The best bodyboard leashes for most beginners and children are coiled wrist leashes such as the BPS Storm, which BPS lists at 4 ft with a neoprene cuff and a spare plug. If you want the cord off your hand, pick a bicep leash: Dakine says its bicep-mounted coil “keeps cord clear of your stroke”.
WaterSportHQ editors have not used these leashes. They compared what each Amazon listing says, checked on 2026-10-21. Not sure you need a leash at all? See do you need a leash for a bodyboard.
Wrist or bicep leash: which to choose
- Wrist leash: the cuff goes on your wrist. All three wrist leashes here list a neoprene cuff with a hook and loop (Velcro) strap. BPS lists the age range of its Storm leash as kid.
- Bicep leash: the cuff goes on your upper arm. Dakine says this “keeps cord clear of your stroke”, and Tribe says it shortened the coil on its bicep leash to reduce “flopping on the deck of your board”.
Editors’ rule of thumb: a wrist cuff is the easiest to put on and take off, which suits beginners and children. A bicep cuff suits riders who paddle hard or ride drop knee and do not want a cord running from the hand. A bicep cuff also has to fit the arm, and only one listing here gives arm sizes.
Coiled or straight cord
All six leashes here are coiled. BPS says on its Storm bodyboard listing that tight coiling “prevents kinking, dragging, or snagging on submerged objects”.
Editors’ rule of thumb: straight leashes are mostly sold for surfboards, sized to the board’s length. For those, see our surfboard leash guide.
Length and cord thickness
- Length: BPS lists its Storm leash at 4 ft, Own the Wave says its leash “stretches up to 4’”, and Dakine lists 4 ft. The other three give no length.
- Cord: Dakine lists a 1/4 inch (6.5 mm) urethane cord, XM a 0.270 inch urethane cord and Own the Wave thermoplastic polyurethane. BPS gives no cord figure.
Editors’ rule of thumb: a cuff that fits and a plug set firmly in the board matter more than a small difference in cord thickness.
Swivels, cuff and release
- Swivels: a swivel lets the cord turn without twisting. BPS lists “dual anti-tangle stainless steel swivels” on the Storm PRO, Dakine “100% marine grade stainless steel swivels”, and XM a double swivel that it says stops the leash “tangling and wrapping around the legs”. The basic BPS Storm and the Own the Wave leash name no swivel.
- Cuff: all six list neoprene. Tribe sells its bicep cuff in three arm sizes.
- Release: BPS lists a “super quick release” on the Storm, and Own the Wave and the Storm PRO list a quick release too. Tribe’s “Quick Detach” is different: it is Velcro between the coil and the board plug, so you can take the leash off the board.
- Plug: BPS, Own the Wave, the Storm PRO, Tribe and XM include a plug. Dakine’s listing names none.
Best bodyboard leashes compared
| Leash | Attaches | Length listed | Cord listed | Swivels listed | Quick release | Plug included |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BPS Storm | Wrist | 4 ft | Not given | None | Yes | Yes |
| Own the Wave Premium Coil | Wrist | Up to 4 ft | TPU | None | Yes | Yes |
| BPS Storm PRO | Wrist | Not given | Not given | Two, stainless | Yes | Yes |
| Dakine Coiled Bicep | Bicep | 4 ft | 1/4 in urethane | Stainless | Not listed | Not listed |
| Tribe QD Bicep | Bicep, 3 sizes | Not given | Urethane | Double swivel ends | Detach at plug | Yes |
| XM EZ-FIT Elbow/Bicep | Elbow or bicep | Not given | 0.270 in urethane | Double, stainless | Not listed | Yes |
Sources: each leash’s Amazon listing, checked on 2026-10-21.
Wrist leashes
BPS Storm: a basic coil wrist leash
BPS lists a 4 ft coiled wrist leash with a padded neoprene cuff, “strong Velcro”, a quick release and a spare leash plug, in six colors. The listing gives the weight as 0.11 kg.
It names no swivel, so editors’ rule of thumb: expect to untwist the coil now and then. It is a wrist leash only.
See the BPS Storm leash on Amazon
Own the Wave Premium Coil: the same design in three colors
The Own the Wave listing comes from the same family business as BPS and reads almost the same. It adds the cord material: “heavy-duty thermoplastic polyurethane”, stretching up to 4 ft. It has a neoprene cuff, a quick release and a free spare plug, in three colors.
Like the BPS Storm, it names no swivel and fits the wrist only.
See the Own the Wave leash on Amazon
BPS Storm PRO: swivels and a key pocket
The Storm PRO adds dual stainless steel swivels and a hidden key pocket in the neoprene cuff, with Velcro, a quick release and a spare plug. BPS lists the age range as kid and teen.
The listing gives no length or cord thickness, and it is a wrist leash only.
See the BPS Storm PRO leash on Amazon
Bicep leashes
Dakine Coiled Bicep: 4 ft, stainless swivels
Dakine lists a 4 ft x 1/4 inch coil of urethane “Dura-Cord”, a molded neoprene bicep cuff with a “Posi-Lock” hook and loop closure, and marine grade stainless steel swivels. The size is listed as small.
The listing gives no arm size for “small” and names no plug. Its materials row says ethylene vinyl acetate, which does not match the neoprene cuff and urethane cord in its own bullets.
See the Dakine Coiled Bicep leash on Amazon
Tribe QD Bicep: sized by arm
eBodyboarding sells the Tribe leash in three sizes: small for a bicep of 8.5 to 9.5 inches, medium for 10.5 to 12 inches and large for 13 to 14 inches. It has a loop-through neoprene cuff, a pull strap to take it off, a shortened urethane coil, double swivel ends and a plug. The “Quick Detach” Velcro lets you unhook the coil from the plug, for skim or shorebreak sessions.
The sizes leave gaps (9.5 to 10.5 and 12 to 13 inches), so measure your arm first. No length is listed.
See the Tribe QD Bicep leash on Amazon
XM EZ-FIT: elbow or bicep, 3 year warranty
XM makes the EZ-FIT in San Clemente, California, with a 0.270 inch urethane cord, an extra thick neoprene liner and a double stainless steel swivel. The strap stays in a loop so your arm slides in before you close the Velcro. XM includes its Flat Top Anchor plug and gives a 3 year warranty, the longest listed here.
The listing gives no length and no arm size range.
See the XM EZ-FIT leash on Amazon
What bodyboard leash should a beginner buy?
Editors’ rule of thumb: a coiled wrist leash with a plug, such as the BPS Storm or the Own the Wave leash. Check your board first: many come with one. The BPS Storm, WOOWAVE 41 and several Morey boards in our bodyboard buying guide list a coiled leash in the box.
What to check before you buy
- The plug: Morey lists a pre-installed leash plug on its boards. If yours has none, pick a leash that includes one.
- The cuff: for a bicep leash, measure your arm against the listed sizes.
- Wear: editors’ rule of thumb, check the cord, the swivels and the Velcro before each session, and replace a leash with a cracked cord.