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Erickson Over Center Buckle

justsomedude

justsomedude

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 10, 2014
Messages
2,514
Location
Nashville, TN
Erickson 34406 Red 1" x 6' Over-Center Buckle Tie-Down Strap, (Pack of 2)
$12.50 shipped Amazon prime

This buckle has a few potential advantages over the Boatbuckle brand buckle.

First, it is WAY more solid. I think I bent the rivets on my Boatbuckle the first time I hooked it up.
The Erickson weighs more....4.6 ounces to the Boatbuckles 1.90z or so.

The Erickson locks shut. Two tabs hold it closed and it is released by pushing a spring loaded tab on the end.
A GREAT feature from this is that you can carry it with the buckle closed and sling it over your shoulder.

I have stealth strip on my hook and it doesn't tend to pop out and the Erickson has a larger piece where the hook attaches.
These tabs that lock it closed are also a potential failure spot to keep an eye on with use. Nothing else on the buckle looks sketchy. No play in the mechanisms or rivets.

I find the strap easier to adjust (the threading is much simpler) on the tree than the Boatbuckle. Of course that makes it more prone to slipping before you tighten it down. I had no problems getting it on the tree tight.
 

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I do it like this. Not sure if that's what you got going on in the pic or not.
c3afaac6a743541873834ec724d3e57f.jpg

cdd07aac129f52ddf5fad830d2e72266.jpg
 
justsomedude said:
Erickson 34406 Red 1" x 6' Over-Center Buckle Tie-Down Strap, (Pack of 2)
$12.50 shipped Amazon prime

This buckle has a few potential advantages over the Boatbuckle brand buckle.

First, it is WAY more solid. I think I bent the rivets on my Boatbuckle the first time I hooked it up.
The Erickson weighs more....4.6 ounces to the Boatbuckles 1.90z or so.

The Erickson locks shut. Two tabs hold it closed and it is released by pushing a spring loaded tab on the end.
A GREAT feature from this is that you can carry it with the buckle closed and sling it over your shoulder.

I have stealth strip on my hook and it doesn't tend to pop out and the Erickson has a larger piece where the hook attaches.
These tabs that lock it closed are also a potential failure spot to keep an eye on with use. Nothing else on the buckle looks sketchy. No play in the mechanisms or rivets.

I find the strap easier to adjust (the threading is much simpler) on the tree than the Boatbuckle. Of course that makes it more prone to slipping before you tighten it down. I had no problems getting it on the tree tight.
Click to expand...
I like it. Is the strap really that pale colored, or did you dye it?
 
Been working with this strap for a few weeks now. Put it to the test on my XOP hand climber and it has officially been added to my kit. thanks for for the intel, 'dude, this is a winner.

FWIW, I like my platform crazy tight. To achieve that, once I have the climber where I want it, here's my method so far, works fantastic with practice:
  1. attach the strap to the climber, and snug it just enough to keep it in place.
  2. set the tether and lower yourself off the climber, so that you're about belly -high to the platform
  3. do a gentle swing around the tree to take hold of the tag end of the buckle and just hook a leg around the tree a bit to keep yourself in place.
  4. release the buckle lever, and now its time to crank on the tag, using the power of the tether pulling you back "home" to assist.
  5. begin camming over the buckle lever, and you can let go of the tag when the lever is about half way over. Super convenient
  6. now you can use both hands to cram the lever over.
  7. pull yourself back up on the platform.
Sure, not for every one but works for me :^D
 
Mine came in red, I don't think there are other choices for the 6' version. The strap that justsomedude is actually a tan ameristep tree step strap. If you look at the backgound of one of the latter pics, you'll see the step dangling. He ditched the straps that the erickson buckle comes with, and used the buckle on his ameristep/strap.
 
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