A reel (900,900b) for tightening an article comprising: a housing (950,950a) having an interior region and a base that is attachable to the article; a spool positioned within the interior region of the housing (950,950a) and rotatable relative thereto, the spool having a central post about which a tension member is wound; a knob member that is coupled with the spool and configured to cause the spool to rotate within the interior region of the housing (950,950a) in a first direction to wind the tension member about the spool's central post; and a load holding mechanism coupled with the spool and the housing (950,950a), the load holding mechanism comprising a cylindrical hub (907a,907b,995,996) and a spring that are frictionally engageable to prevent rotation of the spool in a second direction opposite the first direction to prevent unwinding of the tension member from the spool's central post, characterised in that: the spring is wound about the cylindrical hub (907a,907b,995,996) or is wound within an inner wall of the cylindrical hub (907a,907b,995,996); rotation of the knob member in the first direction reduces the frictional engagement of the spring and cylindrical hub (907a,907b,995,996) to enable rotation of the spool in the first direction; and tension in the tension member biases the spool toward rotation in the second direction, which biases the spring into increased frictional engagement with the cylindrical hub (907a,907b,995,996). a housing (950,950a) having an interior region and a base that is attachable to the article; a spool positioned within the interior region of the housing (950,950a) and rotatable relative thereto, the spool having a central post about which a tension member is wound; a knob member that is coupled with the spool and configured to cause the spool to rotate within the interior region of the housing (950,950a) in a first direction to wind the tension member about the spool's central post; and a load holding mechanism coupled with the spool and the housing (950,950a), the load holding mechanism comprising a cylindrical hub (907a,907b,995,996) and a spring that are frictionally engageable to prevent rotation of the spool in a second direction opposite the first direction to prevent unwinding of the tension member from the spool's central post, characterised in that: the spring is wound about the cylindrical hub (907a,907b,995,996) or is wound within an inner wall of the cylindrical hub (907a,907b,995,996); rotation of the knob member in the first direction reduces the frictional engagement of the spring and cylindrical hub (907a,907b,995,996) to enable rotation of the spool in the first direction; and tension in the tension member biases the spool toward rotation in the second direction, which biases the spring into increased frictional engagement with the cylindrical hub (907a,907b,995,996). the spring is wound about the cylindrical hub (907a,907b,995,996) or is wound within an inner wall of the cylindrical hub (907a,907b,995,996); rotation of the knob member in the first direction reduces the frictional engagement of the spring and cylindrical hub (907a,907b,995,996) to enable rotation of the spool in the first direction; and tension in the tension member biases the spool toward rotation in the second direction, which biases the spring into increased frictional engagement with the cylindrical hub (907a,907b,995,996).