The Flexi New Comfort Tape Retractable Dog Leash, Blue is flexi's tape lead with an adjustable handle, in blue, sold from XS at 3 metres up to L at 8 metres.

Key Features

• Size XS: 3 m of tape for dogs up to 12 kg
• Size S: 5 m for dogs up to 15 kg
• Size M: 5 m for dogs up to 25 kg
• Size L: 5 m for dogs up to 60 kg, or 8 m for dogs up to 50 kg — the longer tape carries the lower rating
• Adjustable handle, which is what separates the New Comfort from the New Classic. It sets to the width of your hand, gloved or bare
• Short-stroke braking, so the brake reaches its stop with a small movement of the thumb
• Flat tape rather than cord. Tape carries a higher weight rating than cord in the same size and is easier to see, which is why it costs a little more
• Chromed snap hook and a soft-grip handle
• Takes the optional flexi Multi Box for treats or a poop-bag roll, and the flexi LED Lighting System, both sold separately
• Made in Germany by flexi, part of Bogdahn International in Bargteheide, which invented the retractable dog lead and has been building them since 1973

Choosing The Size

• Every flexi housing has its maximum dog weight printed on it. Check that figure against your dog before the first walk
• The weight rating is about what the mechanism and the tape can hold, not about how big the dog looks. A lively 20 kg dog hitting the end of the lead generates far more force than its bodyweight
• Tape is wider, stronger and easier to see. Cord is lighter and slimmer, and it is the one to avoid if your dog lunges, because a thin cord under load is the worst thing to grab
• Longer is not automatically better. In a town, 3 m of tape you can actually manage beats 8 m you keep locked at arm's length

Using A Retractable Lead Safely

• flexi's own instructions say never to grasp the tape or cord, and never to wind it around any part of your body. Nylon under load gives friction burns, and this is the injury most often associated with retractable leads
• Hold it in your hand and nothing else. flexi states the lead should never be used to tie a dog up, and never used other than by hand
• Keep it locked short near roads, car parks and blind corners, and walk the dog to heel whenever other people or dogs approach. flexi says the permanent stop is for exactly that — walking to heel on a short lead
• Do not let go of the handle. A dropped handle retracts noisily and chases the dog, and a frightened dog then runs
• Clip it to a well-fitted harness rather than a collar. A dog hitting the end of several metres of lead at speed puts a hard jolt through its neck, and flexi advises checking the collar regularly
• flexi states children should not be allowed to use these leads
• Never open the casing. There is a recoil spring under tension inside
• A retractable lead gives a dog freedom. It does not give you recall — that still has to be trained

Looking After It

• Check it over before every walk. flexi is explicit that even good materials wear out
• If it gets wet, pull the tape or cord all the way out, lock the brake and leave it to dry overnight rather than winding it back damp
• Wipe grit off the tape or cord before letting it retract. Dirt drawn into the casing is what wears the mechanism
• Stop using it if the tape or cord is frayed, abraded or chewed. flexi says a damaged lead should be taken out of service, not nursed along
• Do not open the casing to clean inside it

Good To Know

• The adjustable handle is the reason to choose this over the New Classic, and it earns its money if the lead gets shared between people or used in gloves
• The 8 m L size is rated lower than the 5 m L, at 50 kg against 60 kg. More tape out means more force at the end of it
• Each colour is listed separately here rather than as options on one product, so if the colour you want is out of stock it is worth checking the others
• The listing previously advertised this lead in red, pink, green, grey and blue. The colours actually stocked are black, blue, light blue, red and rose
• Not every size and length combination is stocked at any one time. Check the size selector before ordering