The wife and I purchased the Flexi Freedom Retractable Cord Dog Leash as a replacement for a failed lesser brand based on it’s reviews. Right off the bat I was glad to see that it was a corded leash and not a belted one (for reasons I’ll get into later). Since Munchkin, our 11lb Bichon, could be easily mistaken for a tasty morsel by some woodland creatures, I’m also pleased with the fact that he can only be about 16′ away at any given time.
The construction of the Flexi Freedom is, of course, top notch. The outer case is stout, the 2-step locking button system is standard Flexi goodness and the 2-stage, color-coordinated belt/cord combo is pretty slick. Our Bichon is well behaved, but when out on our walks he and 38lb dog (Bailey) can get pretty playful and mix things up.
On a gloomy Saturday the wife and I decided to give our pups some park time. After arriving, I prepped Bailey and handed the leash to my wife. After prepping Munchkin, I found that the handle on the Flexi Freedom must have been designed for a 5-year old hand…squeezing 4 fingers into the grip was a slightly painful process, but getting them back out was even worse. The wife, on the other hand, was able to get all 4 of hers in comfortably even with her thin gloves on. Needless to say, we switched dogs.
The functionality of the leash is great. The 2-stage locking system works as it should, even throwing in a few panic locks to test the strength. Because it’s a corded leash, there is no fear of twisting and locking up on reach or retract. That part alone is fantastic to me. However, there is a downside. Corded leashes do get a bad wrap since, well, they’re long, thin cords that can wrap around body parts and slice away. We had jeans on that day so there were no instances (plus we keep pretty good control of them), but I have had corded leashes wrap around my legs in the past, creating a nice burn when poochie gets out of control. The same can happen with a belted leash, only the burn may be a little different. Either way, you still need to pay attention to what your dog is doing and keep track of the leash (corded or belted).
The only real issue that we had was when Munchkin did make a break for it (chasing Bailey) and went to full retract. I heard a faint ‘crack’ or ‘snap’ in the handle and thought this leash was done for. While it does say ‘up to 26lbs’, a spry 11lb dog running full tilt the other direction will certainly test the limits of the internals. The leash locked at full reach, but a light tap on the side freed it up. We’ve been on 3-4 walks since that time and it appears to be working fine. Crossing my fingers.
Recommendation-
The Flexi Freedom Retractable Cord Dog Leash is a great retainer for your smaller pet. Other than the one snafu early on, we’ve had no other problems with it. Munchkin is a fast little guy and loves to play hard, but I trust the Flexi Freedom to keep him under control when I need to. I’ve been contacted and told that others have had this leash and the cord has separated from the internal reel, but since I haven’t had that issue I really can’t comment on it. I’m sure it happens, it just hasn’t happened to me.
Specs-
Product Name: Flexi Freedom Retractable Cord Dog Leash
Price: Around $15.00
Warranty: Lifetime
Features-
Belt or Cord: Cord
Length: 16′
Supports: Dogs up to 26lbs
Handle Construction: Plastic Grip
Lock and Release Button: 2-Stage Locking Button
Belt/Cord Slot: Funneled hole
Other Features: Available in 6 colors (black/grey, blue/black, grey/black, purple/black, red/black, pink/black)
Additional Items Included in the Packaging: Safety collar and Safety Precautions & Directions pamphlet