I am a big fan of the
Nite Ize figure 9's. For a rack, the small size is ideal, rather than bungee cords. I've secured bags, a 5-gallon bucket on each side, and even a 32 gallon garbage can filled with plastics to take to the recycle place on one side of the rack using the Figure 9's (not all in the same load, of course). Most of these loads were not on a rat trap style rack, but rather the
Jandd Expedition rear rack.
I have a couple of the rat trap racks, but I rarely use the rat trap feature. If you roll a jacket up tightly, the rat trap will hold that fine, but anything hard will likely work its way out.