The 9 Best SUP Leashes

For most paddlers on lakes and bays, the BPS Storm gets the basics right at a fair price. Its thick coil rides on the deck instead of dragging, and a steel swivel at each end stops it from twisting. The padded cuff hides a key pocket and has a pull tab for a fast exit. BPS promises to replace or refund one that fails. It comes in only one paddling length, which can run short on a long touring board.

Heavy boards and long days are what Santa Barbara Surfing had in mind for the SBS Coiled. The urethane cord is thick, and both swivels are marine-grade stainless steel that stands up to salt. A molded rail saver wraps around the tail strap to keep the cord from cutting into the board's edge. The cuff folds back on itself for a snug hold and tucks a key out of sight. That wide cuff can feel bulky on a slim ankle.

Long touring and race boards need more reach, and the WOOWAVE Coiled stretches to eleven feet. The cord comes in bright colors that stand out on dark water, which helps you find the board after a spill. Swivels at both ends keep it from kinking, and the cuff has a quick-release buckle. WOOWAVE says it will send a free replacement for a broken part. The cord is on the thin side, so it suits calm water better than surf.

If you paddle a few calm weekends a year, the Abahub Coiled covers the job for very little money. It's a slim coil with a soft neoprene cuff that wraps around twice and a pull tab for a quick exit. It comes in a handful of colors, which makes it easy to tell whose leash is whose when a family shares boards. The thin cord is best kept to flat water and small waves, not heavy boards in strong wind.

The NRS Quick-Release is built for rivers, where an ankle cuff can pin you underwater if the board snags, and Hala Gear's safety guide warns never to wear one there. Instead, it clips to the belt or ring on the front of a life jacket, and one tug on the red ball frees you. Straps for inflatable and hard boards come with it. It only works with a life jacket that has a sturdy belt or ring.

BOTE makes paddle boards, and the BOTE Coiled Ankle is the leash it sells to go with them, though it fits any board with a leash ring. The coil has a smooth plastic coating, and the padded cuff closes with hook and loop over a pocket big enough for a car key. It's a tidy, well-finished piece of gear. BOTE doesn't say what the swivels are made of, and the design is plain for what it costs.

Plain and cheap describes the Retrospec Helix: a tight coil, a neoprene cuff and a strap for the board's leash ring, from a brand that sells budget boards and bikes. The tight coil stays on the deck, so there's little drag and less to catch on weeds. It makes a sensible spare for a guest or a second board. Retrospec publishes few details about the cord or swivels, so it's hard to judge how long it will last.

Racers and long-distance paddlers often move the leash up to the leg, and the Dakine SUP Coiled Calf is shaped for that spot. There, the coil stays clear of your feet when you step back. The urethane cord runs straight, then coiled, then straight again, and molded tips at each end resist kinks. The cuff is formed to the calf and closes with wide hook and loop. It takes a few sessions to get used to a calf mount.

Coils can snag on weeds and dock cleats, so the Airhead SUP Scrunchy skips the coil. It's a stretchy fabric tube that bunches up short on the deck and pulls out to about eleven feet when you fall. Two swivels keep it from twisting, and the cuff is lined with soft neoprene. It's light enough that you barely notice it. The fabric soaks up water, so it stays wet and heavier after a session and takes a while to dry.