Making a Pair of Quick Release Heel Straps in Minutes

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.







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









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