Softech Brand Review: Boards, Leashes and FCS Fins

An unusual case: thirteen board items against twenty-two accessory items. Here is why, and what is worth buying.

What is in the range

• Surfboards: 13 items.
• Components: 15 items — fins.
• Accessories: 7 items — leashes.

Boards: Coaster 394 €, The Middie 394 €, Zeppelin 2.0 447 €, The Slayer 451 €.

Why the accessories matter more

The key to the brand is the mark on the fins and leashes: FCS.

FCS is the industry standard for fin boxes. Most surfboards in the world use that system, and compatibility matters more here than the board's brand.

What that means practically: Softech fins and leashes fit far more than Softech boards. They are universal consumables rather than model-specific accessories.

Hence the shape of the range: few boards, plenty of hardware, because everyone buys hardware.

Fins: what to choose

VFS Soft Tri Fin Set — 35 €. Soft fins.

FCS II Safety Tri Fin Set — 47 €. Safety-biased.

FCS II Performer Glass Flex — 47 €. A universal profile.

FCS II Carver Glass Flex — 47 €. Biased towards turning.

Hydro O.G Fin — 53 €.

How to read the names:

• Performer — balanced: holds a line and turns.
• Carver — for sharp turns, more area.
• Safety / Soft — soft fins: for beginners, children and schools.

Practical advice: swapping soft fins for hard ones is the cheapest way to improve a softboard. It holds a line more precisely while the deck stays as safe.

The reverse also holds: if you ride with children nearby or teach, soft fins noticeably reduce the risk of cuts.

Leashes: six types and why so many

• FCS All Round Classic — 32 €.
• FCS Bodyboard Classic — 35 €.
• FCS All Round Essential — 39 €.
• FCS Competition Essential — 39 €.
• FCS Bodyboard Wrist — 40 €. On the wrist.
• FCS Bodyboard Bicep — 44 €. On the bicep.
• FCS Longboard Ankle Essential — 46 €.

The difference is purpose rather than price:

A surf leash on the ankle — the standard for a board you stand on.

A bodyboard leash on wrist or bicep — because on a bodyboard you lie down, and an ankle leash would tangle and interfere.

A longboard leash — longer and thicker: a bigger board means more inertia and a different load.

Competition — thinner: less drag in the water, but less strength in reserve.

The rule: match leash length to board length. Too short and the board hits you in a fall; too long and it tangles and snags.

Four boards and what they mean

Coaster and The Middie — 394 €. The names describe size: a mid-length board.

Zeppelin 2.0 — 447 €. A second version, so the model has been refined.

The Slayer — 451 €. The top of the range.

Honestly about choosing: four boards is a selection rather than a range. If you want a softboard as a board, Catch Surf offers more: 88 items against thirteen.

Where Softech is stronger: hardware. FCS fins and leashes are what people buy for any board.

Who it suits

Anyone with a surfboard. Fins and leashes are consumables, and FCS compatibility makes them universal.

Softboard owners. A 47 € fin upgrade is the best investment in a soft board.

Schools. Safety fins reduce the risk of cuts while teaching.

Bodyboarders. Three specialised leashes is unusual.

Who it does not suit

Anyone shopping for the board itself. Four models is too narrow.

Anyone with a non-standard fin system. Check that yours is FCS — send us the board model and we will verify before payment.

Common questions

Will Softech fins fit another board?

Yes, if it uses FCS — the industry standard. Send us the board model and we will check before payment.

How does Performer differ from Carver?

Performer is balanced; Carver is biased towards sharp turns with more area.

Why does a bodyboard leash attach to the arm?

On a bodyboard you lie down: an ankle leash tangles and gets in the way.

What is the cheapest way to improve a softboard?

Fitting hard fins instead of soft ones — from 47 €.

Is a Softech board worth buying?

Four models is a narrow choice. If you want the board itself, Catch Surf has 88 items.

Where to look

The range is on the Softech page. Sections: surfboards and components.