Straps or strapless, pads or wax: how to equip your surfkite board
Outfitting a surfkite board comes down to three questions: straps or strapless, pads or wax, and leash or no leash. There's no absolute answer to any of them. The right choice depends on your style, whether you prefer freeride or surfing waves, and the conditions you ride in. Pads, straps and wax are in the Kite accessories section of the shop.
Freeriding on a surfboard is accessible to everyone. Wave surfing with a kite demands more experience. Your equipment setup will differ significantly for each discipline.
In summary
- Strapless: more freedom for foot placement, but getting over big wave bar and jumping becomes a real challenge.
- There's a hybrid solution: keep your straps for challenging conditions and remove them when it's calm. This only works if your board has inserts.
- If your board doesn't have inserts, NSI adhesive plates let you add straps.
- Pads are practical and provide shock absorption, protecting your board from heel dents. Wax offers a more direct feel, but it melts in summer and needs frequent reapplication.
- A board leash is strongly discouraged in kitesurfing, with only two specific exceptions. A board snapping back can be fatal.
Straps or strapless for surfkite?
Almost everyone starts kitesurfing on a twintip, with straps on their feet. When riders transition to a directional board, they often ditch the straps, sometimes gradually, by removing the back one first.
Riding strapless gives you much greater freedom to position your feet on the board. On the flip side, it significantly complicates certain phases: getting over big wave bar and white water becomes difficult, and jumping becomes a serious challenge.
The compromise: removable straps
That's why we prefer the intermediate option: keep your straps for rough conditions and take them off when it's calmer. Of course, your board needs to allow for this, as not all directional kiteboards come with strap inserts. If yours doesn't, NSI self-adhesive plates are a great way to add them.
Pads or wax on your surfkite board?
Wax smells great, but it's not always practical. In summer, it melts and becomes unusable, meaning you have to clean it all off and reapply. Some riders still prefer it for a more direct foot contact, even though super-thin pads are now available. Pro tip: wearing boots on a waxed board significantly improves grip.
Pads are practical, and crucially, they absorb shock. The foam protects your board from heel impacts. Even though surfboards designed for kiteboarding are heavily reinforced and feature shock absorption technologies like RMF, Innegra Shield, and shape memory, no one is immune to a solid heel dent.
What about a board leash?
Unlike paddle surfing, wingfoil, and surf-foil, where it's almost essential, a board leash is generally strongly discouraged in kitesurfing. A board snapping back can be fatal.
Only two exceptions:
- A beginner rider who exclusively uses a coiled leash, always with a helmet on.
- Surfing in big waves with offshore wind, a practice reserved for the most experienced riders.
| Choice | What it offers | What it costs | When to choose it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strapless | Total freedom for foot placement | Challenging wave bar and foam, very technical jumps | Small conditions, freeride, seeking that pure surf feel |
| Removable straps | Adapt to each session | Requires inserts, or NSI plates | GlissEvolution's take |
| Fixed straps | Maximum control, accessible jumps | Fixed foot placement | Challenging conditions, learning to jump on a directional board |
| Pads | Comfort and cushioning, protects against heel dents | Slightly less direct contact than thin wax | The default choice for most riders |
| Wax | Direct foot contact | Melts in summer, needs regular reapplication, no cushioning | For a pure feel, possibly with boots |
| Leash | The board stays with you | Risk of potentially fatal board recoil | Beginner with a coiled leash + helmet, or large offshore waves |
Consider this
- A leash is not a trivial accessory. In kitesurfing, we generally don't recommend them: board recoil can be fatal. The two exceptions above assume specific equipment and skill levels, not personal preference.
- Not all boards accept straps. Always check for inserts before buying if you want to keep that option open.
- Strapless riding takes time. Switching from a strapped twintip to a strapless directional board won't happen in a single session. Removing the back strap first offers a smoother progression.
- No pad can replace a suitable shape. A board that's too small or not designed for its intended use can't be saved by grip alone.
Consider this
Key considerations and limitations noted in this article:
- On the other hand, this significantly complicates certain phases. Getting through large wave bar and white water becomes difficult, and jumping becomes a real challenge.
- Unlike prone surfing and wingfoil, a board leash is generally strongly discouraged in kitesurf. It is almost essential for surf-foil.
- In kitesurf, it's discouraged by default. A board returning to you can be fatal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should you start surfkite with or without straps?
With. Straps make it easier to get through wave bar and white water, and they make jumping accessible. You can then work on strapless riding, often by first removing the back strap before taking them all off.
Can you put straps on a board that does not have inserts?
Yes, with self-adhesive plates like NSI. This is the solution when a directional board doesn't have original inserts, which is the case for a portion of the market.
Pads or wax on a surfkite board?
Pads are for most riders: they cushion and protect the board from heel impacts. Wax provides more direct contact, but it melts in summer and offers no cushioning. On a waxed board, boots improve grip.
Do you need a board leash in kitesurfing?
No, it is strongly discouraged: the board returning can be fatal. There are only two exceptions: a beginner exclusively equipped with a coiled leash and a helmet, or surfing in big waves with offshore wind, which is reserved for the most experienced riders.
Does riding strapless cause more damage to your board?
Not directly, but you'll see more heel dents when your foot pressure isn't yet dialed in. That's exactly where pads come in: the foam absorbs impacts that the board's reinforcements can't always handle alone.
What setup for freeride in surfkite?
You'll want pads, and straps mounted if your board has inserts. Freeride with a Surf board is accessible to everyone. Surfing in waves, however, demands more experience and often pushes riders toward strapless setups.
Got a question about your kitesurf setup?
We're out on the bay every day, testing the gear we sell. Tell us about your spot and your riding style, and we'll tell you exactly what we'd put on your board.
