Long lead: A review of the Retractable Leash from Ride Engine

The retractable lead, as tested here, consists of two parts. Firstly, the actual Roll-Leash (89 euros) and the matching Hip belt (40 euros). Alternatively, the Roll-Leash is also compatible with a matching ankle cuff from Ride Engine, or can be attached to existing straps or harnesses to suit your individual needs. The necessary fitting materials are included in the package.

The best bit: the Ride Engine Retractable Leash is actually two leashes in one

The Ride Engine Retractable Leash combines a thin yet tear-resistant webbing strap (1.80 metres long) within the retraction mechanism with a fairly taut classic leash as the visible connection between the retraction housing and the board. The housing can be kept extremely compact thanks to the delicate webbing and is barely noticeable on the strap.
The (optional) waist strap is comfortably padded without being too thick and fastens with a buckle, which is then covered by a neoprene sleeve. The roll-up box is secured to it with two screws. The leash is attached at the lower end to a short rope on the board using a loop-and-knot connection (see photos).

“You can’t feel that little box at the back of the harness at all.” Sonja Duschek, recreational foil rider

The Ride Engine Retractable Leash on the water

The strap fastens quickly; the neoprene sleeve fits snugly over it, but then stays securely in place over the buckle. It’s best to attach the leash to the board whilst still on land, without using an additional carabiner. However, the loop is quick and easy to undo in the water when you come ashore later. The strap sits very comfortably around the hips and can be adjusted tight enough even for very slim waists. To do this, you can also pull the slightly thicker part of the strap through the adjustment buckle. For our test rider, the ‘outer’ part of the actual leash was almost exactly the length from her hip to the tail whilst foiling. Nothing dangles in the way, you can’t step on the leash, and there’s only very slight tension. The extension comes into play when handling the board on land and, above all, after crashes. With minimal tension, the leash automatically adjusts itself. This has two major advantages in the event of a crash:

• You can move much further away from the board, whether in the air or in the water
• The leash does not have a spring-like effect like a coiled leash

​“Roll leashes offer several advantages: they’re short enough not to get in the way, yet allow for the necessary distance from the equipment in the event of a fall.” Manuel Vogel, wingfoil tester

If your Sprial leashes become very taut after a fall, the board may accelerate rapidly towards you. With this leash, that simply doesn’t happen. The retraction mechanism safely winds the webbing back up without applying any more tension than is necessary.

Test conclusion

The Ride Engine Retractable Leash is very comfortable to wear and you hardly notice it. The connection between the Winger and the board doesn’t dangle annoyingly on the deck. In the event of a fall, you end up further away from the board, and the risk of the board being accelerated towards the foil rider by the taut leash whilst in the water is eliminated.