This is actually my second Boston Leather velcro strap, I've had the brown one for almost a year and it still looks great from brand new. My personal affinity for Velcro stems from my earlier career as a police officer. I've never been able to perfectly don my underbelt, which has to support the weight of all the tools hanging from a police officer's duty belt - at least ten pounds. Either the bottom strap is uncomfortably tight or I'm constantly locking my straps - it's not good for a cop to do that all the time. Enter the velcro and viola. fits perfectly! Now, as then, I can get in perfect shape no matter how much Thanksgiving cake I indulge in. A cool added benefit is that I don't have to take the belt off when going through TSA lines at the airport, and it fits through both dress and jeans belt loops. My only concern is that this belt is about two inches shorter than the first. It still works fine, but you need to measure your waist accurately, not use your jeans waist size. I wish I had seen they also come in wicker, I would have ordered it instead.