Velcro-Damaging

[Brad W]

I am hoping people more creative that me can figure out this small but annoying issue. The caps I wear every single hike have exposed velcro on the back-the hook portion. This snags on my shirts and now I have found is abrading and ruining the hood of my rain jacket. I didn’t realize how abrasive it is. I need to be able to adjust the band depending on the wind, temps, etc. otherwise I would just cover it in duct tape. I have some velcro that would attach to the exposed hook area-but it’s backside is rough and scratch also.

Anyone have a solution for this?

[AG]

velcro is hostile to many UL fabrics. avoid if possible. i would just cover this if you can

[Bill Budney]

If cutting it off and replacing with a cinch cord/KamSnaps/etc doesn’t work for you, then cover with a strip of loop-side Velcro.

If it is something that you want to cover and uncover quickly, then consider attaching the strip of loop-side Velcro to the hat (perhaps with grosgrain or webbing/tape).

[Alan W]

Following from Bill’s comments:  I fit my hats with cord and push botton cord locks to adjust quickly to wind conditions.  One can buy caps that use webbing with slides or webbing snap clamps for adjustment. In short, Velcro is not the only way to provide infinitely adjustable tightness.

[Greg Pehrson]

What about cutting both strips of velcro off the hat but leaving a quarter-inch to half-inch tab on either side, and then sewing on a strip of No-Snag Velcro / Omni-Tape to each of those tabs?

[Brad W]

If cutting it off and replacing with a cinch cord/KamSnaps/etc doesn’t work for you, then cover with a strip of loop-side Velcro.

If it is something that you want to cover and uncover quickly, then consider attaching the strip of loop-side Velcro to the hat (perhaps with grosgrain or webbing/tape).

Bill are you saying I would remove the velcro portion on the right side, attach a kam snap where the velcro entered the hat and that would hold the cinch cord. Then just loop the cord through the left existing buckle?

 

[Bill Budney]

It was a more general comment: There is an argument that Velcro on clothing causes more trouble than it is worth. Find a way to replace it. It will require some surgery.

KamSnaps are handy fasteners that can replace buttons and Velcro in many applications. If you want infinite adjustment, then a cinch (cord or belt/tape) does that.

In the case of your hat, I would consider replacing the Velcro with thin grosgrain or webbing, and use an adjustable buckle, such as this or maybe this (although there are probably many others).

Alan’s suggestion of buying a different hat could also work, depending on how much you love your current hat. :)

[Brad W]

It was a more general comment: There is an argument that Velcro on clothing causes more trouble than it is worth. Find a way to replace it. It will require some surgery.

KamSnaps are handy fasteners that can replace buttons and Velcro in many applications. If you want infinite adjustment, then a cinch (cord or belt/tape) does that.

In the case of your hat, I would consider replacing the Velcro with thin grosgrain or webbing, and use an adjustable buckle, such as this or maybe this (although there are probably many others).

Alan’s suggestion of buying a different hat could also work, depending on how much you love your current hat. :)

Thanks Bill.  Both solid solutions. And yes, I do love these Airshed caps. I have found nothing else that fits my head, breathes well and is relatively durable. It’s only flaw is that darn velcro.

[Bill Budney]

Look at OR Swift Cap or Swift Air Cap (they have normal colors in the Summer).

They are also good designs, but have buckles instead of velcro.

[Brad W]

Look at OR Swift Cap or Swift Air Cap (they have normal colors in the Summer).

They are also good designs, but have buckles instead of velcro.

Nice hats but way too small for my big noggin.

[Matthew / BPL]

OR Swift is one of the few rare hats that fits my novelty oversize melon. I’m typically 7 3/4 and really struggle to find hats. Are you much larger than that? I have plenty of webbing left on mine to adjust it looser.

[Brad Rogers]

What about covering the exposed velcro with tape or fabric?   You can even buy some velcro and cut a piece to fit your exposed section – that should keep the abrasive part away from your shirts and rain jackets.

I love the Airshead hat as well, but my head is sized such that there is no exposed velcro

[Brad W]

OR Swift is one of the few rare hats that fits my novelty oversize melon. I’m typically 7 3/4 and really struggle to find hats. Are you much larger than that? I have plenty of webbing left on mine to adjust it looser.

Just a bit over 7 3/4. My head is not only large in circumference it’s tall, so the Swift sits high and doesn’t cover as much of my head as a better fitting hat should-like the Airshed.

 

What about covering the exposed velcro with tape or fabric?   You can even buy some velcro and cut a piece to fit your exposed section – that should keep the abrasive part away from your shirts and rain jackets.

I love the Airshead hat as well, but my head is sized such that there is no exposed velcro

I would use tape if I didn’t need to adjust it frequently. The velcro I have seen to cover the exposed loops also has a rough backside. I think I am going to try to use a cinch cord and see how that works. I will probably save a few grams also…

 

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