I have a The North Face jacket and there are velcro bands on the front zipper flap. When I remove the jacket, I always make sure to meticulously stick the hook side with the loop side or else it tends to catch on my precious wool sweaters and eat them. And then when I need it, I have to undo the velcro and it makes an annoying tearing noise.

I'm wondering if I should remove them and install metal snaps instead. Which one are better for extreme conditions with snow and frost development, velcro or snaps?

Thanks
Frankie

Hi Frankie,

I prefer snaps over velcro on outdoor clothing and equipment pouches/packs, mostly to avoid the alerting noise factor. The velcro ripping noise identifies your location to wildlife and other people of your intentions.

Even snaps can make a minor noise (a slight jingle in the female part) so I put a very small amount of adhesive (Goop) in them to keep them quiet.

I think buttons (especially slotted buttons), buckles and ties are even better than snaps as they do not freeze up and can be repaired in the field with simple tools (e.g needle/thread). I have a Woods 3 Star down sleeping robe that was bought by my father about 40 years ago, it had snap closures; all but one snap has popped off and have now been replaced by large buttons.

My new cell phone pouch is made by Nite-ize and the flap closes with a hidden magnet, it seems to work but I cannot give much of a review on it as this is the first day I have worn it.

Mike

I like snaps too. After a few years, velcro gets old and doesn;t work as well.

Do you know by any chance where I can buy sets of spare Canadian slotted buttons here in Canada?

Thanks
Frankie

Sorry Frankie,

The only ones I have seen are on Canadian Forces clothing and some great EMT pants I have.

If you search the Forum site I remember there was a post on them about a month ago and someone had found a supplier.

Good luck and please post a source if you find one.

Thanks,

Mike

I was the one who posted it (I bought olive drab Canadian Forces wind overpants from a surplus store) and found a supplier but it was from the UK...

Frankie

Hi Again Frankie,

I just did a search on the forum and found that you were the lead on that slotted button post a month ago; please disregard my last reply.

Thanks,

Mike

I prefer snaps too, but vlecro is easier to manipulate with glove os mittens on. AS far as the magnets on your cell phone pouch Youll ne happy with it I have been using cell phone pouches with magnets for about 3 years and the nite-ize for about a year now and won't buy them with snaps or velcro again.

I've had magnetic closure on a cell phone case and my Palm PDA case. They work amazingly well.

Be careful not to let magnetic closures (such as on the cell phone case) get near the magnetic strips on credit cards and other similar devices. That will destroy the encoded information.

Velcro is better choice than snaps since the velcro doesn't put stress on small area of fabric. The tearing noise from velcro isn't an issue if one isn't soldier on duty overseas. I had snap button that put alot of pressue on small area of the fabric causing tear in fabic. The tear is difficult to repair.

Velcro can be easily replaced if it wears out.

Velcro tends to get packed with snow also, doesn't work at all then...

you can brush off the snow. it works just fine for me when I went x-country skiing.

I try to avoid the dreaded white stuff as much as I can, but last time I was in it, snow got packed into the fuzzy part of the velcro and froze, no amount of brushing would get it out. And that is why we are currently in the desert!!!

Hi picard120,

My noise difficulty with velcro more concerns how it alerts wildlife, I do not like it on any of my hunting gear.

If a LEO was going to draw something from their belt (e.g. baton, pepper spray or cuffs) the velcro ripping noise would be an unwanted announcement to the suspect that they were preparing to do something.

Velcro that is used a lot eventually looses it's holding power, my old cell phone case and Leatherman pouch both do not work anymore.

I do agree with you that snaps can stick and tear out, especially in cold weather; are buttons best?

Mike

Hi Mike,

I may just buy a worn out combat jacket at the military surplus store, they have plenty of small slotted buttons and two larger ones for about 10 bucks and will remove the buttons and use those. I would prefer the dark marine ones but I didn't find a cheap worn out jacket in this color...

I'm not sure if I will install them on my TNF jacket or put snaps but I will definitely get rid of those annoying Velcro patches.

Frankie

Hi Frankie,

I got my blue EMS pants (2 pair) that have slotted buttons at a second hand clothing store (Value Village), they were inexpensive at $7.00 a pair and are my favourite pants. You can also fine Canadian Forces clothing at these stores for discount prices.

I just check the label in my EMS pants and they were made by Surplus St-Gilles in St. Gilles Quebec, is that anywhere near you in Montreal?

I Googled St-Gilles Surplus and came up with:

St-Gilles Surplus Inc, 2749 route 269, Saint-Gilles, QC G0S 2P0, Canada. 416-888-3220 Telephone, 877-694-3220 Toll Free, 418-888-3145 Fax and info@army-surplus.ca

I could not find a website but most of the information was in French so I understood little of it.

This surplus store may be able to provide you with the slotted buttons you are searching for.

Good Luck,

Mike

Thanks a lot Mike. Those buttons are Holy Grail buttons, I feel my quest is nearly at the end.

Frankie

Used to be the military was also worried about the noise of velcro. Everything was buttons or zippers.

Someone finally clued them in : 'If they are so close they can hear Velcro that is slowly torn off they are too close already and are going to hear anything you do'.

Most of the field gear today has some Velcro on it. It works.

If and when it wears out it is simple and easy to cut off the old stuff and stitch on new. It isn't much more trouble than replacing a button.

If anything, in terms of ease of field maintenance both Velcro and buttons are easiest. Zippers are a bit harder. Most snaps are a relative pain to replace. Many require specialized stamps and dies to install and when they get abused or replaced the burrs often tear the fabric so you need to start by installing a patch.

Given a life sentence on a remote island with no chance of resupply I would go with buttons. A bit of smooth hardwood or bone makes a workable toggle. Simple.

Hi Art_in_FL

I think its less of 'If they are so close they can hear Velcro that is slowly torn off they are too close already and are going to hear anything you do'. but more of 'it could’ve been a problem, but I don’t think we do that type of combat anymore'

http://www.tradoc.army.mil/pao/TNSarchives/October04/102704.htm