A footman loop, also known as a tie-down, is a type of anchoring hardware that’s used to secure a load in place. Although they are available in a variety of styles, most feature a long, slightly raised piece of material with a single anchoring point on each end. The footman loop is installed on an object or surface using screws. After placing the footman loop in the desired position of an object or surface, a screw is driven through each of the anchoring points and into the object or surface.
How Footman Loops Are Used
Footman loops are highly versatile and can be used in a near-limitless number of applications. Boats, for example, are often constructed with multiple footman loops so that they can tie up at docks. A mariner can wrap heavy-duty rope around the footman loop of his or her boat and the dock, thereby holding their boat next to the dock. Some automobiles are also manufactured with footman loops. First-time Jeep owners are often surprised to discover footman loops on their vehicle. But with a footman loop, owners can secure a tarp over their Jeep during rainy weather or simply to protect the interior from dirt and debris.
These are just a few ways that footman loops are used. They can be used for virtually any anchoring application, including those involving boats, automobiles, construction, machinery and more.
Choosing a Footman Loop: What You Should Know
If you’re looking to buy a footman loop, there are a few things to keep in mind. First and foremost, choose a footman loop made of an appropriate material for the environment in which it will be used. Footman loops installed on boats will be constantly exposed to moisture — and salt for ocean-bearing vessels — which can cause them to rust and corrode. Therefore, footman loops used on boats should be made of a rust- and corrosion-resistant material. Standard steel won’t cut it for this purpose. Instead, a stainless steel or aluminum alloy footman loop should be used, both of which can withstand moisture.
Something else to consider is whether you want a standard footman loop or a continuous footman loop. Standard footman loops resemble a door handle, consisting of a single, long and straight piece of material. Continuous footman loops also have a single, long piece of material, but this material contains a ridged design that dips up and down in many places. This unique design allows you to secure multiple loads using a continuous footman loop.