Replace a Plastic Buckle for the Backpack

You are hinking in the mountains with your friends and unfortunately, a key plastic buckle goes from your backpack, what should you do?

It's time to replace your plastic buckle! There a are two ways to fix your plastic buckle. One is quick fix which requires a replacement plastic buckle, a pocket knife or lighter.

Steps for quick fix:
1. Match your buckle. The best match, of course, is the same exact type as the original. If there's no replacement buckle, you can use a primarily decorative matching buckle somewhere else on the bag instead, maybe it's your best bet.

2. Check the broken plastic buckle to find the plastic bar which the webbing is looped over. Cut a small gap carefully in the center of the same bar on the replacement buckle.

3. Make the nylon loop through the gap in the bar to attach the plastic buckle to the webbing.

The other way is sewn fix which requires a replacement buckle, Seam ripper, heavy-duty thread and needle.

Steps for sewn fix:
1. Use a seam ripper to remove the stitches to free the old buckle.

2. Fold the end of the webbing through the new buckle and fold the webbing over on itself.

3. Thread the needle and sew both layers of the webbing together.

4. To make the plastic buckle strongly attached, sew almost all the way across the strap, up one edge a little, back across the strap in the other direction, then back down to where you started, forming a rectangle. Then sew an "X" inside the rectangle, connecting the corners. Tie off the last stitch and cut the thread.

Anyway, quick fix is simple and fast while the sewn fix is strong and permanent.

New plastic buckles are widely available and inexpensive. Lowy's full line of plastic fasteners include side release buckles, plastic buckle, double bar buckles, cord locks, d-rings and loops.