Best Bungee Cords for Securing Your Equipment Easily

There’ll always be a need to keep things in place and protect them from falling off. In fact, whether you are going on a road trip, camping, or simply looking for storage options, securing your items will be a constant need. Thankfully, there is one efficient solution to this crucial need – bungee cords.

A bungee cord is basically an elastic rope with two hooks or clips attached to each of its ends. However, recent innovations have seen this product constantly evolve to suit our specific needs, making it versatile for various forms of storage and packaging.

Many brands produce, market, and sell bungee cords, and this sheer amount of available units can make things confusing for you when making a choice. That is why we have curated this buying guide to keep you on track in selecting the best bungee cord for you. Here, you’ll find everything you need to know before completing a bungee cord purchase.

What Can You Use Bungee Cords For?

People tend to get creative with bungee cords, especially as individual needs vary from person to person. As a result, they have many applications, and below are a few of the most notable.

Storing Items in The Trunk

Anyone who travels heavily by road can tell you how much of a hassle it often is to pack and organize baggage. After cramming a lot of items into your vehicle’s trunk, there is a good chance that the trunk will not close properly, and this is where bungee cords come in. With these cords, you can firmly hold the your luggage in place, and alternatively, secure the trunk to the vehicle’s bumper, effectively keeping the door tightly shut.

Hanging Accessories on The Walls

The best bungee cords also find purpose as hangers for various items such as decorative accessories and photos. In other words, you can attach a wide variety of items to bungee cords hung on walls. However, to avoid causing damage from excess tension, it’s advisable to place only lightweight objects on the cord and for a limited time.

Tying Up Bundles

Creating bundles is a safe and space-efficient way to package a lot of stuff. With the aid of a proper bungee cord, you can easily wrap up bundles that contain your important stuff and be sure of their safety.

The best thing about bungee cords is that they are flexible, and that makes them versatile. So as long as you can figure out whatever arrangement pattern you need, you can pack almost anything with bungee cords without overstretching or damaging them. Impressive, right?

What Factors Do You Need to Consider When Buying Bungee Cords?

Many elements determine the efficiency, multifunctionality, and applications of a bungee cord, and you’ll be better off knowing them before making a purchase. Read on to find out more about these vital features.

Material

The best bungee cords are typically made of two parts: the elastic inner material and the outer coating, and that’s exactly what you should look out for because these parts determine the quality of bungee cords.

The inner elastic material determines the general extent to which bungee cords can stretch, while the outer sheath, influences other characteristics such as durability and resistance to damage. And considering that bungee cords are often used in rough situations, damage resistance is a pretty important factor to consider. Also, you should be on the lookout for a bungee cord that is resistant to ultraviolet rays, especially if you intend to use it outdoors.

Thickness

A bungee cord’s diameter (or thickness) is the major determinant of how much weight the cord can hold. A general rule for bungee cord strength is that the thicker a cord is, the higher its ability to sustain weight (also known as weight capacity). Depending on the manufacturer and purpose, some of the best bungee cords have thicknesses between 0.157 inches (4 mm) and 0.472 inches (12 mm), so you’ll be fine with anything in that range.

Color

If you are a big fan of aesthetics, you can go for bungee cords that come in fancy colors and designs - there are tons of them out there.

However, color isn’t just an aesthetic feature since it also helps with identification. Bungee cords come in different lengths and thicknesses, and sometimes, color is a simple and effective way to differentiate them. In other words, some cords come in unique, custom colors to avoid mix-ups.

Length

You also need to look for how long a bungee cord is, especially since different sizes perform varying functions. For example, short bungee cords are well-suited for holding small items and indoor use, with some of the smallest products being around 10 inches (254 mm) in length. On the other hand, long bungee cords find use in moving around large items, particularly outdoors, and some units can be as long as 72 inches (1.83 m).

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

The process of buying a bungee cord can raise several questions in your mind. Here are some questions to a few of the commonly asked questions about bungee cords.

Q: How much weight can a bungee cord hold?

A: The maximum weight capacity of a bungee cord is determined by its thickness and material. However, common bungee cords can withstand weights ranging from 200 lbs. to 500 lbs. Manufacturers often mention how much weight their product can hold for safety reasons.

Q: What are the best types of bungee cord hooks?

A: Currently, brands use bungee cord hooks made from materials like metal and plastic. As long as you purchase a high-quality bungee cord, the hook will serve its function, regardless of its type of material.

Q: What is the price of a bungee cord?

A: The general characteristics of a bungee cord are vital when determining its price tag. Depending on the length, diameter, color, and weight capacity, common products may cost around $10, while the premium variations could go for $25 or more.