Retractable Leash Buyers Guide - The Variable Brake Retractable Leash
Welcome to our 4-part Buyers Guide on Retractable Leashes.
This is my final article and concerns my Variable Brake Retractable Leash, the ALPHA Leash.
After reviewing and testing all the other retractable dog leash designs available, a single issue has come up again and again. That issue is the inability for a retractable leash to safely deal with the occasion when your dog runs away from you. This is where the variable brake retractable leash comes to the rescue.
My leash design incorporates a variable brake, one where you control the braking force applied to your dog, just like the brakes found on cars and bicycles. This feature gives you the ability to smoothly and gently stop your dog when they are moving away at any speed.
The brake is applied using a brake handle that is always in the palm of your hand so that it takes advantage of your instinctual response to clench your fist in a stressful situation. It is therefore unlike the stop buttons on other leashes where you must reach for the stop button with your thumb, thereby losing precious seconds in a potentially dangerous situation.
My leash also incorporates several other novel features that are unavailable on any other retractable leash. These include:
a red warning strip that appears when there is only 2 ft of leash left.
a swivel to allow the leash tape to twist, which prevents retraction jams.
a leash lock to fix the length like other retractable leashes on the market.
Overall, I think the ALPHA Leash is the best retractable leash available. It is a well thought out and engineered product that fixes the issues found on all the other retractable leashes on the market.
Pros:
Smooth stops
Intuitive design
More stopping power
End of leash warning
Anti twist spinner
A slot where you can clip a treat or bag cannister
Cons:
Pricing is for a premium product
The leash weighs a little more than a comparable base retractable leash
Rating:
Available Models:
