A tether for a personal protective device. The tether provides an initial length (L1). The tether is configured to self-retain a stretched length (L2) when stretched. The tether is further configured to self-transition or self-contract from the stretched length (L2) to a recovered length (L3) when heated. With this construction, the tether can be stretched by a user to the stretched state in which the stretched length (L2) approximates the length desired by the user following use, the tether can be contracted to the recovered length (L3) for storage. Or, if the stretched length (L2) is longer than desired by the user, the tether can be contracted to a desired length in the recovered state (i.e., the recovered length (L3)) and then worn. The tether can be formed from a polymer blend of EVA and TPU.
