Tie down straps

Member of the US Navy secures the strap of a pallet during a training exercise.

A ratchet tie-down strap

Tie down straps (also called lashing straps or tie downs) are fasteners used to hold down cargo or equipment during transport. Tie down straps are essentially webbing that is outfitted with tie down hardware. This hardware allows the tie down strap to attach to the area surrounding the cargo or equipment, loop over the cargo or equipment, and/or attach to the cargo or equipment. It usually also includes a method of tensioning the strap, such as a ratchet.

Common types

Two common types of tie down straps are loop straps and two-piece straps.

Loop straps, like their name implies, are a single piece of webbing that is looped around the item to be protected and the two endpoints are brought together at the tie down fastener for fastening and providing tension.

Two-piece tie down straps are a single assembly that is constructed out of two separate pieces of webbing each with their own hardware that are fastened at one end to the area surrounding the equipment to be protected and connect to each other, typically at the fastener.