How to make a Pair of Quick Release Heel Straps in Minutes by Brack Lee

McCarver · 07-25-2009, 04:00 PM

by Brack Lee

Do you need heel straps to ride? No. But they can be nice when you want a little extra security while trying various flips and spins. Heel straps lock you in to your bindings like a snowboard or wakeboard so that there is no chance of loosing your board in mid-air. There's also no chance for escape. You won't be able to bail using heel straps. When you're strapped in and falling you will crash like a TV flying out the balcony of a rock star's hotel room. However if you are having problems with your feet slipping out of your bindings in mid-air these straps will help you stomp that corked 5 like a champ.

One of the major complaints about the heel straps currently available for purchase from board manufacturers is that they are a pain in the ass to strap on. You either need to twist your leg around like a circus freak to get into the binding, or you constantly have to adjust Velcro straps or plastic buckles. Here we offer a quick, easy, and cheap alternative to what is on the market today.

For under five dollars and ten minutes you can make a strong pair of quick release heel straps by following these simple directions:

First you will need to gather your materials, anything that you don't already have can be found at your local hardware store.

Here's what you'll need:
1 tube of foam rubber pipe insulation
1 two-foot length of rubber water fountain hose
2 sixteen-inch bungee cords
1 utility knife, pair of tin snips or heavy-duty scissors
1 ruler or measuring tape
1 lighter
1 roll of duct tape

Step 1:
Measure and cut an eight-inch section of foam rubber pipe insulation.

Step 2:
Measure and cut a ten-inch section of rubber water fountain hose.

Step 3:
Cut one end off of a bungee cord.

Step 4:
Thread the end of the bungee cord through the rubber hose

Step 5:
Thread the hose and bungee through the pipe insulation.

Step 6:
Replace the bungee hook on the cut end of the bungee cord.

Step 7:
Tie a knot four inches from the cut end of the bungee cord.

Step 8:
Remove the excess cord beyond the knot and burn the very end to prevent fraying.

Step 9:
Attach your new heel strap to your bindings with the hook ends of the bungee cord.

McCarver · 07-25-2009, 04:00 PM

Step 10:
Repeat steps 1-9 for the other binding.

http://web.archive.org/web/200402080...ges/heel13.gif

Step 11:
For increased durability you may want to wrap your new heel straps with duct tape to prevent the foam rubber from shredding.

Step 12:
Use your new heelstraps to show Jereme Leafe how to get inverted

Written by: Brack Lee

Rastarocket06 · 07-26-2009, 01:33 AM

good idea ! nice work !

stlmtboarder · 07-26-2009, 09:17 PM

those work nicely. although i ride the old mbs heal straps. they are so simple to get on and off for whenever i want to ride fully strapped in

Raoul Duke · 07-27-2009, 05:51 AM

Gonna make a set of those on my day off....

parkerbomar · 08-06-2009, 02:16 PM

i had all the stuff at home so i made some, there actually pretty good

if for anything there good to have sitting around just incase you need them

Lord Banks · 08-13-2009, 11:34 AM

I've just tried making a pair of these, never bothered with the pipe lagging and that, just tied a knot in the end of a pair of bungees to see if it was worth it and from just jibbing in the yard, i could totally tell the difference straight off. Almost feels like a pair of proper bindings.

Highly recommended

Raoul Duke · 08-13-2009, 01:06 PM

I made a set the other day also. I went to 6 fifferent hardware stores no one had foam insulation. So I just took some stuffing for a pillow and wrapped it around those and then duct tapped the crap out of it for cushion they fit snug and work perfectly.

BgSurfer · 08-13-2009, 01:12 PM

I guess you don't need to insulate pipes from freezing in CR.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raoul Duke

I went to 6 fifferent hardware stores no one had foam insulation.

Raoul Duke · 08-13-2009, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BgSurfer

I guess you don't need to insulate pipes from freezing in CR.

Thats what they said....Could of maybe hit an a/c store but it was a saturday..

Lord Banks · 08-13-2009, 03:09 PM

Don't really need the lagging to be honest.

hank · 08-15-2009, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lord Banks

Don't really need the lagging to be honest.

I'll second that. Today on my way to the hill I've been riding at I stopped at the hardware store and bought two 16" bungee cords ($1.98 total plus tax). Tied a couple of knots in them to fit them to my feet and they work like a charm. I have the ancient "post" type bindings on my board and my feet were flopping around like crazy, especially when I would get any air. What a difference. Good stuff...

McCarver · 08-15-2009, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hank

I'll second that. Today on my way to the hill I've been riding at I stopped at the hardware store and bought two 16" bungee cords ($1.98 total plus tax). Tied a couple of knots in them to fit them to my feet and they work like a charm. I have the ancient "post" type bindings on my board and my feet were flopping around like crazy, especially when I would get any air. What a difference. Good stuff...

Nice, what board did you end up buying Hank?

hank · 08-15-2009, 06:40 PM

I think I posted it up here before, but here it is again.

Old entry level MBS. For $40 I have no compliants.

I'm thinking about moving up to F3 bindings (which would mean I paid more for my bindings than my board

) Unless I get a new board first...

McCarver · 08-15-2009, 06:48 PM

Ok, I'll be the first to admit that my short term memory is shot. Glad to hear she is holding up for you.

hank · 08-15-2009, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by McCarver

Ok, I'll be the first to admit that my short term memory is shot. Glad to hear she is holding up for you.

What's holding up for me?

No sweat, sometimes I think I have early onset Alzheimers. Scary to think what I will be like when I really do get that age...

McCarver · 08-15-2009, 07:09 PM

That your board is holding up for you, your board = she. I like to imagine my board as a lady, it keeps me riding "straight"

hank · 08-15-2009, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by McCarver

That your board is holding up for you, your board = she. I like to imagine my board as a lady, it keeps me riding "straight"

I know, I know, bad joke on my part. Although my memory sometimes is that short...

McCarver · 08-15-2009, 07:18 PM

Bad joke or was that a nice way to tell me that I'm extremely slow? In my defense I have been in the office too long this evening.

hank · 08-15-2009, 07:26 PM

Now would I do that?

Been there, done that. I've had many a groggy night in the office myself.

07-25-2009, 04:00 PM	#1
McCarver 3rd Level Google Master Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Costa Rica Posts: 7,791	How to make a Pair of Quick Release Heel Straps in Minutes by Brack Lee by Brack Lee Do you need heel straps to ride? No. But they can be nice when you want a little extra security while trying various flips and spins. Heel straps lock you in to your bindings like a snowboard or wakeboard so that there is no chance of loosing your board in mid-air. There's also no chance for escape. You won't be able to bail using heel straps. When you're strapped in and falling you will crash like a TV flying out the balcony of a rock star's hotel room. However if you are having problems with your feet slipping out of your bindings in mid-air these straps will help you stomp that corked 5 like a champ. One of the major complaints about the heel straps currently available for purchase from board manufacturers is that they are a pain in the ass to strap on. You either need to twist your leg around like a circus freak to get into the binding, or you constantly have to adjust Velcro straps or plastic buckles. Here we offer a quick, easy, and cheap alternative to what is on the market today. For under five dollars and ten minutes you can make a strong pair of quick release heel straps by following these simple directions: First you will need to gather your materials, anything that you don't already have can be found at your local hardware store. Here's what you'll need: 1 tube of foam rubber pipe insulation 1 two-foot length of rubber water fountain hose 2 sixteen-inch bungee cords 1 utility knife, pair of tin snips or heavy-duty scissors 1 ruler or measuring tape 1 lighter 1 roll of duct tape Step 1: Measure and cut an eight-inch section of foam rubber pipe insulation. Step 2: Measure and cut a ten-inch section of rubber water fountain hose. Step 3: Cut one end off of a bungee cord. Step 4: Thread the end of the bungee cord through the rubber hose Step 5: Thread the hose and bungee through the pipe insulation. Step 6: Replace the bungee hook on the cut end of the bungee cord. Step 7: Tie a knot four inches from the cut end of the bungee cord. Step 8: Remove the excess cord beyond the knot and burn the very end to prevent fraying. Step 9: Attach your new heel strap to your bindings with the hook ends of the bungee cord. Last edited by McCarver; 10-27-2009 at 06:24 PM.

07-26-2009, 01:33 AM	#3
Rastarocket06 Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Grasse, France Posts: 51	good idea ! nice work ! __________________ "Jah is my copilot !!! " To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. website To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. email : To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

08-15-2009, 06:40 PM	#14
hank Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Massachusetts, USA Posts: 42	I think I posted it up here before, but here it is again. Old entry level MBS. For $40 I have no compliants. I'm thinking about moving up to F3 bindings (which would mean I paid more for my bindings than my board ) Unless I get a new board first... Attached Thumbnails

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07-26-2009, 09:17 PM	#4
stlmtboarder Urban Thrasher Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: St. Louis MO Posts: 659	those work nicely. although i ride the old mbs heal straps. they are so simple to get on and off for whenever i want to ride fully strapped in

07-27-2009, 05:51 AM	#5
Raoul Duke Resident Drunk Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Ciudad Colon Costa Rica Posts: 1,309	Gonna make a set of those on my day off....

08-06-2009, 02:16 PM	#6
parkerbomar PROPAGANDA Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: atlanta, GA Posts: 750	i had all the stuff at home so i made some, there actually pretty good if for anything there good to have sitting around just incase you need them

08-13-2009, 11:34 AM	#7
Lord Banks monkey boy Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Newcastle upon Tyne Posts: 432	I've just tried making a pair of these, never bothered with the pipe lagging and that, just tied a knot in the end of a pair of bungees to see if it was worth it and from just jibbing in the yard, i could totally tell the difference straight off. Almost feels like a pair of proper bindings. Highly recommended

08-13-2009, 01:06 PM	#8
Raoul Duke Resident Drunk Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Ciudad Colon Costa Rica Posts: 1,309	I made a set the other day also. I went to 6 fifferent hardware stores no one had foam insulation. So I just took some stuffing for a pillow and wrapped it around those and then duct tapped the crap out of it for cushion they fit snug and work perfectly.

08-13-2009, 03:09 PM	#11
Lord Banks monkey boy Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Newcastle upon Tyne Posts: 432	Don't really need the lagging to be honest.

08-15-2009, 06:48 PM	#15
McCarver 3rd Level Google Master Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Costa Rica Posts: 7,791	Ok, I'll be the first to admit that my short term memory is shot. Glad to hear she is holding up for you.

08-15-2009, 07:09 PM	#17
McCarver 3rd Level Google Master Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Costa Rica Posts: 7,791	That your board is holding up for you, your board = she. I like to imagine my board as a lady, it keeps me riding "straight"

08-15-2009, 07:18 PM	#19
McCarver 3rd Level Google Master Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Costa Rica Posts: 7,791	Bad joke or was that a nice way to tell me that I'm extremely slow? In my defense I have been in the office too long this evening.

08-15-2009, 07:26 PM	#20
hank Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Massachusetts, USA Posts: 42	Now would I do that? Been there, done that. I've had many a groggy night in the office myself.