Posted on 06/16/2010 8:31:42 AM PDT by greatdefender
In a move that has the Web buzzing, the U.S. Army has decided to banish Velcro from uniform pants and bring back buttons.
Replacing the fastener on uniforms isn't your traditional front-page news, but the shift has captured the attention of many. A buzzy article from USA Today explains that soldiers told their superiors that the Velcro's stickiness was being affected by the sand of the Afghanistan desert. Pockets weren't staying shut.
The Army surved 2,700 soliders, and 60% of them said they would prefer buttons for their cargo pockets (only 11% wanted to "stick" with Velcro). Authorities listened, and now it looks like the old-fashioned button will be making a return.
The USA Today goes on to mention that the move back to buttons will end up saving the Army nearly $1 per uniform. There is at least one other huge benefit: Unlike Velcro, buttons don't make any noise. In times of conflict and danger, silence can be absolutely vital.
But don't feel too bad for Velcro. It isn't going away from the uniforms completely. It will still be on the sleeves, and under the soldier's nameplates.
Like Post-it Notes and other "Why didn't I think of that?" inventions, the hook and loop fastener has long captured the attention of Web searchers. Envious lookups for "velcro inventor" and "who invented velcro" are always popular in the Search box.
(Excerpt) Read more at buzz.yahoo.com ...
I donht think the Velcro looks a bit smart...
I’m from the pre-velcro age of USMC “utilities”. [the Army calls them “fatigues; we Marines don’t fatigue.... ;-) ]
Actually, if the truth be told, I am from the pre-zipper age. We had buttons on our utilities, even the “fly” was button.
I never could understand why anyone decided to put velcro on a combat uniform. Sure, buttons break or the thread lets go, but buttons are SILENT! Opening a velcro pocket is a dead giveaway (literally), like jingling dog-tags or banging metal canteens.
I guess it may not have been much of an issue, but it's something I've thought about before when playing with various bags and pockets that use the velcro fasteners.
Where are they finding buttons so cheaply ? Even at wholesale warehouses, buttons are costing me more than velcro.
And on top of that, $1 per uniform cheaper ? Sounds like an $80,000 pair of pliers to me.
I went to Basic Training in the button-fly, OD “505” uniform. Not nearly as good as the BDU, but no velcro.
The whole thing about velcro being noise was a non-starter, as there are plenty of other things to make noise and very few ninjas in the military. It was a bad idea for the new uniforms and I’m glad they’re doing away with some of it.
Everyone should know how to sew, quite the lost art.
Gives you an even greater sense of freedom.
I love seeing it in old B&W WW I movies of the guys fixing or modifying uniforms and things just as a general day to day occurrence.
You want out of enemy prison?
Make an officers uniform and march out with your guards saluting and avoiding eye contact out of fear.
He claimed that when winter jackets came out with zippers, he was among the first to buy one. He accidentally cut off his tie.
I was in the Army from 93-99 and everthing was buttoned, including the fly. No velcro, no zippers. Too noisy and plastic is easier to subdue.
Some of these changes don’t improve things.
I never did like the velcro - cant get into the pocket unless you make a sound. A sound that can give away your position.
He claimed that when winter jackets came out with zippers, he was among the first to buy one. He accidentally cut off his tie.
Velcro be gone ping.
Buttons are great because they’re quiet.
Velcro is great because it is idiot simple and requires no dexterity - just pull.
Both can break, and Velcro can clog.
Seems to me the obvious solution is a pair of small magnets - one in the flap (inside the fabric), one in pocket (inside the fabric). Works great for cell phone and laptop carriers, and it’s how I secure my scope to my folding carbine (I can pick up the carbine and carry it by the scope, no problem - two 0.25” diameter magnets on the scope rail and two 0.375” diameter magnets in the handguard of the carbine - holds up to 15 pounds, easily holds 5 pounds with LOTS of shaking).
Never clog, never die, never break, no button hole or button to catch on anything, and silent (the fabric between the two keep it silent).
Who do I talk to at the DOD to make this obvious suggestion?
And you can resew buttons in the field. Silently for that matter.
Velcro was the most stupid idea ever. Proof the Army is lead by non-warriors.
He’s lucky it was only his tie!
After a brief stint of going “commando” one summer when I was 10 or 11 I suppose, an “incident” occured that showed me the usefullness of underwear!
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