I have never tried ratchet straps but have always found them very stylish. For this price it's definitely worth a try, even a buckle costs that much. If you are not too tall the ratchet works very well. This is such a cool design. Don't worry if the strap is too long, you can cut it off at the part that doesn't have a ratchet and is connected to the buckle. It is held in place with a spike clamp. I usually wear a hard Cobra release strap but for evening events it's just great!