Our Story

Solo Strap® started in 2012 from a simple problem: what do you do when you turn up at the beach, the wind is pumping, you’re ready for a session… and there’s no kite buddy around to help you launch?

That was my regular situation at Pigeon Point in Tobago, where my wife and I spend part of the year. In the early days, my obvious solution was to ask my wife to help me launch. That worked until one memorable disaster, which has since led to her unofficial policy of never launching kites again and, these days, probably justifies the wearing of an “I don’t launch kites” T-shirt.

So I started looking for other options. I’d seen Brett Kenny from Radical Sports Tobago using a Hobie Cat left on the beach as a kind of sand anchor, clipping in to the mast wires to self-launch. It looked a little sketchy, but it worked, and for a while I copied the same idea. Then one day I turned up and the Hobie Cat had been moved. No boat, no launch plan.

After that, I learned how to self-launch and self-land directly on the beach with just the kite and lines. It worked, but it never felt ideal. In gusty conditions there was always the risk of dragging the kite through sand and beach debris, which led to pinholes, wear and tear, and my GoPro regularly getting scraped along the beach too. It was clear there had to be a better way.

That’s when I started experimenting with a tethered setup that could act as a reliable beach anchor. Early versions were simple rope and carabiners, and they worked well, but the idea kept evolving. I wanted something safer and more practical than using a safety leash, because many riders were taking the leash off their harness and using it as the launch anchor. That means your safety system is not actually connected when you launch, and once the kite is up, you still have to unclip it from the anchor and reconnect it to your harness while flying the kite.

Over time, the concept became simple: create a lightweight strap that could act as your new kite buddy when you didn’t actually have one.

As the testing went on, it became clear the strap also needed to do more than just help with launching. On downwinders and remote sessions, it made sense to carry something light that could help with self-rescue, towing gear, or assisting another rider if needed. So we tested different strap lengths, materials, and anchor points, from palm trees and signposts to rocks, vehicles, and sandbags.

One of the biggest improvements came from adding a bungee section. That helped absorb sudden tension in gusty conditions and also made the strap neater and easier to carry when clipped around the waist on the water.

That version became the original Hands Solo strap. Friends started asking if they could buy one, and from there it slowly grew into a real product. Not because we were trying to build a big business, but because it solved a genuine problem with a simple, useful bit of kit.

Since then, we’ve kept refining the design based on rider feedback. One of the biggest updates was adding the option to connect to the safety ring on the kite lines, allowing riders to release the chicken loop if needed without losing the kite. That led to the development of our optional Leia leash system.

Over the years, we’ve sold hundreds of Solo Straps to new and pro kiters all over the world. They also make a great gift for your kite buddies, and unlike most kite gear, they won’t push anyone over their luggage weight limit.

Today, Solo Strap helps riders self-launch and self-land without assistance, without dragging kites through the beach, and without compromising their main safety leash. It’s your kite buddy when there isn’t one, and a practical tool to have with you on the water if things don’t go to plan.

And as a bonus, several friends have pointed out that it also makes a very good dog lead.