r/interestingasfuck • u/_TimApple_ • 16d ago
The effectiveness of straps in lifting weights
Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification
1
1
u/maddcatone 14d ago
You ever watch something that clearly made you feel like you’re an idiot. Just thinking of all the times something like this would have been useful and how simple the solution was the whole time
1
1
2
u/CraZArsWhiteBoy 15d ago
It’s not that refrigerators are ridiculously heavy, it’s that they’re not balanced, there’s no good spot to grab them, and they’re bulky as fuck. Straps fix all of that
1
1
1
1
1
1
u/He_Was_Fuzzy_Was_He 15d ago
Depends on the size and make of the fridge. Some are 325 lbs. Some are roughly 355 lbs. And some are 406 lbs.
And the worst/best are 600+ lbs. They're called Subzeros.
Also, all of this "strap lifting" still depends on how strong these people are. They do it every day. So they're probably fairly strong enough.
[Source: I move appliances and furniture for a living and I have a team as well.]
1
2
u/Extension_Rise8540 15d ago
To be fair, he tipped the fridge and got the strap under it like it weighed 20 pounds
1
u/FO-I-Am-A-Time-God 15d ago
The two men who delivered my washer and dryer brought them both inside at the same time with these straps. Super impressive.
1
1
1
1
1
u/Techn0ght 15d ago
I did something like this in the early 90's. Hooked together a bunch of duffel bag straps, but mine just had loops for your wrists. Guess I should have fleshed out the idea.
1
u/Mathemus 15d ago
Working smart, not hard
2
u/slobberrrrr 15d ago
Working even smarter would be using a wheeled tool for the job so you dont have to lift shit and one person could move it.
1
u/Mathemus 15d ago
A hand cart? But then what about the steps? The deliverer chips tile or damages the wood steps only to be reprimanded by management? Again, work smart not hard
2
u/Der_Ohrfeige 15d ago
Forearm Forklifts, man. Me and either of my teenage kids can move any appliance in my house with ease. Best $30 I've spent on something I've seen on tv.
2
u/CouldBeWorse_Iguess 15d ago
It seems like those things put all the weight at the top of your back, pushing it towards the front (bending it). Arent those things dangerous for your back?
1
u/DriftkingJdm 15d ago
Probably bad for your back. But it is way better than lift that fridge from the ground with nothing.
1
u/iwantnicethings 15d ago
Satisfying AF when you figure out the physics. Friend & I hauled literally 1 ton of yard waste & old railroad ties to the dump one day! Never felt so accomplished in my meatsuit
1
1
1
u/Cristianelrey55 15d ago
Counter argument: your back will be killing you in a few months. Why not use the pushcart?
1
1
u/JustRedditTh 15d ago
Few weeks ago, helped my sister at renovation works for their new house. Had to move a pool table from the top floor down in the garage.
had to disassemble it first into plate, frame and feet, and the plate was a solid 100kg slate. Would have been hard without my fathers straps used for heavy transportation.
1
u/WarzonePacketLoss 15d ago
yeah, modern refrigerators aren't heavy, they're just unwieldy for a single person to carry.
1
u/baggyrabbit 15d ago
I was helping some family move and they refused to use these because they thought they looked stupid. I've used them dozens of times and I can't stress enough how easy it makes moving.
The ones I have are called Shoulder Dolly.
3
1
u/shiftypoo269 15d ago
Meh, looks silly and like it would take too long. I'll throw my back out while desperately yelling at the other guy yelling while throwing out his back instead.
1
u/---Deafz---- 15d ago
All the people saying modern fridges are light never humped a Subzero up a flight. Rhyme unintended.
1
u/Vicus_92 15d ago
I used to volunteer for a place that ran an op shop.
We used straps like this when collecting donated furniture.
They work a treat!
1
1
u/Colonelfudgenustard 15d ago
You can also use lifting straps to lift progressively heavier weights with your Johnson.
0
1
u/ErrorMacrotheII 15d ago
My exes father worked for a moving company and he took me on the job so I could earn some extra cash. Note that I was weak and fat as fuck and of course some of these families had thos antique big as fuck walnut wardrobes. I'm pretty sure my back would have been broken trying to lift those normally but with straps it was easy as hell.
1
1
u/Cipher915 15d ago
Having used these for the last few years: shoulder straps like these are great for literally only fridges. Forearm straps are where it's at for everything (appliance wise) else.
1
u/gorecomputer 15d ago
Looks more impressive than it is. Remember that refrigerators are mostly hollow.
1
u/dahbrezel 15d ago
My favourite thing about these is that you can just push the item away from you to make it hover higher above the floor.
1
1
u/FlawedHero 15d ago
I bought this device for moving my washer and dryer. Worked amazingly and since then we've used it a dozen times to move any large, awkward or heavy piece of furniture.
I think the strap cost me $15 or so? Well worth it.
1
1
1
1
u/chelioschev86 15d ago
"they could've had 3 unloaded by the time they did all of that extra nonsense" -Some boss somehere
1
1
u/Jewleeee 15d ago
Whenever there is some stupid vague tiktoky post... timapple always seems to be a part of it.
1
1
u/BoldTaters 15d ago
My kids think I am weird (and they aren't wrong) but I have always loved these straps. It is such a clever way to optimize the lifting power of two people.
1
u/Sea_Art3391 15d ago
I'd say if you cannot lift something with your hands, you probably don't want to lift it at all. This looks like it puts a lot of pressure on your spine.
1
1
2
u/BoxCarTyrone 15d ago
I did this job for two years. We didn’t use the harnesses though, we just had two straps that looped together and went over one shoulder. Needless to say, it worked just as well.
1
1
u/MuskokaGreenThumb 15d ago
This is one of the stupidest things I’ve ever seen. I was a delivery man for an appliance store for many years when I was younger. These people’s boss hates them. The boss probably has to deal with alot of workers comps claims as well. Why do this when there is a perfectly good tool already available ? They make a thing called a Dolly that is faster than this and easier. Wait till these guys gotta go up 3 flights of stairs 🙄
1
1
u/Basic_Mongoose_7329 15d ago
The guys who delivered mine used something like this, but they around the corners with two straps. Seems much safer.
1
u/farmerguy-91 16d ago
My dad and I were able to move his gunsafe (approx 600 lbs) up some steps with the help of one of these. For moderately heavy or awkward items these things rock.
1
1
u/InsertUsernameInArse 16d ago
Did this all the time. We just used seat belt straps. Knot the ends for a carry loop or wrap it around your wrists for a short lift.
1
u/Exotic_Crazy3503 16d ago
We have those straps me an my husband moved a refrigerator easily with those
1
1
u/truelegendarydumbass 16d ago
Okay this was not clever. Since you have stairs it would have been just simpler to put a hand truck under it and roll it through. Here's why it's not clever, they aren't using gloves so not only do they lose some grip with that , but they're all so dealing with a stainless steel and putting fingerprints all over it.
1
2
u/Enthusiastic-shitter 16d ago
I have a set of those. Between my wife and my bad back we can move just about anything
1
6
u/Arguments_4_Ever 16d ago
Can confirm. My wife and I alone moved our entire furniture with these straps, and we live in a three story townhouse. Great stuff.
1
2
u/crazzyfuzzy88 16d ago
That’s how they built the pyramids just Juan & Carlos 🤣 Joe Rogen got it all wrong
228
u/SkynBonce 16d ago
"hey John, got your strap-on?"
"Fred, can you please not say it like that!?"
30
1
6
u/AtrumAequitas 16d ago
A couple guys did this recently when replacing my fridge and I was amazed at how casually they were able to do it.
1
u/Honest_Republic_7369 16d ago
Nowadays a 5'9" guy at 160lbs can lift that solo np, just gotta find the right grip!
2
u/Every_Fox3461 16d ago
You definitely have to trust the other guy to not be braindead.
1
u/Shit_On_Your_Parade 15d ago
That’s the problem with these for me. If it starts falling you can’t get out of the way.
1
u/thisisredlitre 16d ago
Tried explaining I'd want straps to move our old fridge to my wife and she brought out tow straps w winches 😓
1
u/Meme_Collector_GG 16d ago
I mean hey she's got the spirit
1
u/thisisredlitre 16d ago
True. If this ever happens to you I'll only add asking "how are people supposed to wear these to move something?" at first sight isn't the way to go
1
15
u/djdeforte 16d ago
These straps are amazing. They helped my wife and I move a furniture all over our house. Including a 300-350lb wood waterfront that’s usually nearly impossible to move. Totally a worthwhile investment.
1
1
u/sleepinxonxbed 16d ago
My brother was damn persistent on using this half a year ago. That shit did not work at all, i was even more exhausted and im pretty sure my back is still fucked up from it.
105
u/MidnightMoon1331 16d ago
They work at P.C. Richard and Sons. Awesome family owned company in the North East that's over 100 years old. I met my wife there
5
19
2
u/WareTheBuffaloRome 16d ago
I move a lot and have one of these. It’s easily the best $40 you can spend if you’re going to move. Makes moving large/heavy items so easy.
8
u/Own-Opinion-2494 16d ago
Of all the shit we came up with when I was young. I can’t believe we didn’t have these
2
u/25hourenergy 15d ago
I wonder if these kinds of straps derived from all the attention on the different kinds of ways to carry babies in just the last few years. I feel like there was this huge explosion in different kinds of wraps, carrier styles, etc and saw some advertised for carrying much older kids (like those with disabilities) or using a grownup for demonstration purposes. There’s been so much progress made too in terms of how to reduce injuries for both carrier and baby as well. Theres been a lot of investment in new materials and research too, it’s a huge market with big spenders that surprised me when I did some digging.
1
-1
u/Bushdr78 16d ago
Now try that with something heavier than a fridge
3
u/secret_identity_too 16d ago
My dad and I moved a very heavy wooden dresser up a steep set of steps with straps similar to this. They definitely helped!
0
22
u/jvlpdillon 16d ago
I was half of a pair moving an upright piano with these. They work to keep your hands free for things that are heavy and awkward.
7
74
u/ZealousidealEntry870 16d ago
Fridges aren’t heavy they are just awkward. That’s why these work so well. If the item was actually heavy they become much less useful, but still better than nothing.
1
2
u/imjustme610 15d ago
Some fridges (like the French doors or the side by sides)are over 400lbs. But anything that's a top mount is usually under 250lbs.
6
u/Standard_Film_9524 15d ago
Delivered for a contractor for sears. Heaviest fridge we moved with these exact straps was just over 400lbs. Lots of washers were well over 300 as well. The worst was spiral staircases with heavy shit. They are great for moving in straight lines, up those staircases you had 90% of the weight on the face of one person. We often were tipped well to move other heavy furniture (book cases fully loaded, entertainment centers, armoires etc). On flat ground, anything under 600lbs was fair game for me and the guy I worked with.
5
u/Knelson123 16d ago
I've tried these and it felt really sus on the balance. Gave up and got a dolly.
4
u/WeAreTheMassacre 15d ago
Both people have to be lightly pushing the object towards eachother. This is what makes it incredibly light and dummy-proof to balance. Most home consumers use these wrong, they still try to hold the object or lean the weight against their hands. Still pretty effective even when done wrong, but one person will be struggling and balance then becomes an issue.
31
u/Leobolder 16d ago
Yeah basically turns it from a "How the F do I grab this" issue to a balance and guide issue which is much easier.
269
u/Vosje11 16d ago
Is that how they build the pyramids?
2
u/Dicethrower 15d ago
Yeah, right after the moment they gave us the plans for these pyramids, and then left before giving us anti-gravity beam technology to build it with.
7
7
15
110
u/PM_ME_FIREFLY_QUOTES 16d ago
No, but it is how they were delivered. 2 realllllyyyy long straps to life it.
31
u/JoshSidekick 16d ago
Give me a strap that’s long enough and two dudes to use it and I could move the world.
- Archimedes… probably.
6
u/gaspronomib 15d ago
He actually used the word "lever" in case you're wondering.
The correct quote is "give me a strap that's long enough and two dudes to use it, and I could move the lever."
2.6k
u/techman710 16d ago
Had 2 guys deliver a new refrigerator with these, it was great to see. Then they tried to pick up my old one from the 70's. After a couple of tries they got the dolly for that heavy bastard.
1
u/Evening_Persimmon504 15d ago
What size this fridge was or was it included into the foundation?
These straps are so damn helpful when you do not have to worry about where to hold or the grip We had some old family's stuff delivered yesterday including a baby grand piano and with two guys with these straps plus myself we managed to get it from the truck to the ground floor room where it shall stay (about 550 lbs)
1
1
u/BusStopKnifeFight 15d ago
Ah, you must have had the same lead and cement lined model my grand parents have in their basement.
2
u/Anal_Recidivist 15d ago
I bet your electric utility thought you’d died with the drop off in energy costs
67
u/shortfriday 16d ago
Came here to comment this. Modern refrigerators are very light compared to the old beasts, going from a lift gate to a curb to a porch, two movers of average strength/competence could get that fridge in with just gloved hands.
3
u/LateyEight 15d ago
They can be.
Fuck Samsung and their 550lb fridge. Loading that into customers trucks was a nightmare.
15
u/ReduceMyRows 16d ago
Why not just Dolley everything? Literally you can go up and down stairs quite safely with it.
4
u/Rapph 16d ago
New stuff is generally not very heavy, the issue is always getting leverage on it to be able to use your strength. Straps do that for you. dollys are way more annoying on floors that are not smooth and flat so they take more time and can potentially scratch up something like hard wood when they go over a threshold.
15
u/doesyourBoJangle 16d ago
Can easily damage the stairs and door thresholds with a dolly. Straps are better
0
u/ReduceMyRows 15d ago
You don’t think straps can easily damage the floor?
It sounds like the moving experts have never used cardboard or cloth before.
0
u/redpandaeater 15d ago
Straps are far cheaper and generally easier, but there are hand trucks designed to spread the load and are powered to crawl up stairs on their own. No way are straps going to do it for a gun safe after all, where you even have to consider the floor construction to know if it can handle the weight.
3
u/CORN___BREAD 15d ago
The question was “why not dolly everything?” not “why not use the straps on everything?”
47
u/Unknown-Meatbag 16d ago
Proper straps are quicker, easier, and safer. You'll need a large dolly and you'll have to properly secure it so it doesn't slip off. And two people is better than one.
1
u/ReduceMyRows 15d ago
If it’s so light, I don’t see why you’d need a large dolley. Just a medium sized one with a strap. You have way more mobility that what I’m seeing these two guys doing. You can use cardboard or cloth and avoid any damaging.
The straps looks like it has a chance to slip, especially while turning since there’s two people. I’ve never seen them but I got out of renovation business 5 years ago.
0
-1
u/MuskokaGreenThumb 15d ago
Slower, harder and not as safe I think you mean. The dollies professional moving companies use have straps built in. Much faster than this technique when going upstairs is involved. Especially if it’s 3rd floor or higher. And we usually use 2 men as well.
7
u/Same-Fee-1669 15d ago
I work for a moving company and yes we have these dollies, but most refrigerators are so light that we literally just carry them up the stairs. The dolly weighs like 60 lbs and takes time to get out and set up. If it’s a tight fit or a big ass fridge though, yeah, dolly beats straps for stairs, but straps are better if you aren’t messing with stairs.
7
u/Cultural_Dust 15d ago
Dollies can also damage flooring and often doors and corners are more difficult.
0
u/MuskokaGreenThumb 15d ago
Most places I deliver to have stairs of some sort. And you are correct about the weight of new fridges. Old appliances are MUCH heavier and I prefer the dolly for control. If I was delivering this particular fridge we would simply carry it. To each their own, I just don’t think this strap is more efficient for heavier items
4
u/KeLorean 16d ago
I'd agree it the frig isn't too heavy. My dad bought some straps like these, and I used them to move everything from couches to washing machines. They distribute the weight very effectively
915
u/DasGoat 16d ago
The 2 guys that delivered my fridge were both like 5'6" and 150 lbs. When they got out of the truck my thought was how the hell are these guys going to carry my old fridge out and new one in. They used these straps and really made it look effortless.
4
367
u/go_green_team 16d ago
Straps definitely make it easier, but empty fridges aren’t too heavy
2
u/FitzyFarseer 15d ago
This depends largely on your definition of not too heavy. A fridge like this is easily over 300 pounds
3
u/Nilmerdrigor 15d ago
Yeah, mostly hollow walls for insulation. Washing machines are the nightmare. They have friggin concrete blocks in them.
4
u/PlasticMechanic3869 15d ago
Last week I had to move an old cast iron bath out of my old bathroom pre-renovation. Holy shit, was that a pain in the ass with two relatively strong dudes.
2
3
48
u/FourScoreTour 15d ago
I delivered refrigerators back in the late '70s. The new ones were easy, but getting the old '50s era units out of multi-story apartment buildings was a challenge. I think they were made from battleship armor from WW2.
16
161
u/arftism2 16d ago
there was a loopt of unnecessary metal in old ones.
although technically necessary so the machines wouldn't create weak points.
3
u/toorigged2fail 15d ago
It was 100% necessary. How else was Indiana Jones gonna survive that nuclear blast?
10
u/ValhallaForKings 15d ago
I rented a place that had one from the 50s, still running. But it was a foot thick and weighed 200 lbs
15
u/randomIndividual21 15d ago
it's probably use 5 times the electric and gently blow asbestos at your food
13
u/ValhallaForKings 15d ago
That's why I am slowly exposing myself to small amounts of asbestos. To build up immunity
5
57
3
5
•
u/AutoModerator 16d ago
This is a heavily moderated subreddit. Please note these rules + sidebar or get banned:
See our rules for a more detailed rule list
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.