Feetbelts vs Powergrips vs Chicagowig vs JOL vs Holdfast

I started with the tutorial on the GadgetLab blog and have made about 6 pairs, improving them every time.

You mean improving the design? Those look a lot neater, with a flagstitched end, but its hard to tell from that picture what else is new. What did you change?

ive used powegrips and they were pretty crap
ive got jol gurneys now, they are sick! they hold your feet in nice and i can adjust them to my skate shoes and then other smaller shoes

You mean improving the design? Those look a lot neater, with a flagstitched end, but its hard to tell from that picture what else is new. What did you change?

Just stuff like bigger/stiffer materials and playing with the size so they are easier to get into and are more secure.

slightly off topic but i've been thinking about going clipless but i only have one bike and want to be able to wear normal shoes sometimes so i was wondering if anyone has put feetbelts (or any of the alternatives) on the flat side of a pair of double sided clipless mtb pedals like these ones?

i can't see why there'd be any problem with power grips but if anyone has any experience speak up please!

Potentially your straps could drag on the floor when using the SPD side. Or potentially catch on something.

Indeed, I do like my Five Tens, only downsides are ability to absorb vast amounts of water and sheer bulk. I've ridden thousands of miles in them, with day rides up to 170 miles, and they still look fine and grip well.

I've tried Powergrips and the Hold Fast but they don't do too well with the bulk of the Five Tens in a 45. I'm waiting on a pair of Jols and also plan on trying another model from 5-10. They recommend the Savant as being lighter, shedding water but still giving a similar level of sole grip and support.

To be honest I don't need straps with the 5-10 for my type of riding, it's only because I keep toying with the idea of trying fixed. I had clipless and hated them, in actual fact between Powergrips, Holdfast and clipless, some fellow web users have done rather well from my penchant to buy first think later!

You can buy any shoe and get them resoled with Stealth rubber at this place. http://www.feetfirst.resoles.co.uk/cycling_mtb_shoe_repair.php Skate type shoes tend to work the best, Five Ten styling does leave something to be desired.

http://restrap.co.uk/

new straps coming straight outta w/yorkshire, designed by Nate who rides with the LSF crew!

You can buy any shoe and get them resoled with Stealth rubber at this place. http://www.feetfirst.resoles.co.uk/cycling_mtb_shoe_repair.php Skate type shoes tend to work the best, Five Ten styling does leave something to be desired.

That's a great idea, thanks for the link

Just stuff like bigger/stiffer materials and playing with the size so they are easier to get into and are more secure.

Now Ive finished the first ones, I see what you mean. I dont love the wired-style splitting the webbing either. I think it might be worth the effort making the two separate straps. Anyway, heres mkI

4 Attachments

hold fast straps are effort to get in too
dualism work amazing

Now Ive finished the first ones, I see what you mean. I dont love the wired-style splitting the webbing either. I think it might be worth the effort making the two separate straps. Anyway, heres mkI

Tidy stitching.
I think the spliting the webbing might be better than stitching straps on as the continuous strap will be stronger no?

Now Ive finished the first ones, I see what you mean. I dont love the wired-style splitting the webbing either. I think it might be worth the effort making the two separate straps. Anyway, heres mkI

where did you get your material from? i fancy having a go..

I think the spliting the webbing might be better than stitching straps on as the continuous strap will be stronger no?

Hmm. Fair point. Definitely stronger. But the webbing does keep fraying, despite some generous melting with lighters, etc. I think if theyre well sewn, they should be plenty strong enough. Thats how most of the commercial straps are made...

where did you get your material from? i fancy having a go..

The ever-awesome Kleins :)

Theyre on Noel St, or at http://www.kleins.co.uk/

Tidy stitching.
I think the spliting the webbing might be better than stitching straps on as the continuous strap will be stronger no?

That's what I thought. I just spend more time making the split neater, also made a hot knife so it doesn't fray.

I just got a set of Duality straps today, seem really well made and the independant strap design makes adjust front smaller than back a bit easier i reckon.
Seems like they were made for hiking boots though, il need to attach some more velcro to get them tight enough.
On the straps that i made myself where i split the webbing i sewed along the edge but its fraying anyway. Also, that edge gets rubbed by the axle so i reckon it won't last too long. I think the Duality straps + extra velcro + some kind of sleeve to hold the straps togother but still allow independent adjustment = win.

Nice work Jon!

Yeah I tried the split approach thinking that one piece would be tougher but the fraying, once begun is pretty hard to stop.
My construction uses a continuous loop of strap with just the securing strap stitched on. Having any stitching supporting the whole retention is asking for trouble IMHO a la Aurora.

Out of Powergrips, Aurora and Dualism and ReStrap which'd come out the best? They're basically the UK-based ones. I think I'm between Aurora and Dualism...

(BEST)
....
-New Straps like Jol, Holdfast, Pinzat etc
-Double straps + Clips
...
(WORST)

...That said its nice to go out at night and not have to take a spare pair of shoes. ....

Which of the above does the least damage to said pair of shoes? Clips + double straps is eating my trainers.

I have had a go at making some and i really like um! not riding trick or polo just general riding and they do the job well. Just need to see if they hold up. Been a couple of weeks and so far so good.

Out of Powergrips, Aurora and Dualism and ReStrap which'd come out the best? They're basically the UK-based ones. I think I'm between Aurora and Dualism...

Aurora is German. I'm more UK based than them.
;)

Anyone running velcro based straps regularly need to change the set up to accommodate different types of shoes? How easy/quick is it to do so (especially in comparison with clips/straps if you're able to compare)

Really easy, just re-adjust the straps and away you go.

The more re-adjusting you do, the weaker the straps will get mind... they still close, but my 6 month old straps now break open when twisting my foot too aggressively, etc.

After one year of running these on the polo bike they're still going strong. It's really thick leather from a Next belt and they've hardly stretched at all. The crank against leather has left this shiny silver effect.

Cosmic...

Thanks guys...had another related question, but rather than ask again...I'll just link to it. Question about pedals - keen on using soft shoes, not so keen on wide pedals (worried about pedal strike)
http://www.lfgss.com/thread39186.html