A handy addition to complement your regular cargo straps.
With the idea of big adventure often comes big decisions on how to pack, best practices and gear to use to keep you and your belongings safe while on a trip. I recently started using TitanStraps for various packing purposes on my trips, and found exceptional versatility with the product in almost every area.
I first saw TitanStraps used by skiers. They’re a popular product for cinching your skis and poles together for carrying. I’ve seen them available in most outdoor stores, but never in a motorcycle shop; the product wasn’t made with motorcycling in mind.
Cameron Lawson, the inventor of TitanStraps, created these industrial use straps to use on a 480-km packraft and bicycle trip through the remote “Lost Coast” of Alaska in 2010. Since then, TitanStraps has created a full lineup of industrial and utility straps used in professional capacities by electricians and construction companies, and recreationally by a multitude of sports enthusiasts. TitanStraps is also a proud member of the 1% for the Planet organization, which means that it gives a portion of its profits to environmental charities.
TitanStraps is different from a tie-down strap, and not quite a bungee — it’s more of a mix of the two. TitanStraps must attach to themselves, making them ideal for holding things in place or cinching things down, but not ideal for attaching bags using two separate fastening points. They are UV- and chemical-
resistant, won’t crack in extremely cold temperatures and are abrasion-resistant. This means strapping things around the squared corners of your bike won’t tear, rip or affect the durability of the strap.
I’ve gotten into the habit of carrying at least one TitanStrap with me while dirt biking and street biking, in case of emergency. Recently, when I broke a portion of my rear fender off my dirtbike, I pulled out my TitanStrap and was able to strap it back on for the remainder of the ride. Because the strap is made of a high-performance polymer, it has enough stretch, and also grips well on plastics and metals so you won’t have any slip.
TitanStraps’ utility types offer a thinner profile with a working load limit of 27.2 kg; these straps offer slightly more stretch to cinch gear down, while the industrial types are wider and thicker, offering a stronger strap that’s rated up to 32 kg. I’ve used both and have found that, for motorcycling, the utility versions work better for everyday use.
In my mind, TitanStraps won’t replace tie-down straps that offer start and endpoints to strap down bulky gear to your bike. Where these straps do have a place, however, is everywhere else. Small repairs, strapping additional bags and bottles, bundling gear to save space and strapping important items that can be easily accessed is where TitanStraps shine. I find them handy not only for travel, but also for organizing the shop or fixing things on the go when tape or a zip-tie won’t do the trick.
TitanStraps range in price from US$7.50 to $12.99, depending on type and length. Variety packs are also available. I would highly recommend these straps in addition to your more traditional tie-down system for any type of motorcycle trips.
You can purchase TitanStraps online at titanstraps.com.
