Don’t you just hate it when someone comes up with one of those “gee, why didn’t I think of that” inventions? I know I do! And, what is amazing is, the product under review here, the Stronghold Haywire Klamper, is also one of those “wow, is that simple” inventions.
Have you ever had a radiator hose break under the hood of your car? I know I have, on quite a few occasions over my 60+ years on this earth. Or, have you had a hose clamp let loose on you, and in your e-box, you have every size hose clamp – except the one you need? Yeah, me too! I used to do a lot of off-roading – not as much as I used to, as it has cost me a lot of money in repairs – and have a muffler clamp or tail pipe clamp break – leaving your muffler or tail pipe hanging on the ground? Yeah, me too – one time too many – and the baling wire or rope I had in my e-box didn’t hold up very long.
I’m sure you’ve all had some camping equipment break on you, and it always happens at the worse possible time, and you would have given anything to have the right repair kit handy to put the broken parts back together. Sure, I’m a big duct tape fan, and it’s excellent for making all manner of repairs, most of the time, the repairs are short-lived or temporary at best. I’ve used baling wire, military trip wire, electrical wire – whatever I could lay my hands on, to get me and my gear back up and running, until I got back to civilization, and I could make a better repair, or replace the broken gear. I’m betting a few of you, especially hunters, have taken a tumble or rolled a horse with their rifle or shotgun, and broke or cracked the wrist on their long guns, haven’t you?
Well, I’m here to tell you, there’s a better, and a much easier way, to make repairs, when you need to bind two pieces of “whatever” back together. I received the Stronghold Haywire Klamper – with a short handwritten note, for test and evaluation several weeks ago from Wilson at Pantry Paratus.) I thought for a few minutes “what am I supposed to do with this “haywire” thing – I don’t live on a farm or a ranch – I have a tiny homestead, in a rural area of Oregon, so I didn’t know what use this device would be to me. Boy, I hate it when I’m wrong.
After wondering what good a “haywire” clamper would be to me, I decided to check out the video on the Pantry Paratus web site. Boy, were my eyes opened to a very, very neat tool, that everyone should have in their rig or pack, or both. What we have with the Stronghold Haywire Klamper is a tool, with some 14-15 gauge wire, that can bind together all manner of gear and equipment, and do it in short order and without much chance of doing it wrong. In the video, you will see a man demonstrating a hammer, with an obviously seriously cracked wooden handle, that has already been repaired with this device. However, he takes the wire repair off the hammer, and shows the viewer just how damaged the wooden handle is, then takes a minute to make a repair with the clamp and wire, and proceeds to pound nails with the hammer. It was impressive.
The Stronghold Haywire Klamper is a simple metal clamp/tensioning device, that comes with some 14-15 gauge wire, and complete instructions for use in a package that only weighs about 4 ounces. You can add more wire to the kit – and I strongly suggest you do – and you can make all manner of repairs in an emergency situation. The only other thing you will also need is, a good Leatherman-type tool. (And if you’re serious about survival, you must have some type of multi-tool in your gear. I keep my Leatherman on my belt, and use it practically every day – I’d be lost without it.)
So, how does this neat little device work? Well, the video on the web site will show it much better than I can explain it, so be sure to check it out. I played around with this little invention, and found I could make all manner of repair in short order. It was so easy, I kept asking myself if I was doing something “wrong” – as many things don’t work as advertised, or when you buy them and get them home.
I’ve made duct tape repairs on split radiator hoses before, however, they usually don’t last very long. With the Haywire device, you can make a duct tape repair even stronger, by first applying the duct tape over the split hose, then wrapping/clamping the provided wire around the repaired area and tightening it down over the duct tape. Also, if a hose clamp gives way, you can make a clamp using the haywire device in a minute or two, and it will probably be stronger than the original hose clamp was.
How about making an improvised spear with your hunting knife? Easy enough to do, if you have a quality hollow handle survival knife. Supposed all you have is a regular fixed blade hunting knife? Yeah, I’ve tried making a spear myself, by lashing a knife to a stick or tree branch – it doesn’t hold up very well. With the haywire device, you can clamp your fixed blade hunting knife to a stick, pole or tree limb, and have no fear of the knife coming off – until you want it to.
Have you ever tried binding two pieces of wood together, let’s say, in the shape of a cross? Yeah, harder to do than said. The haywire device will allow you to easily make a cross out of wood, metal or even two different materials – and it will stay together. I can think of hundreds of repairs that you can make with this device, and I’m sure you will, too. The possibilities seem endless when you start thinking about all the repairs you can make – and make the repairs stronger than just about anything else, and you’ll wonder how you ever got along without the Stronghold Haywire Klamper in your car’s e-box or your pack.
Now, my problem is, deciding which rig to put my haywire in. Probably put it in my GMC Yukon, until I can get a second one, and put that in my wife’s Dodge Durango. I might even pick-up a few more haywire devices, and put ’em in each of our bug out bags – along with a good supply of extra 14 or 15 gauge wire.
The full retail asking price on the Stronghold Haywire Klamper is $24.95. At first, you’re gonna think that’s a bit steep, for such a simple device. However, the first time you use the haywire for an emergency repair, you’re gonna think it’s worth a thousand dollars or more. I was totally blown away by how simple this device is – and how well-made it is. (They are made in the U.S.A.) I was also amazed at how many things you can repair with it. I don’t normally get overly excited by new products that I test and evaluate. However, with the Stronghold Haywire Klamper – I’m giving it my 100% endorsement – and I rarely endorse products – and I mean rarely! To say you “need” this product is an understatement – this is a must-have piece of gear that every serious survivalist and military servicemember should have in their kit – at all times. Get one!
Pat’s Product Review: The Stronghold Haywire Klamper
