When To Use A Quick Release SUP Belt & Airbelt PFD

Whenever and wherever you choose to go stand up paddle boarding, it’s essential to ensure that you always have the right safety equipment with you. Wearing the right SUP leash is a universal and minimum safety requirement for any type of paddle boarding, however, depending on the conditions you’re paddling in you may also need to wear a quick release SUP leash waist belt or an airbelt PFD. Before we look at when each of these items are required, let’s take a closer look at what exactly they are and what it is that they do!

What Is A Quick Release SUP Leash Waist Belt?

A quick release SUP belt is a really important piece of equipment that allows you to quickly separate from your board in the event that you cannot reach your ankle in emergency conditions. The waist belt is attached to the ankle leash using the d-ring and leash string. In the event that you do need to separate from your board in an emergency, the easy to reach pull toggle on the waist allows you to do so quickly and without difficulty. The sleek minimal design of Red’s quick release SUP belt means it fits comfortably under personal flotation devices.

What Is An Airbelt PFD?

An Airbelt Personal Flotation Device (PFD) is a less bulky alternative to a regular buoyancy aid for use in calm or flat water conditions (you should always wear a full buoyancy aid in flowing water). What’s clever about an airbelt PFD is that it folds down into a compact pouch that sits comfortably and discreetly around the user’s waist, ready to be deployed when necessary. The ISO certified 50N PFD is quick and easy to deploy from the pouch in emergency situations. The airbelt PFD ensures paddlers have unrestricted movement, whilst the pouch benefits from a reflective strip which is essential for safety, should you find yourself paddling in low light conditions.