Paul Carroll Klouds velcro straps fail after 3 mths - too soon?

lenlynn on 16/09/2015 - 18:13

Hi there,

I bought a pair of Paul Carroll's Klouds shoes about a year ago but was using it for about 3 months before the velcro straps could not stick anymore. It just seemed a bit soon for it to be damaged for a pair that cost $90 (on sale, usual price $179!).

Looking for anyone who has a pair of Klouds with velcro - how long did yours last?

In general for any brand of shoes, how long does your velcro straps last before you need to change them (with regular use, say 3x/week)?

I e-mailed PC Customer service and they said it is bound to fail "after a period of time".

Health & Beauty

Comments

  • Diji1 on 16/09/2015 - 19:30
    +1

    Call them back and request that they refund any payment or replace the item. When they say no call up the gummints consumer affairs department for you state and tell the story.

    If they deem the request "reasonable" the vendor will be compelled to either refund or replace the item.

    "Reasonable" is up to the person who deals with your complaint but I would say 3 months for a pair of shoes that are supposedly $179 in value is reasonable. I've never had a complaint fail to result in what I wanted so I believe they're usually erring towards the consumer's right rather than the vendor.

    The only pair of shoes that I've owned that used velco were runners and Vibram Five Fingers and for both the rest of the shoe fell apart before the velcro stopped sticking.

  • endotherm on 17/09/2015 - 01:27
    +1

    The consumer law specifies that it is up to you (or a reasonable person) to determine how long a product should last. Genuine Velcro (TM) is a quality product and should last for ages — it was invented for NASA for the space program. There is some pretty awful cheap knockoff hook-and-loop product out there though. I'd estimate good velcro to last for ages, longer than the shoes, the cheap stuff I've had fail after a week. I don't know what quality yours is.

    The mechanics behind it are flexible nylon hooks on one side, and multiple fabric loops on the other. The idea is the hooks and barbs on one side get tangled in the loops. Pulling them apart should untangle them to free the two halves. After extensive repeated use, the barbs and hooks may start to break off, or the loops are torn into single strands, and fewer hooks get caught, resulting in a weaker bond. It entirely depends on the quality of the materials which determine its service life.

    What I have noticed with velcro on footwear is that the hook side tends to collect all sorts of pet hair, lint, fluff from woolen socks and carpet etc. This fills the space between the hooks and prevents the loops from catching the barbs. By using a stiff brush or comb, ideally a light wire brush, rub it through the hook side and clean out anything fouling the tape. It's unusual for the loop side to collect gunk unless it becomes encrusted with mud or similar.

    • lenlynn on 17/09/2015 - 12:38

      Hmm I have got animals at home so it might be that? Will try your suggestion later, thanks! It's the Klouds Nina so just a simple strap.

      • endotherm on 01/10/2015 - 15:41

        How did you go? Was it a clogged hook side of the velcro?

        • lenlynn on 04/10/2015 - 11:38

          Your suggestion def helped! Finally stopped procrastinating and combed through the loop side to remove some of the 'fluff'. Now it sticks on better but I will wear them to work tomorrow for the real test. Thanks Endotherm!

          The loop side seems to be coming apart causing the fluff to be stuck onto the hook side actually.

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