Cool Gear: Floor Mat Fasteners with Muscle
Device improves on a concept, offering better comfort and safety.
It was only a few years ago when a wave of accidents led automakers to change the way they installed floor mats. Back in the late 2000s, crashes caused by floor mats pinning the gas pedal led to recalls, quick fixes, and sadly, even a few deaths. Today, automakers use various methods to keep floor mats in place. These methods typically consist of some kind of floor mounted hook system.
But if you drive a car or truck produced before the mid to late 2000s, you probably don’t have anything holding your floor mats in place. And even though the possibility of an accidental acceleration-induced accident is rather remote, it can (and does) happen.
Thankfully, there is a solution. Several companies manufacture floor mat fasteners that can be installed in any vehicle. These devices, much like OEM solutions, keep your floor mat from sliding around or needing constant adjustment. Out of the bunch, one of the most promising fasteners we’ve seen comes from Eagle Klaw. Instead of velcro pads or hooks, Eagle Klaw offers a stronger, more durable fix: five tension-mounted points that securely lock the floor mat to the carpet. Plus, they’re designed to work with any OEM floor mat as well as many aftermarket mats of virtually any thickness.
If your floor mats don’t have preexisting holes, you do have to use a 3/8″ hole cutter to make one (an optional hole cutter is included with the Eagle Klaw kits). After that, it’s a simple case of installing the cap and anchor, placing the mat where you want it, and giving it a good stomp. And with prices starting at under $8 a pair, the tiny but effective devices are a pretty cheap way to create a more comfortable, safer drive by preventing car mats from sliding beneath your feet while you’re trying to concentrate on the road.
The best part of all is the fact that Eagle Klaw is made in the good ol’ U.S. of A., which is always a good thing — and a sign of quality. Plus, the company’s website promises that the installation process takes about three minutes. Can’t beat that.
Just don’t try to use the Eagle Klaw as a fidget spinner or you may end up with some pricked fingers.
