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Best Surfboard Leashes of 2023

JUMP TO: OCEAN & EARTH PREMIUM ONE XT / FCS FREEDOM / DAKINE KAINUI / WAVE TRIBE ECO LEASH / WOOWAVE PREMIUM LEASH / DAKINE JOHN JOHN FLORENCE COMP / BUYING ADVICE

The Short Version

The Long Version

Surfboard leashes are perhaps one of the biggest points of contention in the non-competition world. Some people love them, a lot of people hate them and the majority of crowded surf beaches require them.

But whether you like them or not, they do serve several purposes.

On a very basic level, for lazy surfers like me, a leash keeps your board attached to you, so you never have to swim far to find it after a wipeout. This is actually crucial on bigger days or a spot where the waves break further out. A leash can save you from a potentially exhausting swim to shore. (It is important to remember that neither a leash nor a board are lifesaving devices.)

Leashes also keep others safe from your potential runaway board — something particularly vital when learning to surf at a busy beach or vying for waves on a crowded pointbreak.

 
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They can also save your board from damage, whether that be from hitting other people, other boards, or getting stuck in rocks or jetties.

On the whole, the added security of a surf leash can give you a subtle boost of confidence — to get you out of your comfort zone and try new things — and who doesn’t want that?

Of course there are loads of surf leashes out there and it can be pretty overwhelming to find the right one for you. But don't fret, we've curated a list of the best for you below.

If you love reading this review of the best surfboard leashes, then you'll likely love reading some of our other surfing review pages:

Need To Know What To Look Out For?

Like leashes? Hate leashes? End of the day, you’re going to need one at some point in your surfing career.

But how do you know what is right for you? You can’t simply just match a leash to your board because it looks good, it has to serve a purpose as well.

Use our buying advice at the bottom of the article to understand the terminology and help decide which surfboard leash is right for you.

Best for Strength and Durability: OCEAN AND EARTH PREMIUM ONE XT

MATERIAL: Control-stretched urethane

CORD LENGTH: 6’, 7’, 8’, and 9’

BOARD TYPE: Shortboards and longboards (depending on chosen cord length)

KEY POCKET: Yes

The Ocean and Earth Premium One XT is made from just one piece, meaning there are no weak points — or at least, less weak points than most leashes!

On most surfboard leashes the weakest points are the two end joins which are usually connected to the main cord using a heat treatment. However the Premium One XT uses a single piece of urethane that is extruded (i.e. molded) into shape so that no end joins are required. This should help increase the durability and lifetime of the leash, as well as increasing your peace of mind when using it in bigger waves.

It is also made with free-spin swivels so you don’t get tangled in the leash and has a detachable rail saver. It features a bright red safety release pull-tab and has a one-year warranty against manufacturing defects.

Touted as one of the world’s strongest leashes, the Ocean and Earth Premium One XT is built to last, making it an ideal pick for big waves or rough surf.

Best for Shortboard Surfers: FCS FREEDOM

MATERIAL: Over-braided Nylon cord

CORD LENGTH: 6'

BOARD TYPE: Shortboard

KEY POCKET: No

The FCS Freedom is made using a novel cord material that results in a thinner and lighter leash that is still strong. Rather than using the usual urethane cord, FCS have taken a thinner polyurethane cord and over-braid Nylon.

The combination of polyurethane inner and braided Nylon outer results in a better balance of strength and weight. This leash isn’t recommended for big wave surfing or longboards, but for the average shortboard surfer riding smaller waves (e.g. under 5 feet), the FCS Freedom is a great choice. Since it is thinner and lighter, you’ll notice reduced drag.

It has a super comfy neoprene ankle cuff that has a velcro strap and a quick release tab. The inside of the ankle cuff also has silicone to help prevent slippage. You’ll notice that the rail saver is thinner and lighter than one found on a leash designed for bigger waves.

One thing to be wary of — and it might be a deal breaker for some — is that there is no key pocket in the ankle cuff, due to the streamlined lightweight design.

Best for Longboard Surfers: DAKINE KAINUI

MATERIAL: Urethane

CORD LENGTH: 12’

BOARD TYPE: Longboard

KEY POCKET: Yes

The Dakine Kainui is thick and long making it ideal for big wave days or people surfing longboards. At 8mm thick and with over-molded end joins, the Kainui was built to withstand surf up to triple overhead!

It features a two-inch neoprene cuff with a hook-and-loop closure, as well as quick release for bailing when you need to. The ankle strap includes a key pocket and stainless steel swivels. At the other end of the leash you have a 1.5 inch detachable rail saver, to protect your board from tension under those big waves.

The Dakine Kainui features a two-year limited warranty, testament to its build quality and expected durability even under heavy conditions.

Best for Eco-Conscious Surfers: WAVE TRIBE ECO LEASH

MATERIAL: Plastic (100% recycled)

CORD LENGTHS: 5’6”, 6’, 7’, 8’, and 9’

BOARD TYPES: Shortboards, longboards, and SUPS (depending on chosen cord length)

KEY POCKET: Yes

The Eco Leash by Wave Tribe is made with all recycled plastic bottles, making it the perfect choice for the eco-conscious surfer in you!

If you are worried about the strength of the recycled plastic, then rest assured. The story goes that this leash was tested by pulling a van across a parking lot - the leash was stretched to its max and still went back to its original state. Might not be laboratory validation, but sounds pretty convincing to me!

This leash features a one-year warranty, a triple swivel, and tangle-free technology, a key slot, and superglue velcro that won’t come undone even in the nastiest of wipeouts.

Best for Budget-Conscious Surfers: WOOWAVE PREMIUM LEASH

MATERIAL: Urethane

CORD LENGTHS: 6’, 7’, 8’ and 9’

BOARD TYPES: Shortboards and longboards (depending on chosen cord length)

KEY POCKET: Yes

The Woowave Premium Leash offers great value - since it is inexpensive and it will last you a long time, especially if you are a beginner.

It can handle a lot of wear and tear and rough riding. This leash is 7mm thick, making it a bit heavier, but also thicker and stronger than a lot of other leashes. And in case the worst happens, and it breaks, Woowave offers a lifetime warranty.

The Woowave Premium Leash is made with a built-in rail-saver to protect your board, a double swivel to help prevent tangles, and a key pocket in the cuff. It has a black ankle cuff and rail-saver, but comes in 9 different colors for the leash cord itself. The ankle cuff is made from the high-density neoprene — the same material as your wetsuit — so it’s comfy and molds to your ankle.

Best for Traveling Surfers: DAKINE JOHN JOHN FLORENCE COMP

MATERIAL: Urethane

CORD LENGTH: 6’

BOARD TYPE: Shortboards under 6 feet

KEY POCKET: No

The John John Florence Comp from Dakine features stainless steel swivels, a detachable rail saver, a hook and loop closure, and a super comfy neoprene ankle cuff.

The leash is only 5mm thick but is still extremely strong. However, being such a thin leash, it is super lightweight. Built to withstand head-high waves, this leash won’t take up much space as you travel or add weight to your bags.

It comes in five colors — so you can dial in your style — and comes in plastic-free packaging so you can feel that bit more environmentally conscious.

BUYING ADVICE FOR SURFBOARD LEASHES

Materials

Leashes today are made with polyurethane. More recently, companies have been turning recycled plastics into extra strength polyurethane, cleaning the world up one leash at a time.

Ankle cuffs / straps

The ankle cuff or strap velcros around your back ankle when surfing. They are typically made from neoprene and memory gel or similar comfortable material combined with velcro to keep the leash attached to your ankle. Most ankle cuffs have a key stash where you can store your car key in while you surf.

Swivel

A swivel is located at the connection part of a leash, where the cord of the leash connects to the ankle cuff. The “swivel” allows the cord to rotate, thereby helping to prevent the leash from tangling around your ankle when you’re walking.

Rail saver

A rail saver is a large piece of fabric that protects the board from the cord. Everybody wipes out when they surf and when that happens the board usually gets ripped away from you. This can put a lot of tension on the leash, which can potentially damage the board.

The rail saver helps to avoid this. The larger and wider the rail saver, the more the tension can be dispersed and therefore the more protection your board has. But larger rail savers also create more drag and can slow you down. So you have to decide the balance that is right for you based on the type of surfing you do and the level of protection you want your board to have.

Length

Leashes need to be at least as long, if not slightly longer, than your surfboard.

If a leash is too short, when you wipe out, your board can fling back towards you and cause serious damage to yourself or anyone near you.

However, if a leash is too long, the board can get too far away from you and get twisted and tangled around your legs or the fins.

Thickness

Generally speaking, the thicker the leash, the stronger it is. Surfboard leashes generally range between 4.7 and 8 mm in thickness.

Thinner, lighter leashes create less drag and are therefore preferred for competition surfing. Whereas thicker leashes are more commonly used by the average, non-competition surfer.

Big wave surfers will also tend towards a thicker leash, for obvious reason, namely the added strength that is required.

MORE INFORMATION

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