North surf straps. Comfy but shit!

[kas911]

Hello

Those adjustable yellow North straps are very comfortable. no question about that. But they get loose after 2 minutes of kiting?!?!?!? Can't believe they can f*ck up something as simple as a strap! They should have just made it with velcro. Are there any good well known solutions to this? Besides going strapless which is not going to happen



Best Regards from Tenerife

[SupaEZ]

Agreed...they open wide ( the 2013 model as shown) as you ride...won't stay locked

North should do a recall of all those footstraps and replaced them at no charge with ones that works

I had to customize mine on my 2 North surfboards 2013

I locked them in position running a shoe lace through the end loop of adjustment tab
I send the tab internally ( like seen in your photo) and exit the 2 ends of the shoe lace ...
...through 2 of the holes at lower yellow part of footstrap

As you see on strap there are 5 holes ...so use the outward ones
Then thread more of the shoe lace ends into the 2 holes of the metal plate that has the center screw

You will have to loosen that screw in order to run lace through metal plate holes & strap holes

Adjust strap to your foot then screw down tight the rear of the strap...it will lock the laces...zero slip

Leave about 1/2 inch of shoe lace stick out from under back of strap...
..... and tie a knot at the end of lace

That is what i did to adapt to the situation

[sc]

I took mine apart and stitched it together.
The strap cleat just does not hold. Bad design.

[SupaEZ]

I took mine apart and stitched it together.
The strap cleat just does not hold. Bad design.

I did not want to do a permanent non adjustable fix

The way i did it all i have to do is loosen the back strap screw to adjust and make the strap....
....smaller or larger for someone else who wants to take a ride my board

Pull in or loosen the 2 shoe lace ends as needed.. then screw back down the back of the strap to lock

One tool is needed...Phillips screwdriver

[Sbrinckman]

I had the same problem with one of the straps. North send me a new pair after complaining.

[UnderWindPower]

North's Vario TwinTip straps are equally comfy and shit. They too don't stay in place, and drive me nuts... i'm forever having to reach down and put the velcro flap back and tighten and curse. Do they actually test these things? Time for user modifications!

[Peter_Frank]

Are the yellow ones the latest ? Or older ?

I got some, almost black and with a bit of white stripes - from around 2010.

They stick perfectly, and have never slipped

Same principle - a strap hanging out from the centre, and you push hard on the buckle to loosen.
Not that easy to adjust (loosen), as they can get stuck if not used - but dont mind, as how often do you adjust your straps ?
Two times a year for many, going from summer to winther (barefoot to booties) and back, and if travelling in the winthertime.

Thats not often, so would always prefer they were difficult to adjust, and maybe not easy to adjust.
But loosening up when riding ? That must NEVER happen

So if their latest, I hope they have stopped selling these, or modified so they work

Peter

[SupaEZ]

Are the yellow ones the latest ? Or older ?

I got some, almost black and with a bit of white stripes - from around 2010.

They stick perfectly, and have never slipped

The 2013 model ( yellow) are bad
Like you i have 2010 straps on my Kontact 5'9" board and there is zero slip
I also have 2011 straps in my Whip 5'5" board with zero slip

Not aware if 2012 was good also
Do not know about 2014 surfboard straps

[foxzone]

I think I have 2012’s and they slipped as well. I pulled insides out of one end and stuffed in folded neoprene under the cleat. It helped so far. Adjusting requires harder push on the cleat.
For twintip, Juniper kiteboarding sells Axis straps with extra backup straps on ebay cheap. So far I like them a lot. Harder to adjust on the water but comfy and rigid, and don’t pinch my pinky toe.

[kas911]

Tx everybody

Kinda nice to know im not alone to experience this. And thank you very much for the shoelace tip I have contacted the dealer to hear if they have some replacement ones that actually works. Bought the board brand new 2 months ago and haven't really used it untill know

But thanks for your help