Ok so the general concensus is board leashs are bad but what's the opinion on these kite reels? Has anyone tried them?
www.board-worx.com/
I used a reel leash when I first started - was helpfull (eventhough I'm a pretty good body dragger) because you never had to worry about where the board would end up especially in areas that have a high current sweep.
I still wore an impact vest and helmet when I used it.
Horses for courses
I used a reel leash years back, seemed like a good idea.
It got jammed at the wrong time and nearly took my head off.
Put the time in to get confident body dragging, better than time in rehab.
I have used a reel leash in the surf because even though I can body drag and kite quite well I sometimes struggle to see the board when separated . I am not a massive jumper and always use a gath helmet. The last time I thought I lost the board I decided I would " go against the tide of popularity and wear the leash" and have done ever since without problem for years. In still water it just sits on my harness and is not connected.
@mickm
Check inside your gath, if its the close fitting surf cap style, its actually not designed for impact, its just for keeping the sun off your head, seriously. There is a label inside it that says "not designed for impacts".
@dilligaf2
We used to be the importer for Australia, we dropped them last before last summer, too many hassles. They break easily under the load of a decent wipeout, and are often not even repairable.
They WILL eventually bite you, and sooner or later you will regret ever buying one. Wearing helmet, even a proper one, may not save you from injury, your neck/face is still unprotected.
They have been around quite a long time, they were never accepted in the surfing market for which they were originally designed.
Learn to bodydrag. Wear a second kite leash for attaching to your board in a downed and not relaunching kite situation.
If you do wear a leash, rig it with a weak link - a short length of 50kg line that will break if there is a big tug on it. This is a good idea for guys who wear surf style leashes when kitesurfing waves too.
Cya and
Goodwinds
Steve
I reckon they should make high-vis orange boards (top and bottom) with high vis orange straps, seriously what is the point of black footstraps when they could be some other colour, they would stand out like dogs balls if they were orange.
Where are the photos? Come on i wanna see that guy with no teeth, and that really gross one where a dude has his calf muscle hanging around his ankle..
I use it in low wind days (As it's impossible to go upwind by body dragging) and winter (As you need to make sure that you have your board in your hand and it's not hitting you in the head).
If you use it you have to wear PFD and helmet (Not that it's ok with them, just to reduce the risk)
Agreed with you airhead....going to be a messy messy season from the looks of it.
2 super kooks are Woodies the other day....helmets, PDF"S etc., too big kites, no clue, going offshore.....and they couldn't self rescue to boot. One of the young Woodies regulars had to help out. You can see why the locals hate the kooks at Woodies.........can't have a good session without witnessing total kookdom....patience is going to run out and they are going to be drifting out to sea soon. Next thing is too many rescues and more kite bans
After the hysteria and witch hunting has subsided (every time this topic comes up) you will find that a small number of users enjoy their reel leashes. They get shouted down by sometimes hysterical masses.
They have a place for learners.. BUT - there is a definate increase in risk even if you wear a helmet and vest (as I did - and still do) not only to yourself but others around you. Leashes are dangerous, simple as that, but then so are kites, pulling kite-loops etc etc. Depends where your priorities are at and how you balance these factors.
I used a leash for 2 + seasons and really only had one near miss. One is enough and i was very lazy for not ditching the leash before the end of my 1st season. After ditching my leash the body dragging came quickly and easily and I realised just how complacent I had been. 
If you must use one then stay well away from other people on land and water and ALWAYS disconnect the leash when you are on land or walking up the beach etc.
Best bet is to NOT use a leash & start body dragging from the start. If you do use one - make it half a dozen sessions at most then ditch it.
BTW - one thing I find INCREDIBLY hypocritical is that all n sundry b!tch loudly about reel leashes and then praise the kn hell outta top notch surfboard kiters who oiften wear short traditional surf leashes! 
WTF!! Wayyy more dangerous. No-one seems prepared to tell these guys they are stoopid. 
loco - not trying to single you out, but do you have a surf leash on in that avatar pic? If so how can you bag reel leash users?
Lets not get nasty now but i want to know your viewpoint here - cause it seems skewed to me (if you do wear a surf leash that is).
I really don't get this blindness to the danger of short surf leashes. 
I don't really see the point to are trying to make Funky.
Surf leashes are used by experienced kiters in remote surf, that is nothing new. And I am not going to argue about what can happen, but I also use a leash in remote surf and am aware of the risks. I think the leash warning is aimed at beginners on twin tips.
Slack, there is nothing wrong having wearing protective gear, it just seems interesting to note that so many with so much protective gear are having mishaps. It is personal preference....like wearing protective stuff rollerblading, skiing, etc. Personally I believe that protective gear is asking for trouble because of the false sense of security this stuff provides. I do protect myself from the sun
Helmets and PFD's are for kooks, thats why, plain and simple, everyone knows that, surely? 
We should support the idea of wearing helmet and PFD to reduce the risk of accidents.
Doesn't matter how professional we think we are.
I've seen even some good and famous instructors here in Perth still with their helmets on and I think they are good examples for students and intermediate+ kiters.
When you putting a post here to say; "safety wear = kook" then you pushing most noobs to get rid of their safety equipment to look good.
I'm a crazy SOB and I do most of the crazy stuff that scare the sh!t out of you and I'm still wearing PFD and helmet cuz I know how easy we can die.
I am also anti leash, and have never used one on a tt, I also don't usually wear one when on a surfboard.
However when using a surfboard you are usually using a fairly small kite and not jumping or doing any tricks. It is still obviously more dangerous using a leash but at certain loctions I do wear a leash.
At a remote surf location I was at recently I wasn't wearing a leash when there was enough water on the reef inside (bloody sharp coral) to body drag over it if you lost your board but a couple of days later when having a session at low tide I put a leash on.
Yes this smacks of double standards but I think it is much more dangerous for a beginner on a tt with a large kite to use a leash than a more experienced kiter that is using a smaller kite and a surfboard especially if going strapless.
Having said that I was ****ting myself being attached to my board and that was the only time in 3 years of kiting that I have used one, but I would probably use one again in the same circumstances.
Botttom line though is leashes are dangerous and using one just delays learning to body drag properly, with kites that relaunch as well as most do nowdays they are simply not nessasary.
To answer DILLIGAF2's original query, I use the Oceanus one and have had no issues with it. It doesn't have much pull, i.e. it has never come flying back.
I unhook it when doing anything rad and mainly use when first getting going until I am sure everything is rigged up okay and I am into the groove. I also find it handy if I have a kitemare and am having trouble getting a kite re-launched - it's nice to be able to just deal with the kite and not worry about where the board is going.
If you wear one, be prepared for lots of lectures.
Cheers.
My point was/is that all of us take risks. The risk is relative to our skills and our value on our health and those around us for what we want to do on the occassion, i.e. taking on a over head high pit, kitelooping or just cruising with a leash for back-up etc.
Noobs with any kind of leash is obviously on thge high end of the scale. An experienced rider witha 6 foot surf leash is IMHO less of a risk but not enourmously less. I am not advocating ANY kind of leash BTW.
A 6 foot leash with no shock absorber , which on the reel leashes does a good job of negating the 'boing' recoil (as per the reel style - if you have ever looked close enough) is a high risk in my book. I don't feel compelled to bag the cr@p outta users who do this as i figure that is the way they prefer to stack their risks and just hope their board doesn't come flailing my way. 
.
I just find it interesting that there is no questioning of surfboard riders who ride crowded areas with a very dangerous leash on. Smacks of double standards to me.
Most surfboard rider don't wear leashes (probably about 30-40% do?) and that is good around the metro/crowded area I reckon.
BTW, helmets are for those that have something to protect between their ears and no fear of a fine from the fashion police. Ha ha - boardies over wetty to hide your peanuts anyone?
Oh - a couple more things to watch out for if you do insist on wearing a reel leash.
When you stack and are getting ready to take off again, make sure the leash has not become tangled around the housing. If it is your leash is now 20cm long unable to unwind and will be very unsafe indeed. I had this happen and the leash actually sheared from the force of the loft I got later. I didn't get a scratch but must have been VERY lucky with the board so colse behind me.
Also - add an extra 50cm length of static cord to the leash with something to impede the whole length retracting (the stitching will most likely be thick enough to do this). This will give you even more length but also makes it easier to avoid the above situation an keeps your board at arms length while you get your sh!t together.
Ride into the beach. Feel good. Uncouple and ditch your leash for good.
Actually Steve is making a valid point.
I used to wear an original Gath (now at the bottom of the mocean) and now have a Protec lid. The differance in protection is enormous. The original Gaths have stuff all impact absorbtion. As Steve n the stickers say it is basically naught else but to stop you getting a few scratches and keeping your hair out of your eyes. Bloody uncomfortable too.
