Hook and Loop Information

Hook and loop closures are easy to use, safe, and discreet, but they don't last forever. Every type of hook and loop closure has a lifespan, or cycle life, after which it will no longer be able to stick as well as it used to. At this point, it will need to be replaced.

Burrs: the Inspiration for the Hook and Loop Fastener

In 1941, the Swiss engineer George de Mestral was removing burrs from his dog. These barbed seeds come from a variety of plants, and are evolutionarily specialized to attach to animals and humans as a way to spread to new areas. Commonly, however, they are seen as a source of irritation, as the barbs can be painful, and at their worst, they can cause severe damage to livestock and automobile tires. George de Mestral, however, saw something different: a potential use for the hooked barbs on the seeds he was holding.

Hook and loop fasteners are one of the most versatile methods of joining objects. The hook side of the fastener has a strong affinity for the fuzzy loop side. Unfortunately, that affinity also attracts a range of items. Over time, the hooks can collect lint, string, hair and other unsightly debris. Dirty hook and loop can make an otherwise clean item look old and tired. Additionally, all the fuzz that collects on the hooks can reduce the bond strength of the fastener. Cosmetic issues aside, it is worth paying attention to the cleanliness of the hook and loop on sports equipment or other items that rely on securing fastening to perform properly. Continue reading this post to learn how to clean hook and loop.

Hook And Loop Colors

We carry two brands of hook and loop products here at HookandLoop.com. In the VELCRO Brand, we offer black and white options in most of the products we stock. But in our DuraGrip Brand, we stock up to 25 colors of hook and loop from military colors to primary and secondary colors. We even carry neon colors!

The Velcro Company developed hook and loop fasteners over 60 years ago, and it represents one of the most innovative inventions of the 20^th century. The history of the VELCRO ® Brand and its invention is a fascinating story that has made a wide range of products and services possible.

The service technicians at HookandLoop.com install grommets into straps. Grommets are small rings -- usually brass -- that are punched through any number of materials: paper, canvas, leather, etc. The purpose of these metal rings is to protect the surrounding material from damage when cords or strings are run through the hole of the grommet. Think of the rings your shoe laces are fed through, only stronger. If the rings weren't there, the material would eventually wear out and tear.

A lot of our customer interaction involves teaching the customer all about hook and loop. One of the first things we explain is that the product is hook and loop. We also explain that there are different manufacturers and different brands of material. At HookandLoop.com, we stock two hook and loop brands: our DuraGrip Brand, and the VELCRO ® Brand. Each brand offers different advantages.

It's a question we get fairly often here at hookandloop.com and the short answer is no, we don't offer any physical catalogs of our products. We offer tons of products in various sizes and colors and compiling a catalog just doesn't make sense for us. All of our products are readily available online so the website itself acts as a catalog for us.

Before going over the difference between hook and loop, it’s important to note that what most people consider “Velcro” is a product called hook and loop. “Velcro” is a brand, called the Velcro Companies, and they are the original manufacturer of hook and loop fasteners.