A buckle system configured to be attached to an article that places the buckle (100, 200, 300, 600, 700, 800) in tension when connected, the buckle (100, 200, 300, 600, 700, 800) comprising: a first engagement member (40, 140, 340, 640, 740, 840) configured to be tensioned in a first direction and having a body portion in part defining a ring portion to engage and pull in the first tensioning direction; and a second engagement member (20, 120, 320, 420, 520, 620, 720, 820) configured to be tensioned in a second direction, wherein the first engagement member is received into the second engagement member on a side of the second engagement member opposite the first direction, - the first engagement member (40, 140, 340, 640, 740, 840) is a plug member and the second engagement member (20, 120, 320, 420, 520, 620, 720, 820) is a receiving member that receives the plug member into a receiving channel (127, 227, 327, 627, 727, 827) in the first direction and in that the first engagement member (40, 140, 340, 640, 740, 840) and the second engagement member (20, 120, 320, 420, 520, 620, 720, 820) are engaged with one another such that as a tension force (F1, F2) is placed on the buckle in the first and second directions, the first engagement member (40, 140, 340, 640, 740, 840) is more firmly seated in engagement with the second engagement member (20, 120, 320, 420, 520, 620, 720, 820), characterized in that the receiving channel (127, 227, 327, 627, 727, 827) includes opposing walls defining a mouth that is narrower than the width of the ring portion in a relaxed state and wider than the width of the ring portion when the ring portion is in a tensioned state, and in that the plug member is deformable. a first engagement member (40, 140, 340, 640, 740, 840) configured to be tensioned in a first direction and having a body portion in part defining a ring portion to engage and pull in the first tensioning direction; and a second engagement member (20, 120, 320, 420, 520, 620, 720, 820) configured to be tensioned in a second direction, wherein the first engagement member is received into the second engagement member on a side of the second engagement member opposite the first direction, - the first engagement member (40, 140, 340, 640, 740, 840) is a plug member and the second engagement member (20, 120, 320, 420, 520, 620, 720, 820) is a receiving member that receives the plug member into a receiving channel (127, 227, 327, 627, 727, 827) in the first direction and in that the first engagement member (40, 140, 340, 640, 740, 840) and the second engagement member (20, 120, 320, 420, 520, 620, 720, 820) are engaged with one another such that as a tension force (F1, F2) is placed on the buckle in the first and second directions, the first engagement member (40, 140, 340, 640, 740, 840) is more firmly seated in engagement with the second engagement member (20, 120, 320, 420, 520, 620, 720, 820), - the first engagement member (40, 140, 340, 640, 740, 840) is a plug member and the second engagement member (20, 120, 320, 420, 520, 620, 720, 820) is a receiving member that receives the plug member into a receiving channel (127, 227, 327, 627, 727, 827) in the first direction and in that the first engagement member (40, 140, 340, 640, 740, 840) and the second engagement member (20, 120, 320, 420, 520, 620, 720, 820) are engaged with one another such that as a tension force (F1, F2) is placed on the buckle in the first and second directions, the first engagement member (40, 140, 340, 640, 740, 840) is more firmly seated in engagement with the second engagement member (20, 120, 320, 420, 520, 620, 720, 820), characterized in that the receiving channel (127, 227, 327, 627, 727, 827) includes opposing walls defining a mouth that is narrower than the width of the ring portion in a relaxed state and wider than the width of the ring portion when the ring portion is in a tensioned state, and in that the plug member is deformable.