Poor velcro shelf-life

My doctor actually admitted this was an issue with headgear. Velcro used by Fisher and Paykal simply doesn't last. In My case, it lasted about 2-3 months. Seems to be the soft side that's the issue rather than the hook side.

I've come up with one "sort of solution".

You can buy velcro that is hooks on one side and loops on the other side. I use the narrowest I can find.

I cut a piece that will wrap around the strap once. Then I put the soft side toward my face and try to put it forward so it isn't touching my face, simply on the strap. Sometimes it's further back and hasn't bothered my face at all.

I then adjust the strap to the right position. Then close my extra velcro as if you were tightening a belt. Then I can get by without changing the position of the straps and they hold in the correct spots.

I've only done this for a few weeks, but so far it seems to be working.

Anyone try anything else? Don't want to got through the hassle of cutting the old velcro off and then sewing new velcro on.

Or you could buy a mask that while still using velcro for adjustment, has clips so you don't have to continue to play with the velcro, wearing it out. Jim

Instead of sewing the velcro, staple or fabric glue, might be easier.

For the ESON mask.

Top straps simply slide into slots. The velcro simply starts to loosen up more and more. The bottom straps have clips. They do the same.

When I take the mask off, or put it back on, I'm simply unclipping, or clipping, one clip.

Craft paralysis is a terrible thing. Sewing, cutting, and ripping out seams is actually quite simple.
I was just eight when my mother taught me how to use her treadle Singer sewing machine.
Hand sewing may look tedious and difficult, but as the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step,
the most intricate quilt started with just one tiny stitch. Teach your children to sew, even if it's just a monogram
or a patch, or fixing that backpack that was made on a Friday--in China.

With my mother it was cooking.

I've sewed velcro before. Rather not do that.

Anyone try using the type of clips that you slide to tighten straps? (Can't explain it any better.) They sort of look like the letter "O" with a bar in the center.

Thankfully I had 2 wonderful grandma's because my mother still doesn't cook or sew! I taught all my kids how and now am teaching my grandkids. The 9 year old boy has helped me with the gardening and canning since he was 4. I think my mother was secretly a princess in hiding. None of use look like her at all.

Many times for sports gear, CPAP gear or whatnot, I've replaced the 'loop' side of 'hook and loop velcro' with a new piece I've gotten somewhere (replaced the soft fuzzy side, that is). I've got a box of salvaged velcro I save for these repairs. During my forty some years using the stuff this fix has always worked. BTW, I've rarely seen the hook side fail, it's always the fuzzy side which just gets too frayed and raised to be stable. I've sewn, glued and melted on a new 'fuzzy' piece over the old failed section many times. Maybe not as pretty in some cases but functionally it always extends the life of the velcro. It's great stuff but like most things it just needs a little TLC from time to time. I like Shoe Goo for fastening on the new velco strip.

I agree everybody should be able to at least sew by hand... my mom taught me how to sew when I was about ten and it's served me well for my whole life.

I have had good luck with the Velcro sold as wire ties at the hardware store. They have it in 1/2 inch wide strps. They have 2 nive things that help:
1) they have hooks on one side and loops on the other. This makes it easy to attach back to itself if needed.
2) they have a slot in the end, so it is easy to loop the headgear strap through it. If you are lucky, you can loop it through so that the head gear sticks to the hook side of he strap right at the end. You can always sew the strap after threading it trough the loop.

I took the headgear with me and picked the hook that gripped best. They make different sized hooks and they do not all grip the headband the same.

the only other thing I found that helps is to take a needle and pick all of the fuzz from the hook on the headband. But sometimes the hooks simply wear out.

Good luck,

Sewing Velcro is less scary if you use PLIERS!

I was fortunate that in high school in the mid fifties there was a class for senior boys, half year, that taught you how to sew and basic cooking. I think it was the teachers favorite class cause we did have a lot of fun trying to make a cake and other stuff.

Velcro is in terrible shape after about a month on my Wisp.

Quickstrike wrote:Velcro is in terrible shape after about a month on my Wisp.

I gather you have the fabric frame, which was not a good fit with the little "buttons".
The silicone frame works well with the buttons, no need to stick and unstick the Velcro nightly.
---unless you have lost your buttons.
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/headge ... sk-pr.html

After the initial fitting, wearing out the velcro wouldn't be needed, if t he clips are used, except for the fact the straps elastic keeps growing. We need better strapping, likes used on ski goggles, but that would cost the maker too much, maybe 50 cents added to a $ 125 product that costs them $ 10 to make. Jim

Goofproof wrote:After the initial fitting, wearing out the velcro wouldn't be needed, if t he clips are used, except for the fact the straps elastic keeps growing. We need better strapping, likes used on ski goggles, but that would cost the maker too much, maybe 50 cents added to a $ 125 product that costs them $ 10 to make. Jim

Don't get me started about manufacturers and their costs.

Apple cords for recharging. How many people have an outlet about 3 feet from where they can put the iPod, iPad, iPhone for recharging. So if they made the cord 8 feet long, that might cost them another $0.01 to $0.02?

I think I'll try the hot glue method later in the day.

Thanks again. As usual.

squid13 wrote:I was fortunate that in high school in the mid fifties there was a class for senior boys, half year, that taught you how to sew and basic cooking. I think it was the teachers favorite class cause we did have a lot of fun trying to make a cake and other stuff.

This reminded me of my grandson's first cake. His mother removed the pan from the oven and asked what was on the bottom of the pan. He was following the recipe to the letter. It said grease the bottom of the pan so he put it on the outside bottom of the pan. One of the joys of children, lots of new experiences.