How to Use Adjustable Straps

Sports can be dangerous. Pitchers can hurl baseballs at nearly 100 miles per hour; hockey players can slap pucks just as fast. And neither a baseball nor a puck are exactly forgiving. With sports, there is the need for safety equipment. Whether it be catcher's equipment, goalie gear or football pads it is essential to get the right fit in protecting yourself. Adjustable straps are a big part of protective sports gear. Use them correctly to get a good fit and protect yourself effectively.

Instructions

    • 1

      Place the sports equipment on your body. If it is a catcher's shin guard, place the guard over your lower leg and try to pull the straps to their corresponding buckle.

    • 2

      Clip the strap into the buckle, if you can. If you can't, you will have to lengthen the strap. Find the metal adjuster in the middle of the strap, stick your finger under the exposed strap inside the adjuster and pull up. Pull the strap out of the adjuster just a bit to give it some slack.

    • 3

      Push the metal adjuster to one side in order to lengthen the strap. On one side of the metal adjuster will be part of the strap that is folded over on itself. Push the adjuster toward this side and pull the slack of the belt through the adjuster to expand the strap so you can snap the buckle.

    • 4

      Pull the strap out of the metal adjuster if you need to tighten the strap. Give the strap some slack so you can slide the adjuster up and down the strap.

    • 5

      Slide the metal adjuster toward the part of the strap that is not folded over on itself. Pull the strap through the adjuster and feed it out the other side. This will make the double-sided part of the strap longer.