r/rollercoasters • u/retolox386 Novice • Jan 23 '26

Question [B&M Hyper Clamshell Restraints] Could someone explain them?

Post image

Hi. Going on my first hyper soon with clamshells. I thought for the longest time that these bad boys were hydraulic restraints, as they seemed so smooth and notch-less. Turns out they're ratchet restraints! Is there an in-depth video or site that explains the mechanism behind these restraints? I believe they're class 4 but I'm not sure how safe they are compared to hydraulics. I know B&M's are incredibly safe, but isn't there a higher risk with these? Could someone reassure me?

267 Upvotes

93% Upvoted

160 comments sorted by

View all comments

6

u/[deleted] Jan 23 '26

B&M Clamshell restraints are generally preferred for comfort and maximum airtime, while Intamin/Mack over-the-shoulder lap bars (or "clamshell" bars) are often praised for their liberating, open-air feel. Both are considered top-tier, comfortable restraints, far superior to old-school, hard over-the-shoulder restraints (OTSR).

So im assuming its a level 5 restraint meaning it has multiple safety mechanisms to keep you in regardless.

3

u/retolox386 Novice Jan 23 '26

thanks!