A strap system for a head-mounted display system includes a rigid bar having an opening at a first end and a vertical slot situated on an outer surface of the rigid bar. The opening extends within the rigid bar in a lateral dimension. The strap system also includes a rigid segment with an end inserted into the opening of the rigid bar in the lateral dimension, one or more compression springs coupled to the rigid segment, a shuttle to press against the one or more compression springs so as to slide along the lateral dimension, and an adjustment strap fixedly coupled to the shuttle and extending beyond the end of the rigid segment and through the vertical slot on the rigid bar.