Profile hook, finger profile hook or snap hook? The end fitting determines which lashing points a strap can be hooked into. However good the ratchet and webbing are, if the hook does not suit the lashing point, it is loaded incorrectly. This comparison looks at the four common hook types on lashing straps from our category Lashing straps / tension belts. Ratchets are deliberately left out here; the focus is on hooks and lashing points only.
End fittings at a glance
All examples come from the manufacturer Dolezych. The values are manufacturer specifications taken from the product data.
| Criterion | Profile hook | Finger profile hook | Profile hook with safety catch | Snap hook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Example | DoZurr 5000, 8 m | DoZurr 5000, 8.00 m | DoZurr 5000, 8.00 m | DoZurr 2000, 6.00 m |
| Webbing width | 50 mm | 50 mm | 50 mm | 35 mm |
| Lashing capacity (LC) | 2,500 daN | 2,500 daN | 2,500 daN | 1,000 daN |
| Standard tension force (STF) | 300 daN | 300 daN | 300 daN | 220 daN |
| End fitting per product data | profile hook | finger profile hooks at both ends | profile hook with safety catch | snap hooks on fixed and loose end |
The lashing capacity applies to the strap as a whole. The weakest link in the chain of lashing point, hook and strap determines what can actually be held.
Profile hooks and finger profile hooks
Profile hooks
The product data name the profile hook as the end fitting but describe neither its shape nor the lashing points it is meant for. Whether it fits depends on the lashing point on your vehicle. The DoZurr 5000 with pressure ratchet + profile hook, length: 8 m is a two-part lashing strap with a 50 mm webbing width, a fixed end of 500 mm and a loose end of 7,500 mm.
Finger profile hooks at both ends
For the finger profile hook, too, the product data only give the hook type, with no dimensions or shape details. So compare the hook with your lashing point before use. According to the description, the DoZurr 5000 with pressure ratchet + finger profile hook, 8.00 m has finger profile hooks at both ends and is made to DIN EN 12195-2.
Profile hooks with safety catch and snap hooks
Profile hook with safety catch
According to the description, the profile hooks with safety catch guarantee a firm hold. The product data do not explain how the safety catch works in detail; the manufacturer's operating instructions are what counts. The DoZurr 5000 with pressure ratchet + profile hook with safety catch, 8.00 m has the same ratings as the versions without a safety catch.
Snap hooks at both ends
On the DoZurr 2000, snap hooks are fitted to the fixed and loose ends. According to the description, they allow easy handling and quick fastening. Check before use whether they fit the lashing points on your vehicle. The DoZurr 2000 with pressure ratchet + snap hook, 6.00 m has a 35 mm webbing width, a fixed end of 300 mm and a loose end of 5,700 mm.
What the ratings on a lashing strap mean
- LC: The permitted lashing capacity of the strap, stated in daN.
- STF: The pre-tension force reached with the ratchet at the stated hand force. For the DoZurr 5000, the manufacturer gives a hand force of 50 daN.
- Elongation: According to the manufacturer, all four straps have an elongation of less than 5 %.
- Standard: The straps are marked according to EN 12195-2.
These values say nothing about the lashing point itself. How much a lashing point may take is stated in the documents for the vehicle or the body.
Which hook for which job?
Truck loading platform
On a truck's loading platform, the type of lashing point decides which end fitting is suitable. The three DoZurr 5000 versions share the same lashing capacity of 2,500 daN and differ only in their end fitting. How many straps you need follows from the load securing calculation, not from the hook.
Vans
A van has a shorter load space. At 6.00 m, the DoZurr 2000 has less webbing than the 8.00 m straps and a lashing capacity of 1,000 daN. The load securing calculation shows whether these values are enough for your load; check on the vehicle whether the snap hooks fit your lashing points.
Production: machines and frames
For the version with safety catch, the description explicitly lists securing heavy machinery as an application. Attachment points on machines and frames vary in design. For every end fitting, check that it sits fully in the lashing point without tilting before you tension the strap.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use any hook on any lashing point?
No. The hook must sit fully in the lashing point without tilting. If it only hangs on its tip, it is loaded incorrectly. Check the fit before every use.
What does the safety catch on the profile hook do?
The product data only say that the profile hooks with safety catch guarantee a firm hold. Details on how it works are given in the manufacturer's operating instructions. According to the product data, the safety catch does not change the lashing capacity or the tension force.
Do straps with different hooks have different ratings?
For the three DoZurr 5000 versions, the product data give the same values for LC, STF and webbing width. The DoZurr 2000 is narrower and has lower values.
How do I know a hook must no longer be used?
The discard criteria in the manufacturer's operating instructions are decisive. Check hooks and webbing for visible damage and deformation before every use.
Conclusion
The four straps differ mainly in their end fitting, and the three DoZurr 5000 versions share the same ratings. Choose the end fitting to suit your lashing point and the lashing capacity according to your load securing calculation. You will find all models under Lashing straps / tension belts.
This article is a selection guide – the manufacturer's operating instructions apply for use and inspection.