I am acquiring leather strapping for guardrails from Hermann Oak Leather Company. Is it strong enough? Indeed.
The 11 oz and stouter leathers have a tensile strength of about 2500 psi and easily has the strength to meet the 200 lb load (in any direction) requirement of a top rail even though it only has to resist a 50 psf horizontal load in the panel area (one square foot includes the space between straps)
Photos to come.