Anyone tried or use a retractable gear tether?

sierra11b · Jan 25, 2014

Been carrying knives since I can remember and have spent a great deal on both production and customs as i'm sure most of you have. Long story short about two years ago I lost a Darrel Ralph custom right out of my pocket.... $800 gone in a flash... It took awhile to wrap my head around that loss, gain confidence in carrying some of my more expensive knives, and vowed that I needed to secure my knives better.

I use the handkerchief over the knife method for my small slipjoints now but have no method for my larger pack pocket-size knives - most of which have lanyard holes - simply because the handkerchief is too bulky in the pocket over a large knife.

So I've been thinking of a thin leather pocket-clip sheath (most of my larger knives don't have clips) and using a small spool tether with one of those quick-release systems (maxpedition, T-Reign, etc.)

Anyone done something similar and if so how did you like it? Not too concerned about looks here as I'd rather look a little out of place with a $20 tether system on my belt than loose out like that again.

Phydeaux · Jan 25, 2014

Haven't tried one. I have a few lanyards that I have made that clip on to a belt loop. The length is adjusted so that the knife hangs and doesn't settle to the bottom. I like to use the Nexus plastic snap clips because they don't scratch things, they seem to hold up very well and they are inexpensive.

One of the reasons I haven't tried one is that I'm paranoid that if the knife is attached to the retractable tether, what happens if I loose my grip? Where is that razor sharp blade going to go?

"paranoid" Ric

Franciscomv · Jan 25, 2014

Have you thought about a belt sheath? I've lost three knives in the past twenty something years (and one of them I still think might be misplaced at home), they fell out of my pocket while going over rough terrain with my horse. So now I use either a secure sheath or this Victorinox thingy (the sheath for the trapper took 5 minutes to make from some left over leather):

sierra11b · Jan 25, 2014

Phydeaux said:
Haven't tried one.
One of the reasons I haven't tried one is that I'm paranoid that if the knife is attached to the retractable tether, what happens if I loose my grip? Where is that razor sharp blade going to go?

"paranoid" Ric

I suppose if you made pinching the quick release a habit as you pulled the knife it wouldn't be an issue?

McVeyMac · Jan 25, 2014

Perhaps making some pocket sheaths out of leather is a solution? With a pocket clip is possible or a teather to the sheath.

sierra11b · Jan 25, 2014

A pocket sheath form-fitted to the knife is another solution I'm considering but it would be less expensive to get a universal sheath for the bigger pocket knives... Something like Paul Long's pocket clip. This way the knife is maintained with its lanyard hole upright.

I'm no longer in the service and humping through NC's thickest wait-a-minute vines with a 80lbs of gear and sensitive items tied down from my head to toes. That being said, I don't think the tethers are a good solution for when tough situations call for supeoor tensile strength. But for general loss prevention at $20 for the unit and a few bucks a pop for additional quick releases it may prove uselful for a now low speed high drag civilian such as myself.

Danketch · Jan 25, 2014

I used a Maxpedition one for a while with my leatherman. I would clip my Wave to the outside carpenters pencil/pouch thing on my Duluth Firehose pants. It was a good location for me, but when I bent over or had to climb up on a machine it would fall out sometimes. This kept me from losing it. Long enough to keep clipped to belt during 80% of my use. After about a year of use, the plastic started to wear and break.

I just use the clip on the leatherman in my pocket now. Still looking for a better solution.

sierra11b · Jan 25, 2014

Thanks for that review. I suppose an improvised quick release joining a short lanyard off the lanyard hole of the knife and connected to a longer piece to a belt loop with a small carabiner would serve the same purpose.

darkangel55555 · Jan 25, 2014

How about a P7 suspension clip for the smaller to medium blades? I think larger knives really deserve a belt pouch, fully enclosed, with a personal preference toward velcro over snaps. Not very ninja quiet, but it's hard losing a horizontally mounted sheath at 2 or 5 o'clock (or 7 or 10 for a southpaw) though I'm sure it's possible.

sierra11b · Jan 26, 2014

That's for recommending the P7 clip. Unfortunately, my most expensive loss was a clipped knife as mentioned in the OP.

I guess the conclusion is this: Nothing is ever 100% secure but the idea of a closed-loop system with a quick release appeals to me. Danketch obviously has a demanding job so maybe the life of a tether system in my work far surpasses his year mark for wear and tear. For that reason $20 may be a worthwhile expenditure every year or more given the differences in work environment.

Otherwise ill likely hodgepodge my own system out of parts.... It won't be pretty but should keep my prized possession safe for casual edc. It would be cool if someone could develop a super durable and non-cumbersome quick release system that isn't a loose hanging lanyard (which there's certainly no shortage of).