Blog: Velcro comes unstuck with US Army

Leonie Barrie | 17 June 2010

The US Army has decided to withdraw Velcro from active service in its uniforms after complaints from troops that the pocket flaps on their cargo trousers kept falling open.

The 'hook-and-loop' fastener has been on front-line duty in Iraq and Afghanistan, but proved unpopular with soldiers who say it clogs up with dust and debris, frays, disintegrates with repeated laundering, and struggles to keep full pockets closed. What's more, Velcro's ripping noise betrays the wearer's position to the enemy.

After listening to grumbles from military personnel, the army is issuing new trousers in August - with pockets that button up instead. Not only are buttons silent and easy to replace in the field, but using them will save 96 cents for each uniform, Debi Dawson a US army spokeswoman, told USA Today.