Wrapties Product Review: How Heavy-Duty Velcro & Elasticized Polyester Can Be Surprisingly Effective 

If you don’t own a Honda PC800, full on Bagger, giant ADV bike with massive panniers, or don’t want to mount expensive permanent luggage onto your bike, this new affordable moto-cargo solution just may be for you.

Motorcycles are a pleasure to ride and can inject a little excitement in-between point-A and point B. While they’re a joy to pilot, motorcycles don’t typically afford much in the way of storage. Though some tourers and baggers and the like boast relatively large luggage, the same can’t be said for sportbikes, nakeds, and other classes that lack panniers or luggage racks.

In fact, I’d go as far as to say most motorcycles lack adequate storage, even with aftermarket panniers and tank bags and whatnot. A bevy of offerings exist from the aftermarket sector, albeit they often come at a steep price, and frequently require permanent installation. Then there’s always the budget bungee cord and ratchet tie-down strategy, though that often leaves scuff and scrapes on a bike’s finish.

The Origin, The Problem, The Product

Fed up with the existing products, a few innovative thinkers in Australia conjured up a new solution for securing cargo. Enter: Wrapties. Originally brought to market via successful online crowd-funding campaigns, these nifty little items are comprised of 1” (2.5cm)-wide straps, made up of sections of high-tension, industrial-grade, elasticized webbing and dual-sided, heavy-duty (like seriously heavy duty) Velcro. At the end of one side of the Wrapties is a closed loop, or what the company calls the “Fast Grab End”, and an adjustable loop on the other. What makes these hi-viz colored straps noteworthy is their elastic quality, a trait owed to the design’s webbing.

Not only are these incredibly intuitive and easy to use, but the straps have dozens and dozens of (if not litterally countless) possible applications, both pertaining to motorcycling, and normal everyday life. A fact furthered by Wrapties’ 110-pound weight limit, and their ability to be linked together and used in tandem. When not being used, Wrapties can be folded/rolled into a compact shape, making them great everyday-carry items. And unlike regular straps that easily become a tangled mess, Wrapties stow away neatly and easily thanks to the strategically-placed Velcro. The elastic straps are offered in twin-packs of 130cm (51”), 180cm (70.8”), and 240cm (94.5”), or the “Six Pack Bundle” that includes all three twin-packs.

180cm Twin-Packs In The Wild

While Wrapties admittedly sounded good on paper, I was curious to see how effective they would be when used in the real world. I had concerns about luggage shifting due to the elasticity of the straps, and I didn’t have a ton of faith in the Velcro — a medium I haven’t used much since it secured my shoes to my feet as a toddler. Fortunately, I was proven very wrong. Even when left on a bike overnight (admittedly on accident) the Wrapties don’t loosen, making them ideal for both everyday commuting and long-distance touring alike. Even when flicking the bike around in the corners of a windy road, or hitting bumps on the freeway at speed, my cargo remained firmly in place.

Thanks to the loop system, attaching luggage to a motorcycle is incredibly easy. Simply loop one end of the Wraptie to the subframe (or frame), pull the Wraptie over your luggage (or lace it through if possible), and then fasten it to the opposite side. And Dunzo. I first tried the Wrapties on a small sportsbike, securing a bag atop the pillion. After that proved to stay in place, I also tried using it on a large adventure bike and again, success. Despite all the potholes and pavement-transitions that the city streets and freeways of Los Angeles throw at the bike, the suitcase didn’t shift around at all. (Tip of the hat to the Super Tenere’s suspension too).

Further Testing…

Next I traveled down to San Diego to pick up an eighth-liter pit-bike. Instead of renting a trailer as per usual, I brought along a set of Wrapties the company sent us. Though I brought along traditional ratchet tie-downs and had only planned on using the Wrapties in a supplementary manner, I thought “What the hell?, Why not?”, and tried to see if I could use them to secure the bike upright (or upright enough so gas wouldn’t pour out). So after removing the handlebars and front wheel in order to get the little 125 to fit, I looped one end around the bike’s fork and the other to the grab-handles in the back seats of the SUV, (which were folded down) and made it home without any issues.

The Materials

Wrapties are an aggregate of a lightweight polyester material, which it, as well as its construction, Velcro, sizing, etc, having supposedly been in development for the last decade or so. The product has a quality feel to it, the construction appears to be solid, it’s surprisingly lightweight for how strong it is, yet it doesn’t feel cheap. It also helps that Wrapties were developed by people who also ride, and didn’t just produce a product that happened to be something motorcyclist could use too.

Mark Blackburn, Wraptie co-founder, says he’s been testing the straps long term via contractors and plumbers, delivery drivers (or riders rather), who are reportedly using them daily. According to Blackburn, the straps have held up over what he says is “almost continuous” use over two years without the Velcro or the straps’ elastic quality succumbing to any ravages of time and daily use. Wrapties’ warranty is limited to just six-months, and though I’ve only had mine for a few months, I’d be shocked if they didn’t continue working well for years to come.

Final Thoughts & Observations

Having secured cargo on several bikes (and transporting an eighth-liter pit-bike) with Wrapties, I can confidently say these things are pretty, pretty awesome. And with the Six Pack Bundle coming in at less than $100, they don’t lighten the wallet too much either. It is important to understand that Wrapties aren’t a do-it-all product. Their applications are restricted by their weight load limits, loop sizes, and lengths. Having said that, they are still highly, highly, versatile. One small downside is that Wrapties' Velcro is so heavy duty, that unsecuring cargo can be a tad annoying, though I guess that also speaks to the quality of materials and effecacy of the product.

One of Wrapties' biggest selling points has to be how ridiculously easy they are to use. And without any metal ratchets, buckles, or bungee-hooks, there’s no chance of Wrapties damaging or marking up a bike’s surface. The high-visibility orange color that the straps come in make being seen on the road easier too. You also don’t have any straps flapping around in the wind like you typically do with ratchet tie-downs.

All in all, I was happily surprised by how much I actually ended up enjoying using Wrapties, largely thanks to the strength of the Velcro, well thought-out design, and overall quality. I also appreciated their ability to rollup into a little 1” oval puck shape that stays compact when stowed away (again, thanks to the strategically-placed Velcro). I’d give these the stamp of approval. On top of license, registration, and a basic tool kit, I’ll be adding Wrapties to the short list of items that I keep under my seat. **#**WouldRecommend.

Pricing & Sizes

-130cm (51”) Twin-Pack: $28

-180cm (70.8”) Twin-Pack: $37

-240cm (94.5”) Twin-Pack: $42

-Six Pack Bundle (all three Twin-Packs): $97

To buy your very own Wrapties or to learn more about them you can check out Wrapties’ website or watch the promo video below.