Leash Patent T-Shirt

$28.00

See The Story of this design in tab, below.

Our original PatentWear Leash design is printed in full color on a classic pre-shrunk 100% cotton men’s/unisex t-shirt using an eco-friendly water-based ink process, in shirt colors as indicated. The large design is printed on the front only. Some element colors in the design change slightly depending upon whether it is printed on a dark or light shirt.

SKU: 149MS Categories: , ,

The Story

Pat O’Neill, son of the late legendary surfer and wetsuit guru Jack O’Neill, is credited with the invention of the surf leash, though he never patented it. In 1971 Pat used a surgical cord to attach his leg to his surfboard via a suction cup. When he used it during a competition in Malibu, Pat was disqualified for wearing the then-unsanctioned leash.

The leash concept was slow to be accepted by old-school watermen. The prevailing philosophy was, if you lost your board in a wipeout, you swam for it and waited your turn to get back in the lineup. Early surf leashes were called “kook cords” by a surfing community whose unwritten yet shared attitude was that a surfer should pay for his or her mistakes by swimming.

Oddly enough, Jack O’Neill became one of the first victims of the leash when he lost an eye from a powerful snap-back while surfing the Hook in Santa Cruz, California. Jack’s distinctive bearded mug and his piratical eye patch have now become one of today’s most iconic logos, recognized worldwide as the O’Neill surf brand of clothes, gear, and accessories.

The advancement from dangerously elastic surgical tubing, to bungee cord, and then today’s urethane cord attached via Velcro to the ankle illustrates the evolution of the surf leash. By removing the consequences of losing a board, the leash has allowed surfers to push former limits to the extreme moves of today.

Mandatory equipment for shortboarders, many longboarders still refuse to wear a leash, claiming it interferes with their ability to walk the board. Regardless of one’s opinion of the surf leash, it is here to stay.

Sizing | Fit | Care: Unisex T-Shirt

A classic 100% cotton men’s/unisex t-shirt (except for Sport Grey, which is 90/10% cotton/polyester) that gives a rich and structured look and works great for layered streetwear outfits. The durable pre-shrunk jersey knit fabric maintains sharp lines along the edges and ensures your size is maintained throughout multiple washings. A classic fit style means it is not form-fitted at the sides.
Fit type: Classic. Primary brand: Gildan
NOTE: Dark color speckles throughout the fabric are expected for the color Natural.
  • 100% cotton (except Sport Grey=10% polyester)
  • 5–5.3 oz. fabric weight
  • Pre-shrunk jersey knit
  • Taped neck and shoulders
  • Tear-away tag

If you’re unsure about sizing, the best way to determine a correct size is to grab an existing favorite t-shirt, lay it flat, and then measure it.
To get the chest size, measure from armpit to armpit. To get the length, measure from neck/shoulder corner intersection to bottom of hem (see illustration). Double the garment width to determine the chest circumference measurement, and you’ll find it will generally fit.

USA/INCHES Sizes: Unisex/Men’s T-Shirt
1″ = 2.54 cm S M L XL 2XL 3XL
Chest (inches) 36 40 44 48 52 56
Width (inches) 18 20 22 24 26 28
Length (inches) 28 29 30 31 32 33
CENTIMETERS Sizes: Unisex/Men’s T-Shirt
2.54 cm = 1″ S M L XL 2XL 3XL
Chest (cm) 96 102 112 122 132 142
Width (cm) 45.7 51 56 61 66 71
Length (cm) 74 76 78 79 81 83.8

CARE:

Machine wash, cold, inside out, gentle cycle with mild detergent and similar colors. Use non-chlorine bleach—only when necessary No fabric softeners.

Tumble dry, low heat, or hang-dry for longest life.

Cool iron inside-out if necessary. Do not iron decoration or print.

Do not dry clean.

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