These 5 Handboards Have A Built-in Leash Plug

Before I bought my handboard, I planned on wearing a leash that I could easily tether to my board so I would not lose it in case it accidentally slipped off my hand. I wanted to buy a board that had a built-in leash plug for this specific reason so I did some thorough research. Here are the boards that have this feature.

Which bodysurfing handplanes have built-in leash plugs so you can attach your leash? This safety feature is custom-made for the following handboard designs:

• Bula
• Phish
• Wedge
• Salt Creek Palmboards
• Hydro

How do you know if your handboard or one you are thinking of buying has a leash plug? If you want to continue your own research outside of the Slyde handboard brand for handplanes that have leash plugs, this article will show what to look for.

what is a leash plug?

A leash plug is a high-density insert feature located on the deck of a bodysurfing handboard. It allows you to securely attach your bicep coil leash to the board.

Bodysurfers need a way to stay connected to their board so they don’t waste time or energy chasing after it. The leash plug enables you to remain attached to your board.

do handboard brands other than Slyde have leash plugs?

From the research I conducted when buying my first handboard, I discovered that Slyde, Salt Creek, and Hydro handboards feature a leash plug. However, Slyde handboards seem to have the most durable leash plug insert construction.

There are quite a few new handboard companies popping up across the world so I may have possibly overlooked a few. If you think I have missed a board that also has this custom design then please let me know in the comments.

how to identify a leash plug

Determining whether or not your board has a leash plug is very easy. Here is a close-up picture of what a leash plug on a Slyde handboard looks like in case you need help identifying it.

The leash plug looks like a rectangular indent, almost like a square chunk of the deck was removed. There is a small metal bar running across the top for you to tie your leash string around.

leash plug dimensions

The plug measures roughly 1” x ½” x ½”. There is just enough clearance underneath the metal bar to fit the string of your leash through to the opposite side.

leash plug board placement

For the Slyde handboard collection, the leash plugs are located towards the tail end of the board. View the image below to see the exact placement of the leash plug on the Wedge.

The location of the leash plug is similar on the Phish and Bula as well. This board placement is ideal to help keep the leash out of your way while bodysurfing.

The Hydro and Salt Creek handboards also have their leash plug placed towards the tail end of the board as well. The leash plug location on the Hydro board is in the center roughly 2 inches above the tail. The Salt Creek handboard actually has a leash loop that is built directly into the tail, which slightly protrudes outwards from the center.

benefits of a leash plug

Why do you need a leash plug on your handboard? There are a few benefits to having this small feature directly built in to your board.

The leash plug placement helps to keep the leash out of your way – This is ideal when surfing waves because it will help to keep the bicep coil behind you and prevent it from crossing over or hitting you in the face. Basically, you will not experience any interference while wearing your leash.

Allows you to easily tie your bicep leash to the board – The leash insert plug provides a simple way of attaching your leash to the board by tying it around the metal pin. You can get it attached and start bodysurfing in no time!

Most secure way of anchoring your leash to the board – The small metal bar going across the top of the insert is very secure and will not pop out. Fastening your leash string tightly to this met bar will always keep it anchored to the board.

could a leash plug break?

A leash plug can fail and break. It is possible for this to happen on any board. However, if you purchase a cheaper board the material used to create the insert may not be as strong.

The leash plug on a more expensive, well-designed board such as a Slyde, will deliver a more durable leash plug design. Slyde created a leash plug that uses a metal pin, which is securely built into the material of the board..

I have been using my Wedge handboard consistently for over a month and there are no signs of wear and tear on the leash plug. In fact, it still looks brand new.

I even tested the leash plug insert when I first bought my board by pulling on the metal bar. I was curious to to the strength of such a small feature. Trust me, the insert is very well intact.

do you actually need a leash plug on your board?

The leash plug is a “nice-to-have” feature but is not necessary. You do not actually need this insert on your board because you can actually attach your leash to your hand strap.

Not sure how to fasten your bicep leash to your hand strap? Don’t worry, I show you how to do that in my guide to attaching your bicep leash to your hand strap.

do boards with leash plugs cost more?

The Slyde handboards that have this feature do cost more. However, the reason why the Bula, Phish, and Wedge cost more is because of the material used to design these boards, not the insert itself. My guess is that creating this extra feature on the board resulted in a slight increase in cost because it requires more work to build this into the overall design.