RollerCam cam buckles?

[Allegheny Tom]

Can these be bought with a loop to fit a mini or reg. versa button?

Check the link above. They do sell them with loops (or hooks, too) but I'm not sure how the loops are configured (loop size, distance to tag end, etc). Call them and let us know what they say.
Keep in mind that you can buy just the cam buckle and put your own straps on them.

 

[rhagenw]

I finally had time to try this on a tree. I put one Treehopper step on the strap. I did not have more steps to add unless I undid other ROS which would have been a bit tedious.
So take this for what its worth...
The Roller cam and strap easily got nice and tight on the tree. I stepped on the step and it seemed to remain fairly tight, but it was an extremely short test. I can't say how the strap material that the cam comes with will continue to perform with prolonged use in various conditions.
A couple thoughts about this...
I do believe the Roller cam itself is a better cam than the standard style we've used for eons.
This place does sell just the cam without the strap so you could use your own straps with this.
Also, the cam strap I bought was just a cam buckle and plain strap (no loops) so I could not try it out on gear with versa buttons (or my Predator) so I can't comment on that either. I have had issues with the stock Predator buckles being almost impossible to release. I think I will get some Roller Cams with the looped ends, which are available in several lengths. If the strap material has a low stretch factor, it will probably be an improvement over the standard straps that Tethrd puts on their platforms. I'm optimistic these will work great with the way we tighten a Predator strap as we cam it over. I think we will be able the get the strap very tight with less effort.
I'm cautiously optimistic about this new product for a variety of stuff we use cams straps for.
I'd like to hear some opinions from other guys when they test out their's.

so would you rate these some where in between cinching abilities of a stand cam strap and ocb? Or is it closer to an ocb?

 

[three5x5s]

Thanks for posting these. One end of the strap is sewn to the buckle, The loops look to fit a Mt. Dew can.

 

[Allegheny Tom]

so would you rate these some where in between cinching abilities of a stand cam strap and ocb? Or is it closer to an ocb?

I would not compare them to an ocb. These are just an improvement over a standard cam buckle.
I've always used polyester webbing with my standard cams because I'm under the impression that it had low stretch and some other advantages over nylon, but I have no experience with the type of material the Roller Cam uses. I initially feel pretty good about these cam buckles but I can't yet vouch for the straps. They might be great, maybe not, I don't know yet.

 

[zolson]

Ordered a couple today with the hope of using them with a pair of ameristeps on either side of my OOAL Scout platform. A regular cam buckle doesn’t get them tight enough so I’m hoping this will. I have and use boat buckles (OCB) but I don’t love them. Fingers crossed for rollercam....

I'll be interested to hear if it gets that set up tight enough.

 

[drew13]

Ordered a couple today with the hope of using them with a pair of ameristeps on either side of my OOAL Scout platform. A regular cam buckle doesn’t get them tight enough so I’m hoping this will. I have and use boat buckles (OCB) but I don’t love them. Fingers crossed for rollercam....

Nope. Rollercam got the steps a bit tighter than a regular cam buckle, but the steps are still very squishy.

FYI, this experiment was using the versa button on my single mini-stick to attach a ROS with 2 steps. I think the stick actually made it worse by holding the strap away from the tree, hence there was less strap touching the tree and thus less contact and friction to hold the strap up. It wasn’t dangerous - I was more concerned about noise as the steps slid down the tree each time I stepped on them.

I have some more ideas to try before I give up on the rollercams, but first choice was a bust.

 

[Allegheny Tom]

Nope. Rollercam got the steps a bit tighter than a regular cam buckle, but the steps are still very squishy.

FYI, this experiment was using the versa button on my single mini-stick to attach a ROS with 2 steps. I think the stick actually made it worse by holding the strap away from the tree, hence there was less strap touching the tree and thus less contact and friction to hold the strap up. It wasn’t dangerous - I was more concerned about noise as the steps slid down the tree each time I stepped on them.

I have some more ideas to try before I give up on the rollercams, but first choice was a bust.

Thanks for posting your findings. Sounds more like a strap issue and not an issue with the buckle itself.
I wonder if there is a break-in period for getting the "stretch" out of the straps??
When I started this thread I had not yet received my Roller Cams and I was asking about them more so than I was recommending them.
I still believe the buckle itself is better than a standard cam buckle. This may be a case of putting the cam on a strap from a 3rd party.
It's just about time for paddling season around here, so I'll be hauling canoes soon. That's the primary reason I bought these straps.

 

[SETX hunter]

Nope. Rollercam got the steps a bit tighter than a regular cam buckle, but the steps are still very squishy.

FYI, this experiment was using the versa button on my single mini-stick to attach a ROS with 2 steps. I think the stick actually made it worse by holding the strap away from the tree, hence there was less strap touching the tree and thus less contact and friction to hold the strap up. It wasn’t dangerous - I was more concerned about noise as the steps slid down the tree each time I stepped on them.

I have some more ideas to try before I give up on the rollercams, but first choice was a bust.

Just curious, have you ever attempted your setup with a ratchet strap? Just to compare. My guess is you may get some movement in the steps going around the stick even with a ratchet. If a ratchet can’t hold it tight enough, nothing else will.

Also curious, how solid are your ameristeps straight on the tree with the roller cam? Not around the stick.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Allegheny Tom]

Just curious, have you ever attempted your setup with a ratchet strap? Just to compare. My guess is you may get some movement in the steps going around the stick even with a ratchet. If a ratchet can’t hold it tight enough, nothing else will.

Also curious, how solid are your ameristeps straight on the tree with the roller cam? Not around the stick.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

For ROS, nothing gets them tighter than a quality ratchet strap. I'm talking about a REAL ratchet strap (check out the ones from Shippers Supply), but there is a trade off with everything. Ratchets are heavier, more bulk, and have the noise factor. But ratchets DO get rock solid tight, and are easiest to re-tighten to snug them up if/when the strap stretches.

 

[drew13]

Yup, agree with everything you guys are saying. Over the years I’ve used regular cam buckles, ratchets, OCB’s and now rollercams. Pros and cons to each.

Will continue to experiment and report back.

 

[drew13]

Tried an ameristep ROS on a rollercam strap last night - still more squishy than I would like. I like these cams but I think about the only saddle scenario where they would help is on climbing sticks. They get a little tighter on the tree than a regular cam strap but not as tight as a ratchet or OCB.

Did not have time to try a ratchet or OCB on my single stick last night. Still planning to.

 

[zolson]

Tried an ameristep ROS on a rollercam strap last night - still more squishy than I would like. I like these cams but I think about the only saddle scenario where they would help is on climbing sticks. They get a little tighter on the tree than a regular cam strap but not as tight as a ratchet or OCB.

Did not have time to try a ratchet or OCB on my single stick last night. Still planning to.

Thanks for reporting on your test!

 

[Allegheny Tom]

.....I like these cams but I think about the only saddle scenario where they would help is on climbing sticks. They get a little tighter on the tree than a regular cam strap but not as tight as a ratchet or OCB.....

I'm thinking that they should work pretty well on a Predator.
Predators need to have the strap continuously tightened as the platform is being cammed-over. I suspect that the roller will help that process go a little more efficiently. I'm also hoping that the buckle release doesn't jam like the stock Predator buckle. I've had a few times that I had to hit that button on the stock buckle with an object to get it to release. I know other guys have commented on that, too.

 

[drew13]

I'm thinking that they should work pretty well on a Predator.
Predators need to have the strap continuously tightened as the platform is being cammed-over. I suspect that the roller will help that process go a little more efficiently. I'm also hoping that the buckle release doesn't jam like the stock Predator buckle. I've had a few times that I had to hit that button on the stock buckle with an object to get it to release. I know other guys have commented on that, too.

Good point, Tom. A platform or similar piece of gear that cams over to tighten the strap could benefit from these rollercams.

 

[Allegheny Tom]

I just strapped my canoe to my van. For that application, these straps are great.