Heel Straps

[gpapier]

Does anyone know any options for heel straps since DAKINE stop making the RAPTOR? Where to buy would help as well.

[SMJ]

Do a Google search for "NSI Heel Straps" and you might get some hits.

Here's the link:
https://www.northshoreinc.com/store/pc/ ... roduct=232

[gpapier]

Great! Thanks for the info. They look a little different, but they might be the only other commercial option (some people like to make them out of bycicle tubes). Will give them a try. Thanks again!

[nherbold]

Or the tried and tested method (i.e. cheapest) of cutting a piece of the inner tube for a bicycle tire and punching a screw through it...works great and easy to do/make

[foam-n-fibre]

I remember mucking around with heel straps abut 20 years ago. They helped at first but I was so glad to not be using them after that. With the right kind of footwear (or bare feet) and the right straps and technique you should not need them. The most common problem I think it having big clunky non-windsport specific water shoes with thick soles. Learn to twist your feet in the straps (heels in, toes outward) to stay in better when needed. You are better off to master the skill of not using them than to master the skill of getting the heel straps up onto the back of your feet every time you put the board on. Most people using them are fairly inexperienced and end of with issues getting them on or off as needed while also controlling the kite.

Peter

[runner1]

I remember mucking around with heel straps abut 20 years ago. They helped at first but I was so glad to not be using them after that. With the right kind of footwear (or bare feet) and the right straps and technique you should not need them. The most common problem I think it having big clunky non-windsport specific water shoes with thick soles. Learn to twist your feet in the straps (heels in, toes outward) to stay in better when needed. You are better off to master the skill of not using them than to master the skill of getting the heel straps up onto the back of your feet every time you put the board on. Most people using them are fairly inexperienced and end of with issues getting them on or off as needed while also controlling the kite.

Peter

I can't agree more with Peter. Heel straps are a crutch that 99.9% of kiters are better off without, if you don't use heel straps you will quickly progress to not needing them

[Dave_5280]

I tried them and didn’t like them. I found I needed to just tighten down my straps more and then never had any problems and didn’t need the heel straps.

[TheJoe]

If you want to be locked in then wear boots. Heal straps are not worth it. Like others have said you don't really need them. They are more of a pain to deal with than they are worth. Tried them years ago and quickly got rid of them.

[edt]

Use boots. Boots are great and keep you locked in way better than heel straps. Straps are good for board offs, boots are good for keeping the board on your feet. Also it's an excuse to buy a second twintip so you can have one with straps and one with boots. Heelstraps don't do anything really well.

[TheRussian]

I remember mucking around with heel straps abut 20 years ago.

+1 & a total waste of time !!

As said above, there is no need for them, unless you are using a reel leash