# Velcro doesn't work when wet? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 21, 2005, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/velcro-doesnt-work-when-wet/313482 "2005-07-21T15:36:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2005, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/velcro-doesnt-work-when-wet/313482/1 "2005-07-21T15:36:52Z")
In a recent discussion of Teva sandals and the like, it came up that serious river guides use ones that have buckled straps rather than velcro, because the velcro doesn’t hold well when it’s wet. This is the first I’ve heard of this, and I haven’t noticed my velcro Tevas spontaneously releasing in water, but you never know. Is it true, and if so, why? ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2005, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/velcro-doesnt-work-when-wet/313482/2 "2005-07-21T15:46:48Z")
Water lubricates the hooks and loops. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2005, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/velcro-doesnt-work-when-wet/313482/3 "2005-07-21T15:48:20Z")
I have a pair of Teva sandals, and another pair of Teve-like sandals. I’ve never had any problems with the Velcro releasing in water. The Velcro on my SCUBA gear works fine as well. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2005, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/velcro-doesnt-work-when-wet/313482/4 "2005-07-21T16:18:22Z")
> [@Johnny L.A.](#): > > I’ve never had any problems with the Velcro releasing in water. It’s likely only a problem with cheap velcro, where the hooks and loops are too thin and flrxible for the purpose it’s put to. ---
**Author:** ![Podkayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Podkayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Podkayne)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2005, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/velcro-doesnt-work-when-wet/313482/5 "2005-07-21T16:52:15Z")
Weird. I had some velcroed sneakers that I couldn’t get to _fasten_ when they were wet, but they would not spontaneously cut loose if they were already fasetened and then got soaked. ---
**Author:** ![Sigene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2005, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/velcro-doesnt-work-when-wet/313482/6 "2005-07-21T17:14:03Z")
My old Tevas released consistently when wet. I’ve used rubber bands for years to slip the end of the strap under which keeps them in place. I bought new Tevas last week…they hold up well in the water. I’d guess the older the velcro is (the more used it is), the more likely there is going to be a problem. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2005, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/velcro-doesnt-work-when-wet/313482/7 "2005-07-21T18:17:04Z")
Velcro doesn’t work when one or both sides are full of **mud.** Muddy buckles work fine. River guides get muddy. So… ---
**Author:** ![butler1850](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@butler1850](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/butler1850)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2005, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/velcro-doesnt-work-when-wet/313482/8 "2005-07-21T19:26:53Z")
My 2 year old leather TEVAs hold up just fine on my nightly swims in the pond. I’d go with the mud issue. ---
**Author:** ![Alpine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alpine/32/17813_2.png) [@Alpine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alpine)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2005, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/velcro-doesnt-work-when-wet/313482/9 "2005-07-21T20:21:47Z")
Velcro seems to wear out over time, as the loops get frayed and the hooks get compromised. The more it is used (river guide wearing the same sandals every day, all summer; scuba guides who are in and out of their gear all year, etc.) the faster it’ll wear out. ---
**Author:** ![galt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/35a633/32.png) [@galt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/galt)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2005, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/velcro-doesnt-work-when-wet/313482/10 "2005-07-21T21:01:39Z")
I’m sure that if this is true, it depends on the type of velcro. The velcro straps on my waterskis always seem to work fine when wet. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2005, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/velcro-doesnt-work-when-wet/313482/11 "2005-07-21T22:27:51Z")
I’ve got some Tevas that are about six years old and the velcro’s gotten to the point where it’s a gamble whether the stuff will stick at all. Whether the hooks are all broken, or the loops are all broken, I don’t know. I’ve got replacement velcro, but just haven’t had the time to mess with it. ---
**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2005, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/velcro-doesnt-work-when-wet/313482/12 "2005-07-22T00:02:00Z")
Been wearing firefighting gear for years, and the storm flap behind the snaps is velcro-works just dandy wet and dry.