Durable Wake Handles?
Anybody got any recs on a durable handle? Last couple years I have had to buy a new one every year while riding 1-3 times a week for about 6 months a year. Sucks even more now that it seems most places are only selling combos, or selling just handles for nearly the price of a decent combo.
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I honestly ride a 1" oak dowel and have for about 5 years now. I would switch grips on a convertible handle easy 2-3 times a year before. My first wooden handle lasted 4 years and I only discontinued it after it after the ends started getting ratty. I ride 2-3 times a week during the summer and at least 1 time a week all year and I have no callouses. I hear all kinds of complaints, until they try it. Everyone that has used it, loves it.
A new handle costs me $1.30 not $130. |
Do you wrap it with any material or just hold on to a raw piece of oak?
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No need to wrap it. It will give you plenty of traction without eating up your hands. |
damn OG
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I’ve been through a few recently so I’ll share my experience
Ronix frank handle - like the feel. Grip started to tear after a few sets and now keep it as a backup Liquid force team- snapped after half season Liquid force henshaw - second season, grip has held up Well ( wil never get an inflated line again tangles Like crazy) Accurate Webb- this has held up the best over time compared the other handles. |
I tend to blow through handles and ropes every other year.
The only one that has stood the test of time is a proline LG, which has lasted 6 years now. I “replaced” it and moved it to reserve with a follow line, which I blew through in 2 seasons. I just picked up another LG and so far so good. It’s still in the boat as my back up. It was once even wrapped in a prop and made it out unscathed We ride like 100hours a year worth for what it’s worrh and I literally destroy all my equipment from hard use |
I've found that the cheaper handles last far longer than the branded ones. I had a LF handle replaced 3 times, a byerly one replaced twice and destroyed countless others within a season. Then got a cheap proline with a board and it's still going after 5 seasons.
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Proline isn’t really “cheap” in terms of the overall brand. That’s Connelly’s line and they’ve been around a long time.
I really like my Humanoid Teamster handle. I’m holding on hope that they’ll bring them back at some point. |
I have an Obrien Team T-Bar handle that I like a lot. Part of the reason I bought it is I have a friend that gets 3+ seasons out of his. Prior to this I had a few Ronix One handles, but they were always dead after a season. Right now I'm on year 2 for this O'Brien and it's going well.
For reference I ride 3-4x a week April-Oct. |
I also need to find a company who makes a decent handle. Got the hyperlite T bar handle and it bent in just a few weeks. I tried to file a warranty claim on their website only to not even get a response.
Liquid force handles also tend to bend. I swear we pay pretty high prices for this stuff and 90% of it is junk. While we are talking liquid force may as well bring up how garbage the flex track is. I went through a few of them this season. What a joke. |
I just build my own for around $25-$30 in parts/rope from a bulk supplier, and toss on whatever rope I want. All of the handles I've built are at least 5-years old and used frequently, and I don't think I've ever busted one of my handles. The grip might not be as cushy, but if you use it enough, your hands are fine with anything. With buckets of years in the show ski world, I actually prefer just a smooth rubber grip
I've snapped Spectra ropes a few times, but if it's hollow core, I just pop in a new splice and lose maybe a foot off the rope, and gain a take-off.... |
Have any of you put a new grip on a handle? I have a straight line that the grip is coming loose on. I was thinking about wrapping it, not sure what to use.
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I had a hyperlite regiment handle that grip started to fall apart almost immediately. Per another ww’r I wrapped it with athletic tape. Boom! Seriously my fave handle for almost 7 years until it went missing on my buddies boat! I think I may have had to wrap it maybe 2 diff times over those years but keeps the current cush while giving that tacky grip
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^ and I guess that can maybe lead to answer OP question... since I lost my handle I recently purchased hyperlite team handle and seems great so far, but still early
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I wish Helium was still in business. I have 3 old Helium handles that are just now at the end of their life and tried wrapping one...... It lasted half a set. :(
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I wanted to bump this instead of making a new thread. My search on "handles" gave me everything but. Anyway, time to replace some worn out gear. Looking for a wakeboard handle for the entire boat that will give me more than a year of service. My high end handles seem to fall apart too quickly. What can you recommend as an update to this post?
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I wish more people got on a wakeboard that could recommend solutions to these problems. I am back out searching for a decent handle again.
If anyone has an old Helium handle in decent shape I am happy to buy it off of you for a decent price. :D |
I find they all fall apart too quickly. Follow handles seems to last pretty well though, but they're not cheap
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Personally, I love chamois grip handles but they fall apart faily quickly unless they have stitching. I've had one with stitching that has lasted years. Most big brands make them with the stitching but here's one (not the one I have)
https://waterskis.com/hyperlite-t-mu...BoCXmEQAvD_BwE |
We just use the proline handle/ rope combo for general boat use. Very durable
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It must be older one but I bought a Proline handle and the ends of it came off almost immediately. Maybe I should have ordered a Follow right from the start. Can one not be built for less than $200 that stays together? lol
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