When you’re in the middle of a call and every second counts, you can’t afford to think twice about your gear- especially not your leather chin strap, responsible for keeping your helmet in place and your head on straight.
What can you afford? A rugged leather chin strap from us here at Axe and Awl, one of our products most trusted by firefighters. We use the highest-grade materials on the market to handcraft our leather chin straps. It’s not about what looks good (although we cover that too by offering full customization through stamping and painting). It’s what holds up against the heat, sweat, water, and over time- an item designed for the very nature of the job.
Handcrafted Leather Chin Straps in Waynesville, NC
Our chin straps are built for firefighters by firefighters in our workshop just outside of Asheville in western North Carolina. Our co-founder, Spencer, was stationed in downtown Asheville when he and his wife Courtney began what became Axe and Awl Leatherworks ten years ago. They started out crafting gear for coworkers and were able to iterate on the design with real time feedback until it was perfected specifically for the job.
The business has scaled up significantly in the last ten years. We talk to firefighters from around the country daily- many of whom tell us they’ve tried other chin straps in the past. They come to us when they’re ready to try something better.
Once firefighters find Axe and Awl, they rarely go back. We are proud of our high-quality handmade leather goods and even more proud that they support those that put their lives on the line for their communities. You can trust us, just read our Google reviews if you need to hear it from someone outside of the business.
What Sets Axe and Awl Leather Chin Straps Apart
Great firefighter gear doesn’t require constant replacement. Here at Axe and Awl you can feel the difference in every detail. For example, even though we offer customized stitching on other fire service leather gear, we know better than to offer it with a chin strap. While stitched chin straps can make for great show pieces, in the field they fray and fail quickly. The postman slides used to offer adjustability have little teeth that bite the leather to stay secure. The second the teeth drag across the nylon thread, it frays and comes undone, leaving your once pretty chin strap with hundreds of needle holes allowing for sweat and water to penetrate the strap and rot from the inside out. Not so pretty when you think about the strap in the context of the job. Smelly too.
Quality Leather Crafting Materials
Our materials are as thought out as our design and relentlessly field tested. Our leather chin straps are crafted from high-quality full grain veg tanned leather that breaks in overtime but never breaks down. We use the exact hardware components that are found on NFPA certified chin straps. We secure the straps with solid brass or copper rivets, unlike other chin straps on the market that use the cheaper pop or splash rivets. Be wary of the alternatives out there. Pop rivets are hallowed and prone to failure under pressure while splash rivets are just a cheaper alternative that don’t offer the same reliability or strength. Our solid rivets are hammered in by hand for a secure time-tested hold you can rely on over the course of your career.
Although we are a business, and we do need to profit to stay open, we achieve this with integrity by offering quality that keeps firefighters coming back and referring us, not by cutting the cost of production with cheap materials.
How to Choose the Right Leather Chin Strap for the Job
Choosing the right chin strap matters- firefighters need a secure fit under pressure, durability in extreme conditions, and easy fast helmet attachment to optimize mask-up response times.
Choosing a One Piece Chin Strap vs. Two Piece Chin Strap
Firefighters choose one piece chin straps for their simplicity, their straightforward nature makes them ideal when time is a concern. Firefighters choose two piece chin straps to have more adjustability for the proper secure fit. Two piece chin straps also feature a quick release buckle so a firefighter’s helmet can easily be removed. Additionally, choose between Chicago Screw or snap securement depending on your helmet. Snaps are easier to attach but too wide for some set ups, so screws are typically the default.
Chin Strap Length
The standard length of an Axe and Awl chin strap is 32 inches, but if desired we can cut them to a longer length. Many folks trim them down once they determine what works best for them with a simple razor knife and steady hand. We offer the additional length because it allows for various mask up techniques. Whether you’re wearing your helmet around your neck or slide it onto your arm- our chin straps offer the comfort you need.
Chin Strap Customization and Aesthetics
Our leather chin straps are not just utilitarian; they can reflect your style too. Choose from multiple leather and hardware colors, and stamp and paint your name or company to show your pride in your work.
Why Axe and Awl Chin Straps Make Great Gifts
With a three day turn around after your order is submitted, we have your back when it comes to gift-giving too. All chin straps come in a American made canvas bag that we coin our “Crown Royal” gift bag. In that same bag will be a card with installation instructions, as well a packet of loctite for solid securement. Pulled from a Google review, Brendan M says, “the devil is in the details, and they hit it out of the park. I’m someone who buys things for longevity, my new gear will most likely be handed down when I retire from the fire service because it is so well made, I simply can’t explain how high the quality these products are. My ****** Leather Company gear is just gonna go in the trash can.”
A chin strap can be an heirloom item, and we have advice on how to help it last lifetimes so your kids can one day appreciate your service and commitment to your community as much as we do. Just read our leather care journal for all you need to know.
Need other firefighter gift ideas with fast turnaround? Read our Axe and Awl gift guide for firefighters or visit our friends at Hook and Irons for merch designed specifically for firefighters.
If You Really Want to Treat Yourself & Honor Your Firefighting Legacy…
Need something state of the art to attach your new Axe and Awl chin strap to? Axe and Awl is now offering Phenix Fire Helmets. This brand’s reputation precedes itself, it’s the best helmet on the market and we are honored to carry them in our store and offer them online.
In firefighting, your helmet isn’t just a badge of honor, it’s a lifeline. The chin strap securing it should be just as dependable. Your gear cannot be the weak link- just follow the links below and Axe and Awl will have you covered for years to come.
