Tri Glide/ Slip Loc

A tri glide is the flat three-bar slide that makes a strap adjustable without a buckle. If you have ever shortened a shoulder strap and tucked the tail away, you have used one.

What It Does

Three slots, two bars. Webbing weaves over, under and back over, and the friction of the weave holds it wherever you set it. There is nothing to break and nothing to release — it just holds. Pull the tail to shorten, lift the webbing off the bar to lengthen.

Two jobs on a kayak. First, adjustment: pair one with a side release buckle and you have a fully adjustable strap. Second, finishing: a tri glide on the loose end of any strap keeps the tail neat instead of flapping against the hull for three hours, which is both quieter and one less thing to catch.

Tri Glide or Ladderlock

Worth knowing the difference, because people ask at the counter. A tri glide is a plain slide that holds by friction and adjusts freely in both directions. A ladderlock has a toothed cam that grips harder and is designed to be released deliberately. For most strap repairs the tri glide is what you want; for a strap that must not creep under sustained load, look at the ladderlock instead.

Sizing

Size by the webbing width, not the hardware:

• 3/4" — light gear straps

• 1" — the most common size on deck and cargo straps

• 1 1/2" — heavy tie-downs and seat hardware

Bring the strap in if you are unsure. A slide that is a size too wide will let the webbing skew and slip.

Details

• Tri-glide / slip-lock webbing slide

• Three-slot, two-bar friction slide

• 3/4", 1" and 1 1/2" webbing widths

• Sold individually and in 2-packs depending on size

On the rack with the rest of the webbing hardware at our Clearwater shop.