Trying to decide whether or not you need a handboard leash? I was in the same position not too long ago and here is my research to help you make your decision.

Do you need to use a handboard leash? Wearing a handboard leash is optional, but highly recommend so you do not lose your handboard while bodysurfing.

The debate on whether or not to use a tether for your handboard is always going to surface a negative or positive reaction in the body surfing community. I wanted to share both sides of this argument on whether or not to use a handboarding leash.

benefits of wearing a leash

Let’s start by picturing yourself embarking on a gnarly bodysurfing session. The sets are rolling in and you take your first wave.

Since it’s your first ride of the day, you’re not fully warmed up and miscalculate the wave, which sends you tumbling and crashing down. You lose your handboard in the process of trying to resurface and notice that it is now very far away onshore. Frustration rises because you have to swim a long distance to retrieve it.

Sound familiar? Many bodysurfers experience this panging separation from their board. This exactly is why the surfing leash was invented.

• Keeps your board close – Wearing a handboard tether will keep your board close so you don’t have to swim miles to get it back. Unless you’re Michael Phelps, using a handboard leash will eliminate the amount time you spend retrieving your board while simultaneously increasing your barrel time! It will also save energy so you can spend more of it bodysurfing.
• Loss prevention – If you are a beginner, like me, then you are fully aware that losing your handboard in the surf is very easy to do. Quality handboards are not cheap. If you just spent over $100 on your new handboard, I’m pretty sure you do not want to buy another one right?
• Saves money in the long run – Using a handboard leash will always keep it in your sight so you don’t lose it to the ocean. This will save you money and heartache. Losing a handboard that you borrowed from your friend is even worse than losing your own. Trust me.
• Damage prevention – Do you handboard near rocks? Maybe your secret bodysurfing spot is near a pier or some coral? Using a leash will keep your handboard away from those hazards. The sea is mighty powerful and can smash your board against pier columns or rocks causing it to break or scratch. Plus, if it gets stuck, you will be risking your life just to wedge it out. Keeping your board attached to your body with a tether will prevent either of those scenarios from happening.
• Bodysurf safety & etiquette – This brings me to my next point, safety. Not only will you be preventing yourself from having to rescue your board from dangerous situations like those mentioned above but using a leash will also keep other bodysurfers out of harm’s way. I know getting hit by a handboard is not as severe as getting hit by surfboard, but you can still get poked in the eye! You want to respect the surfers and swimmers around you. Some beaches mandate that paddleboarders, surfers, and handboarders use leashes for these safety reasons.
• Emergency dives – Having a leash also allows you to perform emergency dives to avoid a sudden, large breaking wave. It gives you the freedom to swim away from jellyfish and large clumps of kelp as well.
• Prevent embarrassment – An embarrassing moment I had was losing my handboard all the way to shore in front of hundreds of people on the beach. I’m sure no one cared but to me, it was a watery walk of shame!

disadvantages of wearing a leash

While there are many benefits to wearing a handboard leash, it also has some disadvantages. Of course, this debate would not be complete without hearing the other side.

• Can get in the way – Have you ever noticed how sometimes a dog’s legs can get entangled in their leash while walking them? The same is true for bodysurfers but in this case, your arms can get tangled in the cord. The likelihood of this happening is very small since the cord is short but it can still happen while swimming or after a wipeout.
• Potential hazard – The coil can accidentally wrap around your neck during a wipeout. If you get caught in the churning of a wave, this will cause your body to rotate. The coil has the potential to twist around your body and strangle your neck. Again, the possibility of this happening is very minimal but is something to watch out for.
• Recoil – You also need to watch out for recoil while using a coil handboard tether. During a crash, your leash may be stretched to its maximum length. The natural spring of the leash coil will cause an opposite reaction whipping the board back towards the rider. You can get hit by your handboard if this action occurs as your head resurfaces from the water. This is not life-threatening but can hurt quite a bit.
• Whiplash – If your leash reaches its maximum length, any sharp push or pulls from the ocean can cause a whiplash effect if your body is not ready. This could possibly injure your shoulder or rotator cuff. Again, this injury is not life-threatening but can set you back a couple of days to a few weeks. If you need surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff then recovery will be much longer.
• Increased drag – Some handboarders complain of the drag the leash creates while bodysurfing. It can absolutely get caught in the water while riding and produce drag, which kills your speed and performance. You want to be able to ride the wave quickly across the surface with minimum resistance. Using a leash can magnify surface friction.
• Wearing a leash can hinder swimming – Much like the drag effect I mentioned in the previous paragraph, your swimming stroke can become hindered. It may take more effort to get out past the break.

Related Questions

why wear a leash when there is a hand strap?

What is the point of using the handboard leash if there is a strap to keep the board in my hand? If you fasten the strap tightly, it should remain in place on your hand. However, you want the strap to be snug. This means not too loose but also not too tight. Therefore your handboard does have the potential to pop off so a leash would come in handy.

In some cases, you may actually want the handboard to fall off your hand. For example, losing control in a big wave will definitely cause your body to whirl about. The last thing you want is to be attached to a flotation device that is caught in a wave’s powerful rotation.

In this scenario, it may prove to be safer to have your handboard fall off so your shoulder does not get forcefully dragged up the face of the wave by your handboard. Wearing a handboard leash would be very convenient and safe.

who should wear a handboard leash?

Beginners and experts should wear a handboard leash. If it is your first time bodysurfing with a handboard then wiping out is almost inevitable.

A leash will certainly come in handy in case your board slips off your hand. You will never know when you will have to ditch your board last minute either!

when you should wear it?

I recommend wearing a handboard leash every time you are out in the ocean bodysurfing. It’s a precautionary measure that will save you a lot of headaches in the long run. If you are a beginner, this will come in handy time and time again.

Remember to wear a handboard leash if you go bodysurfing in crowded areas. This will help to protect innocent swimmers and children from getting hit by your handboard. It also helps to keep your board out of the way of other surfers if you happen to wipe out.

You should use it for both large and small waves. Both have the capability to carry your board very far in a short amount of time, especially if it is windy. You will be surprised at how quickly the ocean can carry your board away from you.

I also recommend wearing a handboard leash if you surf near jetties, piers, and sharp coral. Wearing a leash will prevent the board from floating into rocks and getting stuck or getting damaged.

can I use my surfboard leash for handboarding?

Theoretically, I guess you could use a surfboard leash for handboarding but it is not ideal. A surfboard leash can measure up to over 7 feet in length and will prove to just be a hindrance.

It will get in the way while trying to swim out to catch waves. It will cause excessive drag while riding.

Lastly, it can be a potential hazard during wipeouts. Due to the length of the rope, it can entangle your body.

It can wrap around your limbs and possibly your neck. Therefore I’d advise against using one and instead buy a handboard leash like the SLYDE Bicep Pro Coil.