Leash/legrope STRING alternatives

I used spectra cord for a while but it has very low shock absorption, ended up pulling the leash plug apart on a big day… gone back to using parachute cord with a double grapevine (aka fishermans) knot…

If using nylon cord, wet it and pull the knot with pliers.

I actually forgot my legrope string this morning, so used a few cable ties, and surfed like i didn’t have one. Worked fine!

I actually forgot my legrope string this morning, so used a few cable ties, and surfed like i didn’t have one. Worked fine!

My friend in the outer banks is a big proponent of glassin in a loop to put a leash through. I cant exactly describe it, but he said when you glass the board, you use some of the same rope you use to glass on fins and make a little loop. I saw a picture, he said he twisted up a few strands of rope and put it under the top layer of cloth on the deck through a slit. He said make a loop sticking out of the cloth vertically, make sure it stays in one place, and just get some resin on as you glass the tail. It actually looks pretty awesome on the board, I"m not exactly sure how he glassed that area but i’m sure you could make it work. Ill see if I have the picture, I think it was on an old phone but I’ll see if I can dig it up.

I’ve never had the little rope that comes with fins break… I’ve had the velcro on an old leash wear out before that little nylon string. Weird…

I use thing climbing cord from REI.  Tie a bowlline to make your loop.  I use two loops, and feed the rail saver through both of them every time.

Tie the cord and then I burn the ends of the nylon cord with a cigarette lighter and melt them together.

I don't use the rope that comes with the leash.

I use a nylon that is braided and try to get two loops

through leash plug.   Two lines instead of one.    Tension

is put on two lines not one.    If you can find a kevlar rope

about 3/16th or one that can fit your plug, I advise this.

Expensive maybe and I cannot guarantee it will not slice

but its tension should not break.  I think around 500 lbs

test maybe used.   Not a big wave surfer, my board broke before

my leash did.   At least I had the end part of the board to swim in

with.   Up to you on thickness of rope.  One that can fit twice in plug.

One that will not cut.   One that is not heavy.   I also leave about a 

foot extra and use that to pull tail down on a longboard to go under

a wave.   Experiment.

Just saw that my local OSH has parachute cord in tons of different colors. Cool!

i never loop the cord back through itself. i just put it through the leash cup, and then put my leggy through both loops. keeps it neat, stronger and lets your rail saver do its job.