8TIMBER Stern Link with Clear Fidlock Quick Release Magnetic Sternum Strap - Secure Adjustable Durable and Comfortable Perfect for Hiking and Travel - Compatible on 1-Inch Webbing - up to 16 Inches

A game changer for backpacks. Easy to open with one hand yet durable and attached easily to my leather backpack that does not have any “special hoops” designed for it

The strap is nice and the quick release function is handy. I have it on my travel backpack to ease the load and I need to be able to take on and off quickly. Downside is it’s a bit on the pricey side.

I made it about a year with this in and out of airports and hotels, and loved it. Then the the string pull came off, and I made a new one. About 2 weeks later, the whole metal piece sheared off the plastic hinge pins and the buckle fell apart, unrepairable. You can buy replacement buckles in multipacks, but I was really disappointed that something I liked so much failed so suddenly and completely. If it's affordable for you, start packing a spare after a few months of use. This is priced high enough that that might not be practical compared to the more affordable competing buckles that last longer, but just aren't as nice to use. The manufacturer's return and support policies on their own website are pretty restrictive and poor for such a difference in price.

Added this to a Tom Bihn Synik 22 and will order another for my Synik 30. Just a quick pull to disconnect, and it intuitively latches itself in true Fidlock fashion. Includes 'strap keeper' so no need to cut or tie off the excess strap.

This is a product solution for something that can be put together pretty easily on one's own from components. That's not a bad thing, just something to be aware of. Depending on which packs you're trying to retrofit, it may or may not be cheaper and easier to go with this kit vs putting together your own. I do want to note right away that given the hardware included the current asking price is in my opinion fair. The core components of this retrofit kit are pretty simple, 1 Fidlock V-Buckle and 2 Duraflex Quik Attach Sternum Strap Adjusters. If you don't want to do any stitching (it requires an industrial sewing machine) you'll probably need a few of ITW Tri glides and a small quantity of nylon webbing. You might also want a little bit of velcro onewrap for strap retention. One Fidlock V-Buckle will likely cost more than all the other necessary hardware combined. Pack hardware is normally only available wholesale but there are several dealers who sell them in singles or small quantities. You can find some of those dealers on Amazon, as well as a slew of counterfeit versions of the above hardware. Some packs (typically defense oriented ones) have the central sternum strap buckle be field replaceable. So if you want to swap out a legacy side release buckle for a Fidlock, you just find the appropriately sized V-Buckle and replace it without having to purchase any other hardware or webbing. In that case even though many of them will be compatible with this sternum strap it's my recommendation that you just source be buckle on your own and save yourself 15 bucks. Most outdoor rec focus packs use Quik Attach Sternum Strap Adjusters and are similar in design to this retrofit kit. On some, the webbing is retained via tri glide so you can just unthread it and cannibalize the hardware or replace individual components as needed. But most will be bartacked in so you can't easily swap out the components, you can only unattach the sternum strap as a whole. These packs are an ideal candidate for using this 8TIMBER kit. The biggest factor in determining whether or not it's better to put together your own kit or buy this one has to do with the webbing. If you can't or won't stitch you'll need tri glides to secure the ends of the webbing. It's the best field repairable solution but it's clunky. So having the hardware already be stitched in may be worthwhile if you want something simpler and sleeker. Additionally if assembling from components, the total cost will end up being only slightly less than this 8TIMBER kit and doesn't have some special features. If you're already purchasing a large quantity of hardware and webbing for other projects, I think it is worthwhile to make your own. But if you're just purchasing enough components to make one sternum strap, it's likely better to get the retrofit kit. Additionally the 8TIMBER kit incorporates some elastic webbing. The first strip is used as built-in strap retention method. This is a great attention to detail. I hate having loose straps, not having policed straps is one of the surefire marks of an amateur in the field. Additionally there's some elastic webbing stitched at one of the ends to give the strap a little bit of extra stretch for increased user comfort. Especially for more casual commuter backpack users. My only real criticism is the stitching. High stress areas aren't stitched down with bartacks, instead another stitching method. The stitches get the job done and are unlikely to fail for most end users but they're not going to be as sturdy and strong as bartacking. Which I guess is all a long way of saying if you have a pack that is compatible with this retrofit kit (which will be a large percentage of them), and like the hardware used and color of the webbing this is a fairly priced kit to add or replace a sternum strap.