriously hurt yourself, another surfer or swimmer.

As you fall try and push your board away from you with your feet. And be mindful of where your board is moving. The bigger the waves the crazier things get when you wipeout. I have been hit in the head with my own board and it is no joke.

Straight leashes are the ticket when surfing

In general you want a straight leash about one foot longer than your board. You want plenty of length to keep the board away from you when you fall. Straight leashes are less hampering in surf and will extend to their full length without recoil.

Most surfers wear their leash around the ankle. But if you are a longboarder who likes to move around on your board you might like a calf leash.  This will help keep your feet from getting tangled in the leash when you cross-step.

Here is my choice for a SUP surfing leash on Amazon.

Fast River & Whitewater

Best SUP Leash Guide for Your Safety 4
NSI Whitewater Quick Release SUP Leash

Wearing a leash when paddling in whitewater is controversial. Some say leashes are dangerous and must never be worn paddling in whitewater. While others say leashes will prevent a bad situation from getting worse and should always be worn.

There is an old rule in whitewater paddling that says no ropes in the water without a sharp knife at hand. Just the idea of a looped rope or leash dangling behind a river watercraft sound like trouble waiting to happen. When paddling in a fast moving river a leash can get caught on logs, tree stumps and rocks and potentially trap a paddler underwater.

However when the proper leash is worn in the proper manner the benefits outweigh any possible hazards.

So how do your paddle safely in whitewater?

First, your leash needs to be a quick release type and must be worn above the waist or on your PFD. You can find a quick release paddle board leash by NRS here. And another one by Hala here on Amazon.

Or there are also quick release tow line systems that work well. The important characteristic for any quick release leash is how easy and reliably it will release. Quick, easy and reliable is the only choice.

The point is you want a quick release leash or tow line that is connected above your waist for easy access. You don’t want to wear a leash around your ankles or calf even if it is quick release.

In fast moving river water you want a quick release system attached above your waist. Never wear an ankle leash in whitewater.

If you were to get trapped under water the strong current may not allow you to reach your ankle to release the leash. Or you may only have use of one arm. You want the release mechanism above your waist and easy to reach with either arm.

It is also important that you make sure your leash is attached securely. You best option is to attach it directly to your PFD with a climbing carabineer.

Go with a coiled leash that won’t drag as far in the water as a straight leash will. As far as length you can go anywhere from 6 to 10′ depending on the size of your river paddle board. If you want move information on whitewater paddling you can read my article here.

SUP Racing / Downwinding

Paddling downwind, racing, open-ocean paddling or just paddling far from shore you always want to wear a heavy duty leash. This is not the time to buy a cheap thin leash. When you fall off your board in windy conditions your board will likely go flying into the air. Without your paddle board you are in serious trouble.

Your best option when racing or paddling downwind is a coiled calf leash. A coiled calf leash will not drag through the water and slow you down. It will also stay off the deck and not interfere with your foot work. A good length is 6-10′. There is no reason to go longer than 10′. You can check out this Dakine coiled calf leash here on Amazon.

A coiled calf leash is a good choice when racing or downwinding.

A board leash is safety gear that every paddler should wear. But don’t forget about a PFD (personal flotation device). Not only is wearing a PFD a good idea it is the law if you are paddling outside a swimming or surfing zone.

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