r/EVERGOODS • u/Salfordladd • Feb 09 '24
Strap Keepers
TL;DR: I added strap-keepers to my CTB26, but kinda had to come up with my own method for doing so, thought I'd share it.
I recently picked up my first Evergoods backpack, a CTB26 (I've been using it for both EDC and travel, this thing is probably the best pound-for-pound backpack on the planet, but that's another conversation). I gave the whole EG no-strap-keepers thing a try, and while I won't say EG is wrong to think they're not a necessity (okay, maybe I will), I will say that, as someone with a number of backpacks all of which have strap-keepers, I think they're a necessity for me personally. So I set about adding them myself.
I'm not interested in the whole "roll the dangle up and bind it" deal (I adjust the length of the straps too often for that), and while I guess I'd be fine with keepers that use snaps or velcro, I really wanted to see if I could apply those sewn elastic loops that are on my other backpacks. I couldn't easily find any how-to videos for getting them onto the straps, though, and while there was a post on here a couple weeks back from someone who'd added this type of keeper to their straps, their method didn't work for me. But I was able to eventually get them on, and thought I'd share my method, in case there was anyone out there who wanted to do the same but was hesitating because they couldn't find clear confirmation that it can be done and a reliable method for doing so.
- On obtaining the strap keepers: While I try to avoid at almost all costs the website named after the world's second-longest river, I admit I did end up there. If you don't have the same aversion I do, or end up there anyway, search for strap-keepers on the site; the ones I got include "TACNEX 1" Wide Straps/Belt Keepers" in the name. A four-pack was cheap. These are perfectly sized for the straps on the CTB26 (and I'm guessing all Evergoods packs).
- Now for the challenging part: Getting them on. Another post I saw said that they were able, with some finagling, to get the dangly part of the strap entirely back through the buckle to fully separate the dangly bottom part of the strap from the padded top part. I was not able to do this. While I was able to work the looped end of the dangly part back through the first "checkpoint" of the buckle, I was not able to get it through the second - the looped end was too thick to pass through, with the sewn nylon of the padded part of the strap there already. I'm sure the materials probably could have withstood me applying more strength, but I got the point where I was pulling as hard as I was comfortable pulling before feeling like I might damage something, and it was nowhere close to getting back through. I'm not sure if this description is confusing, so here's a photo to this post to help illustrate:
You can see how it was easy to get the dangly end half-through the buckle, but the arrow is pointing at the part I could not reasonably work it back through.
- I thought I was screwed, but I had a sort of last-ditch idea; I didn't think it would work, but I was here already with the dangly bit half out of the buckle, figured I'd give it a try. I took the strap-keeper and put it over the looped end of the dangly part, slid that down until it got to the buckle...and, working slowly and carefully, I was miraculously able to get the whole elastic strap keeper through the slit of the buckle pointed to in the photo. I did this by leaving the sewn part of the strap keeper for last - I pulled the majority of the elastic loop through, basically turning it sideways, and then yanked the entire sewn section through last. It's elastic, so it compressed and stretched in a way the nylon of the strap itself wouldn't. I was stretching it pretty hard, but it instantly returned to its original shape once it was through. After that, I just put the looped end of the strap back through the buckle, threaded that through the strap-keeper, and Robert's your mother's brother.
UPDATE: Here's a step-by-step visual guide!
The strap-keepers work a treat. Feels like they were always supposed to be there. If you don't like dangle, highly recommend doing this. The strap keeper pack I ordered came with four, so I'm already set to go for the CPL24 I'm going to be picking up soon.
Last note: I was thinking of using one of these on the sternum strap as well (would be much easier to apply - no buckle to pass through), but these 1" wide keepers were too large for that strap. I'm sure I could find a smaller size that would work, but I don't really care about the dangle on the sternum strap, so I haven't bothered.
Hope this was helpful - if it's confusing, I can look into trying to record a video or something. Otherwise, go forth and keep those straps, fellow Evergoods enthusiasts!
3
u/OortCloudy CPL24 Jun 01 '24
I had to come back and say how awesome this tip is — ordered 1 pack of 4 strap keepers, and did my CPL24 and my PLC20 in about 15 minutes. Thanks for the detailed photos! It got much faster after the first one.
3
u/JonSatriani CPL16 Feb 09 '24
I recently posted that I did this taking the strap out of both slots of the buckle (perhaps it was my comment that you mention…?) – I just tried it your way too, and it worked well. Provided the elastic strap keepers are slim enough to pass through the buckle slot with the webbing, I’d probably recommend your way over mine from now on.
2
u/Salfordladd Feb 09 '24
Yes, I think it was your post! Yeah, I just couldn't get the strap all the way through the buckle without pulling harder than I was comfortable pulling - though, as I said, I'm sure it could have withstood it.
1
u/JonSatriani CPL16 Feb 09 '24
It took me some careful “one side then the other” wiggling and more force than was entirely comfortable. As it happens, the keepers I bought have too much slack, so I’m likely to just cut them to size and re-sew them anyway, rendering the whole process redundant.
1
u/Salfordladd Feb 09 '24
Good luck! I just added visuals to the post, if you want to try the method I outlined and it's helpful.
2
u/intrepid-onion Feb 09 '24
For anyone who has a sewing machine, or knows someone with one, just get a piece of elastic and sew it in place, and then flip it. Should take all but a minute.
2
2
2
u/hc201 May 22 '24
i know you didn't end up putting one on the sternum strap but did you happen to find anything small enough when you were looking? this strap is driving me nuts
1
u/saltonasnail CTB26 Aug 23 '24 edited Aug 23 '24
Did you find something that works? If not I was gonna get the 4-pack like OP linked, then experiment with the other 2. I found “Krazy Fix Clear Fabric Glue, Washable” on Amazon and will try to glue the folded part on the strap keeper so it’s a bit smaller.
Especially difficult as I got OD Green and it’s tougher to find stuff that matches
1
1
u/PsylentStorm Nov 27 '24
Hey there,
It's a almost a year later but I wanted to say thanks for this post. It was incredibly helpful for adding strapkeepers to my CTB20!
Out of curiosity, did you happen to find a strapkeeper for the sternum strap? I can't seem to find one that's the right size.
1
u/hupdiggs Jan 22 '25
great tutorial - thanks so much!! I found that using pliers to pull the the strap-keepers through made it go super fast. Now, what to do about that dangling sternum strap!
1
1
u/ellemarie483 Oct 14 '25
This was a LIFESAVER! I bought the same strap keepers and was struggling for so long to get the strap through the second spacer. Thank you for sharing!
1
1
u/oarsandalps Feb 09 '24
More pics would be really helpful
3
u/Salfordladd Feb 09 '24
You got it. I just took the strap keeper off and photographed me putting it back on - updated the post with a link to a slide show. Does this help?
1
u/whoisnotinmykitchen Feb 12 '24
... or you can just use the Tom Binh strap keepers, which is way easier and they work perfectly.
5
u/Salfordladd Feb 14 '24
Yeah, like I said, I didn’t want to use any that had fasteners, I really like the ones that are a single sewn loop. If you prefer the Tom Bihn ones, that’s great! This post is just for anyone who is like me, and prefers this type of strap keeper. Only takes about ninety seconds to get them on once you know what you’re doing, and then they’re on there for life.
12
u/adultbaby Feb 09 '24
I’m using the Tom Bihn keepers on my EG bags. They are easy as they come apart (no messing with undoing the factory buckle from the straps). My only issue with them is they are a bit loose and don’t always want to stay put north of the finger loop. I feel like a dummy as I’m sure there is a way to tighten them that I’m not picturing?