I bought these to tie down a large cargo bag that sits on one of those cargo platforms that fit into a hitch on the back of my truck. I needed something that could be configured differently as the shape of the cargo bag is not precise or predictable. The ratchet straps seemed like too much. I tried them once and they didn't work properly. The bungee cords didn't seem strong enough. It was right. I don't need to secure the load any tighter than I could by hand, so I don't need ratchet straps. This allowed me to tighten the load as much as needed. Only 2 points of criticism: the belt twisted from time to time and passed through the buckle. It was kind of a pain in the ass. Second, the teeth holding the band are so sharp that the band can catch on them, requiring some work to disengage. never mind At $2 each, you can't go wrong with these things.