How It Works

The BootieLeash connects from your wetsuit leg to the wetsuit bootie-heel noose keeping your wetsuit leg locked down and in place. It is comprised of two components:

1. a polyamide snap hook vertical eye and
2. a self-fastening Velcro strap.

The BootieLeash assembly can remain attached or disconnected to the bootie-heel noose after each use and also prevents water from being blown up the wetsuit leg. The device should only be used to connect the wetsuit leg to the wetsuit bootie heel noose. It should never be used for any other applications.

The History of BootieLeash

Michael Mednick, inventor of the BootieLeash, started to experiment with solutions to prevent his wetsuit leg from creeping up in the late 60s. Michael initially used duct tape while wearing wool socks under his booties, but due to frozen hands after surfing in ice cold waters of Virginia Beach, and the inability to remove the duct tape from the wetsuit leg this solution wasn’t really satisfying. In the 70s, Michael started to use various types of strings to hold the wetsuit leg down around the bootie calf. The strings, however, had to be tied so tightly that leg circulation was often nearly cut off.

In the 70s, Michael started to use various types of strings to hold the wetsuit leg down around the bootie calf.

In the 2000s, he cut the ankle-wrap portion of a surfing leash off, and tried this technique to secure the wetsuit leg to the bootie calf. Later, in 2012 Michael applied Velcro® straps, but the wetsuit leg creep was still occurring because there was no lock-down mechanism attached to wetsuit bootie from the wetsuit leg.

Then, in 2015, the first prototype BootieLeash was invented using random parts taken off a small folding beach cooler and parts purchased from a local sporting goods stores. This conceptual design, that when tested, performed marvellously and locked the wetsuit leg down and in place stopping the upward movement and creep of the wetsuit leg up the bootie ankle and calf. An innovative and inexpensive wetsuit leg to wetsuit bootie was now in the final conceptual stages that prevented wetsuit leg creep, and movement of the wetsuit leg to the top of the wetsuit bootie heel and calf.

Shop and Contact Information

• Website: bootieleash.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bootieleash
• Email: mikemednick@bootieleash.com
• Phone: Office (949) 441-7855, Cell (949) 463-3052

The post How To Keep Your Wetsuit Locked Down And In Place: BootieLeash appeared first on Riverbreak.

No one questions the advantage of wetsuits when temperatures drop, and drysuits seem to be the logical next step in sub-zero weather, but are they really a good choice?

I would say, maybe. They are certainly warmer than their wetsuit counterparts, but drysuits do have some major drawbacks. Newer drysuits are loose-fitting, which will cause alot of drag when partially submerged. They tend to be heavier and less elastic than modern superstretch neoprene, and can be quite a hassle to get on, and especially to get out of, once you and your suit are both wet.

Older drysuits of the tight-fitting variety are even less stretchy and more cumbersome to wear, and they hamper your movement quite significantly. Of course if the choices are to sit at home waiting for warmer weather, or being able to surf even during harshest conditions, the drysuit will always win. In the end, it comes down to personal preference which you pick. If it means just that extra little bit of warmth that lets you surf when everybody else is at home snuggled up in front of the fireplace, then why not.

A final caveat: do NOT pee in a drysuit ;)

The post Is it a Good Idea to Use a Drysuit for River Surfing? appeared first on Riverbreak.

According to John Hubbard (Billabong) it’s perfectly safe to let it flow from time to time. Just be sure to rinse your suit before climbing up the riverbank — otherwise you will risk social exclusion while queuing for your next ride. On the other hand, the line up may get shorter. Apart from the smell, urine is perfectly safe as it’s sterile and can even be used to clean wounds.

When returning home, be sure to give the lower body area a special treatment while rinsing your suit. If you are really serious about cleaning, use mild detergent and rinse it in warm water, then hang your wetsuit in a cool, dry place.

So, if the smell doesn’t bother you, just do it.

Photo: GrahamMcCann via flickr.com

The post A Question of Etiquette: Is it Safe to Pee in your Suit? appeared first on Riverbreak.