No More Corrosion, No More Squeaks, No More Breaks (Shinguard Upgrade)

[MadMax]

Say goodbye to metal rings & those stupid clips! Say sayonara to side-release buckles (SRBs) and the potential repair / replacement hassles!

G-hooks. G-hooks are the answer: 

  

 

It does involve destroying the existing fastener (plastic SRBs are killed best with a diagonal shear / cutter; metal D-rings with a heavy-gauge wire cutter or thin-gauge bolt cutter). But as long as you leave the webbing loops intact, the G-hooks have something to secure to. They're lower profile, monstrously strong, very light, and since they're aluminum, won't corrode (rust) nor squeak. 

 

[BLWizzRanger]

Max, I took your advice and did this on my Force 3s.  I wrapped the g-hooks exactly how you show in the pictures and got frustrated because the strap around the third bar would migrate toward the gap thus reducing the gap size and hindering the loop from going through the gap.  Therefore, I rewrapped the g-hooks as seen in my picture and applied the recommended ANSI standard of electrical tape length to lock the g-hook in place with the strap.  Just a suggestion in another way to wrap these if the logical way frustrates anyone. 

 

[The Man in Blue]

Now, how do I get rid of the rust, corrosion, squeaks, and pops from my knees?

[MadMax]

11 hours ago, BLWizzRanger said:

I wrapped the g-hooks exactly how you show in the pictures and got frustrated because the strap around the third bar would migrate toward the gap thus reducing the gap size and hindering the loop from going through the gap. 

Wizz, I’ll produce a series of more substantial photos on how to run the strap thru each g-hook so that it grabs without needing tape. 
Also consider, you might be using the stock standard (and thicker) elastic Force3 placed on the Ultimates; in my case, I only have one strap each that is still stock-standard, while the other three per shinguard are @Razzer’s UmpLife SG harnesses – the elastic is thinner. 

[834k3r]

12 hours ago, The Man in Blue said:

Now, how do I get rid of the rust, corrosion, squeaks, and pops from my knees?

[DerekGDS]

@BLWizzRanger an alternative would be to pop a few stitches in as below and that should work but that's easier said then done on a finished product.

[BLWizzRanger]

My luck the entire loop would unravel.

I am fine with what I have.  Its much easier - less frustrating - to hook up than before.  I just put out the alternative in case someone came across this thread and experienced the same frustration level as I. 

I would argue that my effort resulted in a less bulkier 'wrap' at the g-hook than Max's but I think it would be splitting hairs at that point.  Just another way to skin the cat.

[grayhawk]

Did you use these?

https://www.amazon.com/LUORNG-Backpack-Hardware-Carabiners-Adjustable/dp/B09NVSG6Z4/ref=sr_1_2?crid=PAT5VXP7PUPF&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.RTvsxfdBNMD37i7p09UtKJvKuDCkQzher8u5hn8yj_K7oLKpAz2Euk3wrTDnLTGEfoS_2rD59z-6D4o7Nin5tagR3OZh61pw64x3Mstr8Oe9QfAyRAlSTsZ1A6s48G3Bo8u3-VhRYmMADQ9RTStHII_ZVCM0V6yrrvEBAloE3hhc_IA4-ULNj7Aa0Sz0Il1RKXD5ryXv5CdTonP8eK8lnBCwncCdD7qfbehizEdu9_YU-sEdzy_XYlj-jvgB0nu_Oz3xZ3GX5W_93vZf2RXJWDsKYH25rH7MKI23IqXwERM.Q9Lxc4deZoShg-TxztM0Qnz--B9UsGoJKrwc14Wgsf8&dib_tag=se&keywords=aluminum+g+hooks&qid=1761249452&sprefix=aluminum+g+hooks%2Caps%2C202&sr=8-2

[The Man in Blue]

7 hours ago, 834k3r said:

 

Nobody is going to let me crash an experimental aircraft . . . 

[MadMax]

3 hours ago, grayhawk said:

Did you use these?

That’s the exact set I used. 

[BLWizzRanger]

I used the ones below and they looked slightly different in that mine have a point in the gap and MM's doesn't.  So maybe that was my issue. 

 

https://www.amazon.com/VersaKits-Tri-glide-Adjustable-Fastener-Buckles/dp/B0CBPGH7BT?pd_rd_w=9EJvh&content-id=amzn1.sym.28b8b5f8-6db0-430a-88ea-02298bfc79f4&pf_rd_p=28b8b5f8-6db0-430a-88ea-02298bfc79f4&pf_rd_r=XWKZ8A1JSV3EPAAX45HF&pd_rd_wg=GB0Pq&pd_rd_r=8e1a550b-eda6-4349-a36e-ae5308cfbcc6&pd_rd_i=B0CBPGH7BT&ref_=pd_bap_d_grid_rp_0_49_t&th=1&psc=1