A couple months ago the wife and I needed to replace a leash that no longer retracted. A buddy of mine had one of Flexi’s Explore Retractable Belt Dog Leashes that he swore by, so I asked him if I could take it for a test drive prior to purchasing one. It was a bit overkill for our smaller dog, an 11lb Bichon (who needed the new leash), so I asked if I could give it a go with his Rott.

Being a Flexi unit, I knew immediately that it was going to be a fantastic piece of plastic. Made in Germany, these Flexi leashes are of excellent quality and built to last. I only mention this because the leash I was trying wasn’t new; in fact, my friend has had it for about 2 years and uses it to keep his husky, 98lb female Rottweiler in check.

The overall size of the leash is a bit porky due to the 26′ leash and larger reel, however the first 2 things I noticed was the size of the handle seemed a bit small and it wasn’t rubber-coated. While I could squeeze all 4 fingers into the opening, it was a tight fit, and forget about trying to do this with gloves on…wearing them would only make this a 3-finger affair. I kept a tight grip on the handle as his Rott was quite curious about everything around her; sights, smells, movement. I asked my buddy about this and he said that it was difficult at times to hang on to when his Rott was on point (his hands are slightly bigger than mine), but added that he got used to it quickly. He also added that it was a small tradeoff for the overall quality of the leash.

The 26′ long belt extends and retracts very smoothly and the U-shaped belt slot helps prevent twisting. The lock button is the standard Flexi design; push down on the main button to stop, then slide the secondary button forward to lock. To unlock, simply pull back on the secondary button. Even though this leash is roughly 2 years old (with, I’m sure, MANY miles on it), the locking mechanism is still silky smooth. I tried a few panic-locks as the Rott moved away and it worked flawlessly. It was a sudden jolt that, if you’re not ready for, could pull the leash from your hand.

Recommendation-

For those of you that have larger breeds (up to the 110lb limit), this leash will undoubtedly reign in your dogs active nature. The construction is awesome and the locking mechanism is almost unbreakable. The 26′ lead is perfect for larger breeds that like to roam, just beware when they get close to the end of it, especially if they’re running. Once I got used to the power of the dog, I had complete confidence in the Explore’s ability when locking the belt. I never felt like the internals were stressed or starting to fail. While the smaller grip actually felt pretty good when I hung on for dear life, I would suggest heading to PetSmart (or someplace similar) and giving the Flexi Explore Retractable Dog Leash your own hand-test-fitting. This might be the only make-or-break part of this leash.

Specs-

Product Name: Flexi Explore Retractable Belt Dog Leash
Price: Around $25.00
Warranty: Lifetime

Features-

Belt or Cord: Belt
Length: 26′
Supports: Dogs up to 110lbs
Handle Construction: Plastic Grip
Lock and Release Button: 2-Stage Locking Button
Belt/Cord Slot: U-Shaped
Additional Items Included in the Packaging: Safety collar and Safety Precautions & Directions pamphlet