FCS Freedom Helix Leash — All Round Surfboard Leash (All Round, 6ft / 7ft) — full deck view

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FCS

FCS · Surfboard Leash (All Round, 6ft / 7ft)

FCS Freedom Helix Leash — All Round Review

9.8/ 10 Estimated score

9.8

Estimated from 3 independent sources (no numeric scores published)

Average price≈ $64USD converted · 4 retailers, 4 currenciesSee sources

FCS's flagship leash: a bio-resin cord with a textured helix surface, wrapped in a lightweight moulded cuff. The All Round is the everyday version of the Helix family — thicker and more forgiving than the Comp, and the one most surfers should be looking at for a 5'6"–7'0" board.

View on FCS

Quick specs

Type: All Round surfboard leash
Lengths: 6' and 7'
Cord: Naturally sourced corn-based bio-resin, textured helix surface
Cuff: Moulded ankle cuff with padded liner
Rail saver: Yes — integrated
Swivels: Double swivel (cuff and rail saver)

The Freedom Helix is FCS's answer to the oldest complaint about leashes: they are dead weight dragging behind the board. FCS replaced the standard petroleum urethane cord with a corn-based bio-resin and moulded a helix texture into the cord surface, which the brand says makes the leash both lighter and faster through the water than the equivalent urethane cord.

Three versions exist. The Comp is the thinnest and is aimed at small waves and performance boards, the All Round reviewed here is the everyday leash in 6' and 7', and the Longboard version adds ankle and calf options. On FCS's US store the All Round sits at $70, the Comp at $64 and the Longboard at $78.

Pros & cons

Bio-resin cord is noticeably lighter than a standard urethane leash of the same thickness
Textured helix surface reduces the dead-weight drag feel through turns
Highest-rated leash on FCS's own store — 4.9 / 5 across 68 published reviews
Sold in every FCS region, so replacement and warranty support is easy

$70 USD is roughly double a basic all-round leash
Only 6' and 7' in the All Round — shorter boards need the Comp version
Bio-resin cord is a newer material with a shorter real-world track record than plain urethane

How it surfs

Feedback published on FCS's own store is unusually consistent for a leash: 68 reviews averaging 4.9 out of 5 on the All Round, and a further 36 reviews at 5.0 on the Comp. The recurring theme in the product copy and reviews is weight — the Helix cord feels lighter than its diameter suggests, which is the whole point of the design.

Where it fits: this is a premium everyday leash for anyone riding a 5'6"–7'0" board in normal surf. If you mostly surf overhead reef or heavy beach breaks you want a thicker comp/heavy-duty cord instead; if you ride a longboard you want the Longboard Helix with a calf cuff option.

Volume & sizing chart

Use the chart below as a starting point. Add half a litre if you are less experienced, subtract half a litre for a looser feel.

Size	Volume	Rider weight	Best for
6'	Boards up to ~6'6"	Any	All
7'	Boards 6'6"–7'6" and step-ups	Any	All

Verdict

The best-reviewed leash FCS sells, and the one worth the upgrade if leash drag bothers you. Get the 6' for a normal shortboard, the 7' for a step-up, and the Comp instead if you only surf small waves.

Estimated score: 9.8 / 10

Estimated from 3 independent sources — see full list below.

What reviewers around the web are saying

Surfex does not test gear directly. Below are independent retailer and editorial sources. When a source publishes a numeric score, it is normalized to a five-point scale; otherwise the source is listed without a score.

Estimated score

9.8/ 10

9.8

3 sources

Source	Score	Summary
FCS US — verified customer reviews (68)	9.8 4.9 / 10	"Rated 4.9 out of 5 based on 68 reviews on the FCS US All Round Helix product page."
FCS US — Freedom Helix Comp customer reviews (36)	10.0 5.0 / 10	"Rated 5.0 out of 5 based on 36 reviews on the FCS US Freedom Helix Comp product page."
FCS — Freedom Helix technology page	No numeric score	"The Freedom Helix creates the perfect blend of weightlessness, strength and sustainability in a leash that's one of a kind. Featuring a cord made from natural bio-resin, the Helix is not only more eco-friendly, but ups the performance levels by being lighter and faster than anything you've experienced."

Where to buy & average price

Listed prices come from verified retailer pages. The average price below is an unweighted mean of verified retailer prices — converted to USD (≈) when retailers list in different currencies. Click any retailer to verify the native-currency price.

Average price

≈ $64

USD converted · 4 retailers

Retailer	Price	vs. average
FCS UK (6')	£49.95	-$0.56	Visit
FCS EU (6')	€58	-$1.36	Visit
FCS US (6')	$70	+$6	Visit
FCS Australia (6')	A$89.95	-$4.63	Visit

Frequently asked questions

What length Freedom Helix do I need?+

Match the leash to your board or go slightly longer. The All Round comes in 6' for boards up to about 6'6", and 7' for step-ups and boards in the 6'6"–7'6" range. Shorter performance boards are better served by the Comp version.

Helix All Round vs Helix Comp — what's the difference?+

The Comp uses a thinner cord aimed at small waves and competition surfing and lists at $64 on FCS US. The All Round uses a thicker everyday cord at $70. Both use the same bio-resin helix cord material and cuff design.

Is the bio-resin cord actually stronger?+

FCS states the corn-based bio-resin cord is both lighter and stronger than its previous cord, and its own store reviews average 4.9 out of 5 across 68 reviews. Independent long-term breakage testing has not been published, so treat durability claims as manufacturer-stated.

Does it come with a rail saver?+

Yes. The rail saver and double swivels are built into the leash — nothing extra to buy.

How much does it cost outside the US?+

As listed on FCS's own regional stores at time of writing: $70 USD, €58 EUR, £49.95 GBP and $89.95 AUD for the 6' All Round.

Can I use it on a longboard?+

No — use the Longboard Helix instead. It runs longer and offers a calf cuff option, and lists at $78 on FCS US.