Ratchet straps or bungee cords?

Bungees keep things tidy. Straps keep things put.

The difference is elasticity, and it decides the job. A bungee cord stretches, so it takes up slack and absorbs movement. That makes it right for stopping a tarp flapping, holding a bin lid down or keeping light items from sliding. It is exactly wrong for a heavy load, because the load can still move and the cord stores energy.

A ratchet or cam strap does not stretch meaningfully. It clamps a load against a surface so it cannot shift, which is what you want for furniture, appliances, machinery or anything on a roof.

Read the numbers carefully. Straps are marked with a working load limit and sometimes a break strength, and these are very different figures. Break strength is where the strap fails in a test. Working load limit is the maximum you should ever apply, conventionally about a third of break strength. Never plan against break strength, and never assume a hook, an anchor point or a roof bar is as strong as the strap.

Part of the Stalwart guides. See all guides.