Re: midway shooting mat at half price : good deal?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: k2peaker</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Regarding velcro straps vs. std plastic buckles:
One thing to keep in mind. My experience with a DillonPrecision mat with std plastic snap buckles for the rolled up retention straps. At comps where your mat is lying there for a length of time with people walking around, those buckles invariably get stepped on and break. I like the idea of velcro straps for that reason.
And, they're a pain to (user) replace on many mats where they are sewed on. Sure, Dillon will fix it no problem but then you have to ship it, etc. I like Midway's design as it's simpler and less likely to require repair. Food for thought. </div></div>
Good point about user repairs, but if the velcro gets torn up from being on the bottom of the mat when it is being used, it too will have to be sewn to be repaired. This seems more likely to happen, as I have never seen velcro that has been used or worn against dirt and / or rocks last very long. Plastic buckles could just be tucked under the mat to keep them from being stepped on and damaged.
A while back I had a local tent manufacturer sew D rings and roll up straps with plastic buckles on my old Champion's Choice mat. It works great, other than about two weeks after having it done I had used it in a muddy area so I rolled it out, douched it off with the hose and was letting it sun dry over a trash can in the back yard. My dog decided one of the plastic buckles would be a good thing to chew on and drag the mat around the yard. The buckle is torn up and part of it is broken off, but it still clips in place and works.
I guess it is just a user preference thing. I have had bad experiences with velcro losing it's grip after use and being worn against stuff, so I prefer buckles.