SPT lockable tie-down straps

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SPT lockable tie-down straps

Author: josh

Published on Sunday, 14 February 2010 01:54

Written by Josh

One issue that has always bothered me is the fact that anything that isn't locked down is a potential target for scumbag thieves. That's a real concern when it comes to a kayak strapped to the roof rack of a car - especially when you're travelling and said kayak is your one pride and joy. Enter the 'SPT' (Stick Protection Technology) lockable tie down straps.

Although they aren't cheap compared with vanilla variants, I reckon they are worth their weight in gold, custom built for people just like myself. Unlike any other tie down strap I'm aware of, these ones are fully lockable and certainly make you feel safer about leaving your car parked in unknown territory with the kayak sitting on top of your roof racks. It's not just the lock that provides the confidence, however, but also the fact that the straps themselves have two steel cables running through them. These are fully covered with soft polyester webbing though, so there's no fear of scratching your car with them. So even if someone didn't even notice the locks and tried to slice through them with a knife, they'd only be met with frustration.

The locks themselves seem to be pretty robust and thankfully they are plastic coated, which means no nasty paint job scratches. The locks do not need to be engaged for the tie down mechanism to work properly, however. Just like any tie down system worth it's salt, once the straps are pulled through the securing mechanism, those straps aren't going anywhere until the securing device is disengaged. Just feed the straps through, pull tight and it's good to go. In the event that you feel like taking that extra step of security, just put in the key, turn and lock it. Easy, peesy lemon squeezy.

SPT tie down straps come in several lengths, from 1.5, 2.5 and 4 metres. Most kayakers will want to go for the 4 meter option I imagine. Whilst they're not terribly cheap (around the $90 mark from all good kayak dealers) they're well worth the investment if your kayak is worth significantly more - as most good ones are.