Field-Tested Gear Straps & Dog Collars
Hoss Straps
Gear Product Review
Built for the Way You Actually Use Gear
Every once in a while, you come across a simple piece of gear that ends up being so useful, so integral to the way that you experience the outdoors, it becomes hard to imagine how you ever managed without it. That’s exactly how I’d describe Hoss Straps. They’re a small company based in the Texas Hill Country that’s rethinking what a gear strap should be. Instead of the usual bungees, Velcro, or simple cam buckle nylon style strap. We’ve all experienced how these products dry out, crack, rip, tear, slip or break when they get wet or degrade in the UV. Well Hoss Straps have designed a heavy-duty, waterproof, UV-resistant strap that’s meant to live outside — on boats, in trucks, on the water, or in the field. You and your gear never quit, so why should your gear straps?
I’ve been using Hoss Straps for the last couple months in a mix of fly fishing and hunting situations, and they’ve quickly become one of those “always in the pack” items. Around the boat ramp, they’ve been perfect for bundling rods, lashing down dry bags, and keeping my paddle or push pole secure in the kayak or canoe. I’ve even started using them to bundle together my rod tubes and net handles in the truck bed. Unlike bungees or cam straps, they don’t stretch out or degrade in the heat and UV. The polyurethane material stays rigid even when cold, hot, wet or dry. Best of all, the buckle is solid, securing your gear no matter where your adventure takes you.
In the hunting world, they’ve proven just as handy. I’ve used them to strap gear bags to a UTV rack, bundle my tree stand and climbing sticks, secure duck decoys and waterfowl gear, and even cinch down my dog kennel in the back of my truck. They don’t get stiff in cold weather, and they’re strong enough to trust when you’re bouncing down a muddy road before daylight or after dusk. The quick-release buckle makes it easy to adjust tension or pop gear loose with one hand—something you appreciate when you’re wearing gloves or dealing with cold fingers. Heck, I used them this fall to secure a harvested doe to the back of the UTV! What I like most is how weatherproof they are. I’ve left one strapped to my kayak all fall in full sun and it looks the same as the day I bought it. No cracking, no fading, no weak spots. That kind of durability speaks volumes when you’re running gear that lives outside year-round.
Hoss has taken the basic platform of the straps and applied it to their D-Ring Dog Collars. When we are pursuing birds in thick brush and briars, I hate how most collars get snagged. I tried leather collars, but in the rain or on warmer days, they get NASTY. These D-Ring Dog Collars are completely suited for whatever we encounter during a day in the field - and best of all the micro adjustments allow for the collar to be universal for big dogs and small dogs alike. During upland season I use the “Hunter Orange”or “Upland” color collar as my bell collar. For waterfowl, I like the “Blaze”, “Covey” or Desert Tan” color collar. I can’t imagine a day in the field without one of these collars on my dog.
So, if you are like me and you spend time on the water, in the woods, or in the field with your bird dog, Hoss Straps are worth tossing in your kit. They’re one of those unassuming little tools that ends up being useful in every situation—boat, truck, camp, or blind. Built tough, simple to use, and made to last - They’re exactly the kind of product I like to see more of in the outdoor world: thoughtful design backed by real-world performance and real-people experience
Learn more or grab a few straps at hossstraps.com - Use code “HWY22OUTDOORS” for 15% off your order
