Firefighter Radio Straps are a must have for anyone on the job, and choosing which radio strap is right for you is no small feat. With some time, reading of this two part journal entry and the trust of the details to follow we assure you, you will land right where you need with the right tool for the task at hand.
For the education in this journal entry, we are going to focus on leather radio straps, one of our core offerings. We don’t do synthetic materials around here, or nylon radio straps, simply put they are inferior no matter how someone tries to market them to you. Yes, they may be lighter weight(we’re talking ounces folks), yes, they may be easier to clean, but let’s be honest this tools job isn’t about what’s easiest, its about getting a job done, and doing it for decades worth of work. Buy it once, buy it for life, buy it with the education to get what you deserve!
Introduction to Leather Radio Straps
Not all leather radio straps are created equal. Assuming you are here because you understand the importance of the use of a radio strap and you are ready to invest in one, we are going to focus on things to look for and run away from when deciding on your purchase. Our first and foremost recommendation is be sure to purchase a radio strap made from full grain vegetable tanned leather. This is the top of the line leather tannage and grain type that you want in your fire service leather goods, no questions asked. If you see chrome tanned, genuine, split grain, oil tanned, and no combination of the words vegetabled tanned, turn the other way.
Why Choose a Leather Radio Strap?
Leather accessories in the fire service are timeless. There is reason this material has stood the test of time from buckets, hoses, helmets, reins and halters on the horses of drawn steam engines. There’s not been a reason to reinvent the wheel, and there’s no reason to start now. It’s a natural material that with proper use and care will be around long after you and I. We pride ourselves on buying for life, and everything we promote or stand behind we can proudly say is the basis of what we do.
Don’t fall for a focus on the paint and stamping options
Do not let paint colors, custom fonts and printed radio straps be your decision maker. Yes, some of these can be “cool” details, but these are embellishments, after the facts, non traditional bedazzlers. Like the folks who wear affliction shirts and jeans with rhinestones. These are coatings, these are not the meat and potatoes of what you should be looking for. Focus on the craftsmanship of the straps assembly method, the top quality leather and hardware components, focus on the service and warranty, focus on the customer service, do no focus on the UV printed image of a unicorn riding a shark that has zero impact of functionality. Make your decision based on what is getting the job done, not what glow in the dark paint will last a month or two longer than the other.
Durability and Longevity
Leather is one of those things that gets only better with age. Like a good scotch, brick or brass, the patina that leather develops is unique and like no other. Let the wear and tear of your hustle show proudly through the patina of you radio strap, each blemish, scar and dark spot add to its story, your story!
Adjustability and Design
Being able to maintain your own leather radio strap is key, and that starts with good design. While solid rivets are common place and they are a solid choice they do not allow for easy user maintenance. Now lets be sure we’re clear, a solid rivet is what we use on items like belts, glove straps, chin straps, etc. These are solid brass or copper and are bomb proof. You need a diamond tipped drill bit and some elbow grease to remove them.
Now, if that rivet isn’t solid brass or copper, this is another area to run the other way. You do not, I repeat, do not want a radio strap made using pop rivets, splash rivets, double cap rivets, or anything other than a solid rivet. The only better option that a solid rivet is a chicago screw, and that’s what we prefer and use. This allows for user maintenance when you slam your radio strap in the door and break the trigger snap.
This happens, its common, and we happily get you whats needed to get back in service asap. With a heat gun and simple hand tools, you can break the loc tite, replace the hardware and be back up and running. No need to ship us the strap to drill out and replace the hardware for you, like if solid rivets where chosen. This is one of the areas where screws reign supreme, and why we can stand by every single radio strap we craft.
Part Two Coming Soon
In Part two we will discuss stitching, and lining details which play a huge role in longevity and user comfort. We will also dive into topics related to warranty, and the importance of choosing a business with a long standing reputation.
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