The Fixplus Strap 66cm is a good option for strapping pretty much anything to anything else – in this use case, stuff to bikes. With a 90kg breaking strain and being UV/seawater resistant, chances are it’ll outlive you. That said, the material is less flexible than other straps, and the metal buckle may not be ideal if you’re securing around paintwork.
Dutch brand Fixplus manufactures its straps in Germany, and has a great reputation. As do its logical comparator – Voile straps from the US. Voile is the OG of the outdoor-kit-strapping world, and the benchmark by which all others are assessed – and this review won’t break from that model.
Fixplus straps are solid bits of kit, with a 90kg rated breaking strain and nicely-cast alloy buckles. The straps themselves are textured, which helps grip the fabric of whatever they are restraining, minimising any slipping. The hook design is identical to Voile, in that they loop back on themselves to be held in place under their own tension, excess strap then being tucked away. You can buy a pack of four orange strap keepers for £3 (not included in the 66cm strap kit). They come in nine different colours to suit your mood, and eight different lengths from 15 to 86cm.
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It would take around 70 Fixplus straps to suspend the elephant in the room, which is how they compare to Voile straps. The Fixplus material is not as stretchy as Voile (or Tailfin), meaning they might not be the best choice if your loads are likely to settle or shift over time – not being able to take up the new slack, as it were. That said, in my testing over very rough tracks, nothing moved about and the Fixplus straps stayed 100 per cent put.
The overtly textured nature of the Fixplus straps mean they are a bit harder to pull though the buckles, which may be an issue for those with weaker hands.
Given the choice, I’d go for Voile – but there’s not that much in it. If availability, price, the length required, or colour priority dictated, I’d be perfectly happy with the Fixplus options.
What does the manufacturer say about this product?:
Securing, bundling, fastening – it’s never been easier, because you used to have to search for either a suitable cable tie or an elastic ratchet strap. Our strap combines the advantages of both systems – without their disadvantages. It can be used with one hand, is as flexible as an elastic ratchet strap but without the annoying spring-back, and above all, it’s reusable. Simple! Ingenious.
Whether you use it to secure cargo or bicycles on the car or luggage on the bicycle, attach equipment, fix ladders to railings or branches, bundle hoses, cables or poles, or connect skis or poles – this ingenious strap has almost unlimited uses.
Tell us some more about the technical aspects of this product:
The bare facts:
66cm long, 2.2cm wide and 38g light
Maximum tensile strength up to 900 N / 90 kg (test speed 200 mm/min)
Elastic fixing strap with one-hand function
Versatile, durable, tear-resistant, flexible
Heat and cold resistant, UV resistant
Modular and therefore extendable
Rate the product overall for quality (1-10):
9/10
Rate the product for performance when used for its designed purpose (1-10):
7/10
Rate the product for value (1-10):
9/10
How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested?:
FixPlus price well compared to alternatives.
Did you enjoy using the product? Yes
Would you consider buying the product? Possibly
Would you recommend the product to a friend?
With caveats
Use this box to explain your overall score
Marking down on lack of stretchiness
Age: Height: 183cmWeight: 80kg
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