Woman Paddle Boarding In San Francisco with Sail Yachts In The Background
Woman Paddle Boarding In San Francisco with Sail Yachts In The Background

Red Paddle Co FAQ: Which Type Of SUP Leash Is Right For Me?

Written by Luke Green /

Waistbelt, Ankle, Coiled or Straight? Read on to find out which leash is best for you. A SUP leash is one of the most important pieces of safety equipment that you need to have when stand up paddle boarding. If you fall into the water, the leash keeps you attached safely to your board, preventing it from drifting off, and ensuring you therefore have your board, acting as a large float to hold onto in the event of an emergency. A SUP leash is also essential for the safety of other water users - It prevents your board drifting off and becoming a potential hazard.

In short, a SUP leash is essential for every paddle boarding session, but it’s important to choose the right one. The type of paddle board leash that you require will depend on the type of paddling you are doing and the water conditions in which you are paddling. There are two main types of SUP leash that you’ll need to choose from. These are a waistbelt leash or an ankle leash. Let’s take a closer look at which of these is most suitable for your requirements.

Quick Release Waistbelt SUP Leash

A Quick Release Waistbelt leash is an essential piece of equipment if you are paddling in any form of flowing water such as a river or tidal estuary. Any standard ankle leash (see below) attaches to a loop on the waistbelt. If you fall off in flowing water, there is a risk that your board can become entangled around boats or other objects in the water. Detaching yourself from the board in this instance is often the safest thing to do but it is almost impossible to reach your ankle in these circumstances and this can lead to a much more serious situation. Wearing a Quick Release waistbelt leash allows you to easily disconnect from your board in these situations. When paddling in flowing water we also recommend you wear a Buoyancy aid with at least 50 Newtons of buoyancy. The other time a quick release waist belt leash is a good idea is in windy conditions when the force of the wind can act in a similar way to flowing water. Quick Release Waist belt leashes are not suitable for use in surfing conditions. 

Red Paddle Co’s Quick Release Waistbelt SUP leash works in partnership with a Red Paddle Co coiled SUP leash. It is quick and easy to set up and the large red toggle on the front allows you to easily detach yourself from the board in an emergency.

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