They don't seem to have a clear function. I have used them to carry small carbiners used to hoist the "bear bag". They don't get lost down in my pack that way, and anyone in my group can find them. I have used them to hang my laundry from to let them air dry while walking on the trail. A double row would have been more functional. That way I could strap longer items such as my ground pad or a dripping ground cloth easier to the outside.