Cord locks are spring loaded toggles that grip a drawstring and hold it exactly where you set it. These bean shaped cord locks have a single 5mm hole, so they suit one round drawcord, hoodie string, shoelace or bag cord. Squeeze the button, slide the toggle, let go - the internal spring clamps the cord and it stays put until you move it again. Sold in packs of 10, 20, 50 or 100 from Australian stock.
Most hoodie and trackpant drawstrings have nothing holding them at all. You pull the waist in, it works loose within the hour, and eventually one end disappears back inside the channel. A cord lock fixes that permanently for a few cents per garment. The same toggle solves a sagging backpack cinch, a loose hat cord, a shoelace that will not stay tied, and it is the single part that most home sewers run out of halfway through a drawstring bag project.
Specifications
Product
Single hole bean toggle cord lock
Hole size
5mm bore - fits one round cord up to approximately 5mm
Toggle size
22.7 x 20.5mm
Shape
Bean / oval, smooth rounded body
Material
Tough polyamide body with internal steel spring
Mechanism
Spring loaded push button slide
Colour
Sent at random from the available range
Pack sizes
10, 20, 50 or 100 pieces
Stock location
Australia
What's in the Box
10PCS
10 x 5mm single hole bean toggles
20PCS
20 x 5mm single hole bean toggles
50PCS
50 x 5mm single hole bean toggles
100PCS
100 x 5mm single hole bean toggles
Why These Cord Toggles Work Where Knots Fail
Adjustable, not permanent - a knot sets one length forever and has to be picked apart to change it. A cord lock slides to any position and holds there.
No fraying - repeated tying and untying shreds a cord end. The spring clamps on the body of the cord and releases clean, so the cord lasts.
Single 5mm hole suits the common cords - standard hoodie drawstring, trackpant cord, shoelace, bag cinch and lanyard all sit in a 5mm bore.
Polyamide body will not rust or crack - it goes through the wash, gets rained on and stays intact, unlike a metal aglet that corrodes.
Cheap enough to fit everything you own - at pack prices these cost cents each, so there is no reason to leave a single drawstring loose.
What Is the End of a Drawstring Called?
Two different parts get confused here. The hard tip on the end of the cord - the plastic or metal sleeve that stops the cord fraying and helps you thread it - is called an aglet, the same part you find on a shoelace. The adjustable clamp that slides along the cord and holds the drawstring tight is a different thing entirely: it is called a cord lock, a cord toggle, a cord stopper or a bean toggle depending on who is selling it. An aglet is fixed and does not adjust. A cord lock is what you want when the drawstring keeps working loose. This listing is for cord locks, not aglets.
How Do You Use a Cord Lock?
Press the button on the toggle with your thumb - this compresses the internal spring and opens the hole. Feed the drawstring through the hole while holding the button down. Release the button and the spring clamps the cord. To adjust, press the button again, slide the toggle up or down the cord to the tension you want, and release. On a hoodie or bag with two cord ends, thread both ends through the same toggle so a single squeeze adjusts the whole cinch. If the cord end has frayed and will not feed through, cut it clean at an angle or wrap the end with a small piece of sticky tape to make a temporary aglet.
Will a 5mm Cord Lock Fit My Drawstring?
The 5mm bore takes one round cord of up to roughly 5mm diameter. That covers the great majority of hoodie and trackpant drawstrings, standard round shoelaces, paracord, bag cinch cord and lanyard cord. It will not suit flat tape or wide woven drawstring - flat cord needs a wider slot style toggle, not a round single hole. If you want to run two cord ends through one toggle, use a cord of 2 to 3mm so both fit comfortably, or choose one toggle per cord end. If you are not sure, measure the cord across its widest point with a ruler before ordering.
Who Buys These
Home sewers making drawstring bags, library bags and swim bags buy these by the pack - a cord lock is what turns a plain drawstring bag into something that actually stays closed. Parents fixing school hoodies and sports jackets buy them to stop cords disappearing into the channel. Scout groups, sports clubs and cadet units order the 50 and 100 packs for uniform maintenance. Market sellers and Etsy makers use them as a finishing touch on handmade bags and pouches. Hikers and campers use them on tent guy ropes, dry bag closures and jacket hems where a quick one-handed adjustment matters.
What is a cord lock? A cord lock is a small spring loaded toggle that clamps onto a drawstring or lace and holds it at a set length. Press the button to release it, slide it, let go to lock it again.
How do cord locks work? Inside the plastic body is a compression spring. Pressing the button pushes the spring back and lines up the internal hole with the outer hole so the cord can move. Releasing the button lets the spring push the inner sleeve back, pinching the cord between the two holes.
How do you thread a cord lock? Hold the button in with your thumb, push the cord end through the open hole, then release. If the cord end is soft or frayed, tape it or cut it at an angle so it feeds through cleanly.
What colours will I receive? Colours are sent at random from the range in stock. If you need one specific colour for a project, order a larger pack to improve your chances or message us before you buy - we cannot guarantee a colour selection.
Can I use these on a shoelace? Yes, on round laces up to about 5mm. Thread both lace ends through one toggle and slide it down to the tongue for a no-tie fastening. Flat laces will not sit properly in a round 5mm hole.
Are they machine washable? The polyamide body and internal spring handle normal machine washing on garments. Wash cold to warm rather than hot, and avoid a hot tumble dryer for long periods, as with any plastic garment hardware.
How many do I need? One toggle handles one drawstring cinch (both cord ends through the same toggle). A hoodie needs one, a drawstring bag needs one or two depending on the design. The 10 pack suits a household, the 50 and 100 packs suit clubs, schools and makers selling finished goods.
Fast Australian Shipping
These cord locks ship from Australian stock, so there is no overseas wait. We send to Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Hobart, Canberra and Darwin, plus regional and remote addresses Australia wide. Orders placed on a business day are picked and dispatched promptly, and tracking is provided so you can follow the parcel to your door.
Small parts - choking hazard. Keep toggles away from children under three, and keep drawstrings on children's clothing short enough that they cannot loop or catch. These are general purpose garment and craft toggles. They are not a load bearing fastener, safety fitting, climbing component or restraint, and must not be used where failure could cause injury. Colours are sent at random from the available range and may differ from the images. Measurements are approximate.
Sign up now
SIGN UP AND RECEIVE YOUR FREE PARTY PLANNER
Our subscribers are always the first to hear about discounts, free shipping offers, new products, and more!
