Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - How much more durable are laminated toe straps?

Title pretty much says it all. I'm sick of going through straps every 6 months. The worst thing is that, when straps break, it's NEVER in a low-key situation. It always results in near death, when you're skidding the hardest because a cop car just pulled in front of you or something.

So it's basically 15 bucks for unlaminated that last 6 months. Do laminated, which cost about 50 bucks, last for 2 years? This is with daily, part-time messenger, all weather use.

i was worried about the same thing, but couldn't justify the cost. i found these though. they look pretty good to me.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7206129369&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWN%3AIT&rd=1

ooh thank you

werd. they were my christmas present to myself.

To actually answer your question, the lamination does a good job of preventing them from actually breaking (or stretching badly, for that matter). But your toe straps also get tooth marks from the buckle that, once they start, keep getting bigger because the teeth lodge in the same place every time. Sooner or later the buckle makes a big enough notch that you just don't like the way they perform, and you may have more trouble getting them to release when you need them to. So yes, you'll get more life, and you'll like the security of the straps better, but if you are depending on them for hard skids regularly, you won't get four times the life of a decent strap (but you will get four times the life of a cheap one). $12 doesn't buy you much more than a cheap strap. You can get the MKS Fit Alpha straps from Bens Bike for $39, and they are superb. I highly recommend them. They have a double-wide buckle mount, laminated construction, the teeth grab well without cutting the straps, and they are also long (many of the toe straps out there are sized for Japanese feet and simply aren't long enough for someone with a 10+ shoe size). You may have to call Ben's about them, since they aren't always listed on eBay. The cream colored ones in smooth leather work well for me, although the black suede ones tend to hold a bit better. There are doubles in the same model that share the same characteristics if it's doubles you're after (but you can use two singles and then don't have to throw both away if one goes bad for any reason).

my cinelli binda straps are already starting to split where they rub and pull against the
inside of my pedals...i've had them running for just a month. they were new when i got them.
too many skids?

You could just make a mental note to replace your straps more often...

I don't know about down in the states but up here in Canada we get laminated straps from Marinoni for $20 CAD. They are Silva straps with the Marinoni Logo on em. For $50 I hope they actually double strap laminateds and not just singles. That sounds like a total burn.

2'nd on the MKS Fit-A's. Black suede with no slipping and are in near-new condition after 4 months. I commute daily with them.

Powergrips maybe?

I have only had a strap pop on me once - and it was my fault for expecting them to last over 3 Chicago winters with no problems. They made it through two.

I check my strap religiously now since they are both drivetrain and braking system components - knowing that the nylon eventually will give way as will the leather. I have owned a set of Errebi Sprint doubles for two years now and they are starting to show signs of wear - but no cracking yet. I blow threw singles pretty quickly for some reason. Maybe I need to sinch them up a tad as looseness might be part of the equation.

And to add to 11.4's suggestion regarding singles over doubles because you don't need to throw out both if one goes bad - just cut the bad one free (from the doubles).

I recently purchased these (http://cgi.ebay.com/SILVA-laminated-toe-straps-in-red-and-black-A00210_W0QQitemZ7206740369QQcategoryZ36138QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem) to replace my non-laminated straps. I can't speak for their durability, but I can tell you they are vast improvement as far as fit. Auctions usually end around $20. Check seller's auction for more color options.

are these various mks straps big, or japanese person sized? (your two-dollar shoes hurt my feet. it takes a ten dollar shoe to fit my feet.)

The nylon woven straps found on MTBs work really well. They're cheap, around $5 a pair, long, durable.

On of my nylon straps is ripped halfway through, and its held for 2 months now.

yo boots check out trackcycling.co.uk. They have errebi sprint laminated double straps for 25 pounds.

I don't know about down in the states but up here in Canada we get laminated straps from Marinoni for $20 CAD. They are Silva straps with the Marinoni Logo on em. For $50 I hope they actually double strap laminateds and not just singles. That sounds like a total burn.

Yes, but those $20 straps aren't that great. I've popped the rivetted roller pin in the buckles of those things numerous times while tightening them, and when taking off from a standing start. I would hate to have that happen during a skid.