Load Lock® vs. Competing Products

Through years of enhancements to our design, the Load Lock® has become the strongest plastic fastener design for one inch strap available.  Unlike a few other plastic fasteners that claim to achieve high breaking strengths, the Load Lock® is truly unique in it's ability to be functional at higher loads (i.e. it is releasable) and in it's long life and reusability after repeated operation.  Following is a comparison of the Load Lock® to competing one-inch strap and bungee products.  Please note that products with wider (or thicker) straps are able to achieve higher strengths accordingly.  To offer even higher versatility with our Load Lock® line, we are currently developing Load Locks® that will work with ropes of wide ranging diameters and larger and smaller strap widths. 

Competing Product Comparison Chart...

Load Locks® vs. Side-Release Fasteners

While they may work well for the repeated operation of quickly attaching and releasing straps in a specific length, typical side-release fasteners are extremely difficult (if not impossible) and very dangerous to release or adjust while under loads of only 20 or 30 pounds. We have also found that most side-release fasteners deform to the point of becoming permanently unusable after being subjected to loads near 125 pounds, even though a few of them might actually break above 200pounds (however, most side-release fasteners break closer to 100 pounds).  Due to the nature of their designs, side-release fasteners also have an unfortunate tendency to easily release with accidental contact to the sides of the fasteners.  Also unfortunate is their inability to maintain strap tension when subjected to load shifts, as they generally require their straps to be positioned straight out from both ends to maintain a friction hold on the straps - if a strap shifts to form an angle from the fastener, the strap slips out of the fastener completely.

Load Locks® vs. Plastic Cam Buckles

A comparison to commonly found plastic cam style fasteners is not even worthy of discussion, as plastic cam buckles typically break at only 25 pounds, have extremely poor holding strength under sudden loads, are not self-locking, are frequently sold with stiff vinyl webbing that cracks after exposure to the sun, have very little versatility, and easily release with accidental contact to the cam or minor load shifts.

Load Locks® vs. Bungee or Shock Cord

Load Locks® are obviously much stronger, and have a much longer useful life than bungee cord.  Bungee cord is not machine washable because of the hardware that bungee requires at each end.  Bungee often fails without warning, frequently without any visible signs of internal deterioration.  The unique Finger Loops on the Load Lock® provide a method for attaching our straps to an object without requiring the dangerous and damaging hooks found in bungee.  The Load Lock® can be used in almost all applications where bungee is used, and is a much safer and stronger alternative.

Summary

Depending on the version of the Load Lock® you are using, you will generally find it to be significantly stronger, safer, and more adjustable than competing plastic fasteners and bungee products.  Although the strength of the Load Lock® is similar to that of many metal cam-style fasteners (near 300 pounds for the strongest versions!), it should not be used in applications where the higher strength of metal fasteners is required.  The Load Lock is not designed for climbing, towing, and overhead lifting, and should not be used in heavy-duty applications where ratchet-style metal fasteners are typically used (such as motorcycle tie-downs or heavy trailer load straps). 

CLICK HERE TO SEE STRENGTH AND COLOR CHART OF THE LOAD LOCK® PRODUCT LINE

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LOAD TEST THE LOAD LOCK® PRODUCT LINE

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Load Lock FASTener®, the Load Lock® logo, Plugamid®, the Plugamid® logo, Back Seat Driver®, Strap Sack™, Handy-Hooker™, Roof Rack In a Sack™