Hold Fast Straps Compatibility
#26
Rawr
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 186
Likes: 0
back up my statement, what do you want a video or something?
When i ride with clips and toe-straps you can crank down on the straps a lot. Hold fasts you can too, but its a bit more of a challenge. Toe-straps (i run doubles) have the ability to crank down on the back strap and the front strap. Holdfasts = one big strap to tighten) and you foot is not made flat, so you do not have even pressure or retention through out the strap. Clips and toe-straps have been around for ages and are tried and true.
Not to mention the hold fasts are far more easy to slip out of. That's part of what they are designed for. So you can get your feet out of the straps when you need to bail. When i ride with holdfasts is with skate style shoes or something along those lines that clips and straps will not accommodate. Riding holdfasts are THE best option for trick riding, but otherwise they fall on their "faces" in other respects when compared to clips and toe-straps.
When i ride with clips and toe-straps you can crank down on the straps a lot. Hold fasts you can too, but its a bit more of a challenge. Toe-straps (i run doubles) have the ability to crank down on the back strap and the front strap. Holdfasts = one big strap to tighten) and you foot is not made flat, so you do not have even pressure or retention through out the strap. Clips and toe-straps have been around for ages and are tried and true.
Not to mention the hold fasts are far more easy to slip out of. That's part of what they are designed for. So you can get your feet out of the straps when you need to bail. When i ride with holdfasts is with skate style shoes or something along those lines that clips and straps will not accommodate. Riding holdfasts are THE best option for trick riding, but otherwise they fall on their "faces" in other respects when compared to clips and toe-straps.
#27
Pedantic Antics
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 271
Likes: 0
From: Boston, MA, USA
Bikes: 1 30-speed Ultegra Road, 1 43/16 Fixed, 1 47/15 Fixed, 1 Converted Beach Cruiser to Pennyfakething
Nope, your 2 paragraphs work nicely.
I can see your point about adjustability, although the taper of the Holdfast strap grips my foot pretty evenly. It's definitely not universal, so what works for some won't work for others. I do love the double straps on my road bike for the same reasons you mentioned.
However, I've never "slipped out" of my Holdfast straps, so that hasn't been an issue for me.
I can see your point about adjustability, although the taper of the Holdfast strap grips my foot pretty evenly. It's definitely not universal, so what works for some won't work for others. I do love the double straps on my road bike for the same reasons you mentioned.
However, I've never "slipped out" of my Holdfast straps, so that hasn't been an issue for me.
#28
Rawr
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 186
Likes: 0
Nope, your 2 paragraphs work nicely.
I can see your point about adjustability, although the taper of the Holdfast strap grips my foot pretty evenly. It's definitely not universal, so what works for some won't work for others. I do love the double straps on my road bike for the same reasons you mentioned.
However, I've never "slipped out" of my Holdfast straps, so that hasn't been an issue for me.
I can see your point about adjustability, although the taper of the Holdfast strap grips my foot pretty evenly. It's definitely not universal, so what works for some won't work for others. I do love the double straps on my road bike for the same reasons you mentioned.
However, I've never "slipped out" of my Holdfast straps, so that hasn't been an issue for me.
#30
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 319
Likes: 0
So I've had Hold Fasts for a bit over a week now. I usually ride exustar laminated doubles on my main bike. I've put at least 100mi on them. I don't do tricks (other than track stands and bw circles?). I ride fast, I cruise, I ride brakeless and I like to skid down hills. Here's my 2 cents:
Power Transfer
Toe straps > Hold fast. The width of the Hold Fast strap is pretty much the same as a double strap (although more material) so I'm not buying into the advantage in power transfer. If anything I would put toe straps ahead by a bit just because I can crank them down really tight in comparison.
Hold
Toe straps > Hold fast. Like I mentioned above, you can really crank down tight on toe straps on the go. Hold fast are more set and forget so I didn't expect them to hold as tight and that held true. I tried tightening Hold Fast on the go and it was a bit tougher since I had to pull and pat down the velcro at the same time. Even then, it just doesn't seem like you can get them as tight as toe straps which only need to be pulled. The wedge design is very good however. It does hold your foot fairly well and I didn't experience any slipping. I felt safe in them but toe straps give me that extra security. If you were to run both straps at the same "looseness", the Hold Fast would probably provide better hold because of the wedge design.
Ease of Entry
Toe Straps > Hold Fast. It may just be that I'm new to them, but occasionally it was harder to get my foot wedged properly in the Hold Fast because the material isn't completely rigid. I use steel clips and the rigidity helps keep the strap open for an easy entry. I don't see this as a real problem though. Just a couple extra seconds of wiggling your foot around to get proper placement.
Ease of Entry/Exit
Hold Fast > Toe Straps. Like Dinosaur88 mentioned, they are designed to get out of easily.
Comfort
Hold Fast > Toe Straps. Although Toe Clips/Straps are completely comfortable to me, steel clips can dig into thin shoes and cause some discomfort. Hold Fast straps are basically 1 big wide piece of nylon. They would be comfortable on bare feet.
Cost
I guess this depends on what you're comparing them to. Cheaper than pricey doubles like Toshi/MKS/Kashimax/Cadence but my Exustars were $40. Used them for 6+ months and they are holding up well. No slippage or stretching.
Pedal Compatibility
Toe Straps > Hold Fast. I put the Hold Fast on basic all-city track pedals and they were quite a pain to install (pliers required). It seems like almost any pedal that would work with double straps would work with Hold Fast straps but toe straps will fit just about any pedal and are easier to install.
BTW, I have GR-9s and I really do think you can rig Hold Fast straps on them if you use long bolts (where toe clips attach) to form a "slot" for straps to feed through. I already do this for my doubles but I'm not going to the trouble of installing them on the GR-9s to prove a point
Conclusion
I've haven't had the Hold Fast straps long enough to comment on durability but the construction is pretty solid. I wouldn't be surprised if they last quite long. But there are plenty of positive testimonials from trick riders that beat the crap out of them compared to me. In the end, I'm going back to toe straps/clips. Hold Fast would definitely be ideal for trick riders and adequate for commuters but they don't offer me anything over toe straps/clips. They also look pretty ugly on most bikes, purely my opinion of course
Power Transfer
Toe straps > Hold fast. The width of the Hold Fast strap is pretty much the same as a double strap (although more material) so I'm not buying into the advantage in power transfer. If anything I would put toe straps ahead by a bit just because I can crank them down really tight in comparison.
Hold
Toe straps > Hold fast. Like I mentioned above, you can really crank down tight on toe straps on the go. Hold fast are more set and forget so I didn't expect them to hold as tight and that held true. I tried tightening Hold Fast on the go and it was a bit tougher since I had to pull and pat down the velcro at the same time. Even then, it just doesn't seem like you can get them as tight as toe straps which only need to be pulled. The wedge design is very good however. It does hold your foot fairly well and I didn't experience any slipping. I felt safe in them but toe straps give me that extra security. If you were to run both straps at the same "looseness", the Hold Fast would probably provide better hold because of the wedge design.
Ease of Entry
Toe Straps > Hold Fast. It may just be that I'm new to them, but occasionally it was harder to get my foot wedged properly in the Hold Fast because the material isn't completely rigid. I use steel clips and the rigidity helps keep the strap open for an easy entry. I don't see this as a real problem though. Just a couple extra seconds of wiggling your foot around to get proper placement.
Ease of Entry/Exit
Hold Fast > Toe Straps. Like Dinosaur88 mentioned, they are designed to get out of easily.
Comfort
Hold Fast > Toe Straps. Although Toe Clips/Straps are completely comfortable to me, steel clips can dig into thin shoes and cause some discomfort. Hold Fast straps are basically 1 big wide piece of nylon. They would be comfortable on bare feet.
Cost
I guess this depends on what you're comparing them to. Cheaper than pricey doubles like Toshi/MKS/Kashimax/Cadence but my Exustars were $40. Used them for 6+ months and they are holding up well. No slippage or stretching.
Pedal Compatibility
Toe Straps > Hold Fast. I put the Hold Fast on basic all-city track pedals and they were quite a pain to install (pliers required). It seems like almost any pedal that would work with double straps would work with Hold Fast straps but toe straps will fit just about any pedal and are easier to install.
BTW, I have GR-9s and I really do think you can rig Hold Fast straps on them if you use long bolts (where toe clips attach) to form a "slot" for straps to feed through. I already do this for my doubles but I'm not going to the trouble of installing them on the GR-9s to prove a point

Conclusion
I've haven't had the Hold Fast straps long enough to comment on durability but the construction is pretty solid. I wouldn't be surprised if they last quite long. But there are plenty of positive testimonials from trick riders that beat the crap out of them compared to me. In the end, I'm going back to toe straps/clips. Hold Fast would definitely be ideal for trick riders and adequate for commuters but they don't offer me anything over toe straps/clips. They also look pretty ugly on most bikes, purely my opinion of course
#31
Why don't you ask Hold Fast? https://holdfastordie.squarespace.com/contact/
#32
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 2,280
Likes: 2
From: Modesto, Ca
Bikes: klein quantum, litespeed tuscany, bianchi pista concept, centurion comp ta, centurion super le mans, traitor ringleader
i dunno, right now im definitely preferring holdfast's to my clips and strap....seems a bit easier to get into and out with my street shoes (adidas sambas), pretty much set and forget but still easy to tighten (big velcro strap), way more surface contact with the tops of the feet and are angled nicely for foot shape....comfortable. was easy to install on generic origin8 track peddals. i dunno, im a convert.
#33
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 271
Likes: 1
From: tucson
Bikes: 2007 IRO Mark V fixed, 1971 Schwinn Spitfire stock newsie cruiser, 60's Schwinn Collegiate single speed, 1984 Azuki Imperial fixed, old unknown brand Tandem fixed.
I'm absolutely sold on Hold Fast. I had ridden metal clips and (both single and double) straps for years with no real problems aside from the minor discomfort, however, I never knew what kind of comfort and strength I could be having with the HFs. Yes, they are better fit with BMX pedals, but will work with others (I never thought of using a long bolt for the GR-9s... might have to try it on mine). I will say this though... if you ride in soft soled shoes, it is really hard to beat the pure comfort and power you get with BMX pedals. Fred? Absolutely on a track bike, but so what. I can climb hills with more power and bomb hills in security. I have never slipped out of the HFs in the 6 months of riding with them. I do want to try the Anorexic pedals with HFs, but at $90... I wanna know for SURE before I buy them.
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