I make my own - climbing rope with appropriate double strand knots and a brass snap shackle. Various lengths to accommodate even cross country skiing.
I do also like my retractable leashes though. Unfortunately the current dog is difficult to train for being off leash 100% of the time (young and she's part Chesapeake).
Over the decades, I’ve had [and still have] leashes of every kind, including round and flat nylon ones.
They just don’t have the same “elastic snap” necessary to properly “pop” the leash when training.
I wish they did because the braided nylon over rope core leashes are *so* soft in the hand.
I made one from a huge length of soft, black nylon stock rope I got at Tractor & Supply that’s a joy to take the dog out on hikes.
It’s like a like big, fat round length of woven silk.
:)
This is the Leerburg leash
http://leerburg.com/leatherleash.htm
The snaps are great and the older the leash gets, the better it feels.
[the snaps are bronze...dunno why he says brass]
The other one I use a lot is a Jaeger lead:
http://www.dog.com/item/mendota-leather-jaeger-dog-lead-8ft-x-3-4in/492400/?srccode=MRDGGOOG&mr:trackingCode=E89B4CBA-3897-DE11-97D7-0019B9C2BEFD&mr:referralID=NA
Really versatile.
:)