kayak leg straps

 Was curious if the NWKA community finds any value in using leg straps on SOT kayaks.

Pros vs Cons?

I used thigh straps on a Tarpon 100 when surfing it; it's a holdover habit from my whitewater days.

Why do you ask?

They certainly make it easier to brace. It's a lot easier to land upright with em! Great for surf launches and landings.

The cons I can thunk of are having to install them and getting lures snagged on em.

They are always on my kayak in the ocean but I don't bother with them otherwise.

Are you using the straps to brace for an oncoming wave or to get back in after a flip? 

SIT-IN yaks have thigh braces mounted to the underside of the deck for that purpose.
SOT are more stable and I'd personally be more concerned about not getting strapped in upside down and not getting free. To date, a good paddle brace and eyes on a rotating head to turn into waves has worked just fine.

If you're talking about straps to flip a SOT back up, it seems like an individual choice.  I can reach under to pull with one hand and lift up with the other and getter done.  Having a snap that could easily be connected and provide the option of stepping down to flip one seems like a good idea, but I'm an anxious about lots of straps hanging everywhere.  That said, a parachute cord with a loop on each end to secure to a handle would be pretty easy to tuck away.

In addition to being a kayak angler, I'm a whitewater kayaker.  I have installed padeyes on my 13' Trident and my 13" Revolution so I can clip on thigh straps. These give me way more control over my kayaks when paddling in and out through surf, and allow me to turn sideways and sidesurf without getting dumped.

SOT are more stable and I'd personally be more concerned about not getting strapped in upside down and not getting free.

If thigh straps are installed correctly, they won't trap you in an upside-down kayak.  If you straighten your legs, they'll come out from under the thigh straps.

In addition to being a kayak angler, I'm a whitewater kayaker.  I have installed padeyes on my 13' Trident and my 13" Revolution so I can clip on thigh straps. These give me way more control over my kayaks when paddling in and out through surf, and allow me to turn sideways and sidesurf without getting dumped.

SOT are more stable and I'd personally be more concerned about not getting strapped in upside down and not getting free.

If thigh straps are installed correctly, they won't trap you in an upside-down kayak.  If you straighten your legs, they'll come out from under the thigh straps.

What he said. 

Great control in the surf and easy to slip out of when you need to.

-Mark-

Like so I'm assuming...

Bingo!

That look uncomfortable.

Hydro, don't want to steal your thread and having not (yet) launched into the surf, please consider the value of my first post just that.
They look like they would really provide some lift when need as well as mate you to the yak and still let you use the rudder with a little practice.  Pretty easy to fabricate and I'll be thinking of a little Velcro so I could pull them tight to the bottom of the seat and out of the way while still having access when needed.
Appreciate the tips from all and can see this being pretty helpful even in Puget Sound.

The thigh straps in Trident 13's photo are mounted just right.  I once mounted a pair of thigh straps with the padeyes too far forward and back, so the thigh straps were pretty straight, rather than curving around your upper and lower legs a bit as shown in Trident 13's photo, and the thigh straps tended to stretch and didn't provide as solid a control as they would have if mounted as shown in Trident 13s photo. 

In addition to being a kayak angler, I'm a whitewater kayaker.  I have installed padeyes on my 13' Trident and my 13" Revolution so I can clip on thigh straps. These give me way more control over my kayaks when paddling in and out through surf, and allow me to turn sideways and sidesurf without getting dumped.

SOT are more stable and I'd personally be more concerned about not getting strapped in upside down and not getting free.

If thigh straps are installed correctly, they won't trap you in an upside-down kayak.  If you straighten your legs, they'll come out from under the thigh straps.

What pete said.  I didn't move them to my Revo, but I put padeyes on the Trident.

That look uncomfortable.

Nah they feel fine. They aren't supposed to be really tight and when you straighten your legs they come off as mentioned above.

You feel locked into the kayak instead of merely sitting upon. It makes a huge difference in the waves.

I didn't move them to my Revo, but I put padeyes on the Trident.

A tip about those thigh straps: you can paddle a kayak while wearing thigh straps, but you can't pedal a kayak while wearing thigh straps.

 Response and interest is close to what I had expected.
I use leg straps primarily for recreational paddling and rarely when fishing, but I'm strongly considering keeping them attached every time I am on the water.
I find the paddling more enjoyable and I believe that I am much safer strapped in than when Im not.

The chances of boat separation are significantly reduced. Not just because I am strapped to the boat, but the level of my skill set and counter measures are increased. For me, there is no high brace without straps and my low brace is much weaker.
I still enjoy using big blades, and there are times when I come close to pulling myself right out of the boat. The aggressive T stroke, bow rudder, and even a strong sculling draw can threaten when Im not strapped in.
Paddling starts at the core and the straps allow me to engage my core and influence the boat.

Im using straps that are A LOT more comfortable than the ones pictured above.
A larger padded surface area with a wider area for your distal leg and one has a shock cord end that increases comfort. My hip snap is dulled by the shock cord but it is more comfortable for all day trips.
   



 Fishing might be the time when I need them most. There is a lot of extra gear that rides at a higher COG and a solid brace becomes more important and more difficult.

A few years back, I spent some time focusing on rolling SOTs.  It was mostly because I wanted to roll the Cobra Strike with greater proficiency.





I knew if I could roll a bigger SOT then rolling the Strike would seem that much easier.
After some success, I decided that I wanted to roll a full size fishing SOT.










Sure, some will say that rolling a SOT is not necessary and of no practical use, but what it has done for my bracing skills is undeniable. Bomb proof.
While I feel safer with the straps, there is some potential risk. These risks are managed through composure, practice, and a lot of time upside down on a plastic boat.








Looking forward to trying to roll the new Super Scupper and then attempting to roll it fully loaded for fishing.