Notice that leather, rubber or plastic patch on your favorite backpack? It’s got a name.

The “lash tab” or “pig snout” was originally designed so people could use strings to hang equipment like sneakers on their packs.

It also adds a vintage twist to today’s modern backpacks.

You can find the patches on personal floatation devices to hang knives, whistles and more, too.

Learn more about the "lash tab," its history and uses in the video below by Business Insider:

More on BusinessInsider.com.

Keep Reading

Collect candy, play carnival games for prizes and do more not-so-scary stuff at Boo at the Zoo at Zoo Atlanta on Saturday and Sunday. (Courtesy of Zoo Atlanta)

Credit: Photo courtesy of Zoo Atlanta

Featured

Members of the conversion crew take a break as the main scoreboard is lowered to the floor to be worked on as the arena gets ready for the next concert at State Farm Arena, Thursday, October 2, 2025, in Atlanta. The crew was working on creating a stage for the Friday, Oct. 3 Maxwell concert. (Jason Getz/AJC)

Credit: Jason Getz / Jason.Getz@ajc.com