Soldiers in Afghanistan say that sand is affecting the stickiness of the fasteners, making it difficult to keep cargo pockets closed. Last month USA Today reported that the Army will be replacing Velcro with buttons on its uniforms. While on the old-school side, the troops have decided buttons are more reliable in desert conditions.

While most know Velcro as, well, Velcro, its non-generic name is hook-and-loop or hook-and-pile fastener. Invented in 1941, hook-and-loop closures didn’t appear on army combat uniforms until 2004.

“This is the latest proof that dust and debris are the biggest enemy for the U.S. military,” Loren Thompson, a military analyst at the Lexington Institute and a consultant to defense contractors, told USA Today. “Taliban attacks come and go, but dust is constant in Afghanistan. Dust will impede the function of anything.”

Additional disadvantages of Velcro include its loss of effectiveness over time, its tendency to collect hair and dust (and sand, of course), and its ability to attach itself to other clothing items.

However, if you’re stuck with Velcro there is one way to distract your enemies …

Do you love Velcro or do you hate it? Does it serve a useful purpose on military gear?

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