Why do you continue to tie down you glider with inch wide straps, rope or even bungies? Aren't you concerned that you are using these cheap tie downs to tie down your expensive glider and doing it some damage? Why crinkle the leading edge?

I kept looking for a better way. Finally, I had my own straps made up after I saw that it could be done when I visited Santa Barbara and saw Robert Milligan's two inch wide straps that he had made up. I then got help from Rob McKenzie after I bought all the materials and he sewed up a bunch for me.

I love them. They are so easy to use. Because they use slide buckles they snap together quickly and take much less time to tighten up than standard straps. They also roll up easier and quicker if you want to keep everything super neat when they are not in use on the top of your truck.

The straps have been sized to work well with hang gliders, so that there is not a lot of left over strap that goes flapping in the wind. This really reduces the effort required to use them.

Here's what they look like:

Click on above.

Now the first issue that comes up when I show these to folks is the plastic buckles. They are afraid that they plastic buckles will break and their precious glider will go tumbling down the road. Here is my answer. I have used some one inch tie down straps with plastic buckles originally made by a hang glider pilot and climbing gear manufacturer. They have lasted twenty years with one crack in one buckle, that would have still held. I still used them at times.

Put three straps on your glider. If one goes the others two hold it down. You should be doing this any way.

How often do metal buckles fail to hold relative to the plastic ones?

These straps will be available soon at the Oz Report Goodies site. I'd love to hear from you with your comments or whether you would be interested in them. I suggest ordering three at once.