Military & Law Enforcement

Halco supplies COTS (commercial off-the-shelf) woven nylon hook and loop that meets U.S. military specification A-A-55126C. The standard configuration is Type II / Class 1 (100% nylon with selvage). Type II / Class 3 (100% polyester with selvage) is available as a separate product where specified. Performance: 1.12 lb/in peel strength, 22.7 lb/in² shear strength, 205 lbf breaking strength. Available in widths from 1/2″ to 7″ in all standard mil-spec colors. An FR-coated version meeting UL94 V2, FAR 25.853, FMVSS 302, and NFPA is also available.

HALCO® Mixed Hook and Loop — a single tape with both hooks and loops on one face — is the most commonly specified product for tourniquet manufacturing, including CAT (Combat Application Tourniquet) style designs. The self-engaging construction allows the tape to wrap around itself without a separate mating component, which is the core mechanism in windlass-style tourniquets. HALCO® woven nylon sew-on hook and loop is used in IFAK/TFAK closures, first aid kit flaps, and patient transport strap assemblies.

Ballistic helmet manufacturers face adhesion challenges on both sides of the shell. The interior — aramid fiber composite, UHMWPE, or boron composite — is a low-surface-energy substrate where standard rubber-based adhesives lose bond strength under temperature cycling. The exterior is typically coated with a textured polyurea finish for anti-glare and impact absorption. Halco supplies die-cut hook and loop components with 3M 9472LE acrylic adhesive for interior pad and retention hardware attachment (where superior shear strength on smooth composite is needed) and a proprietary formulation, R41, for exterior loop panel bonding on textured polyurea coatings (where high initial tack on rough surfaces is the priority). Both require proper surface preparation — solvent wipe followed by 3M Primer 94 adhesion promoter.

HALCO® woven nylon hook and loop is used for loop field panels that attach to the interior of MOLLE/PALS webbing systems, providing a secure, low-profile interface for modular pouches and accessories. HALCO® Back-to-Back bundling tape is used for fabricating custom straps that organize and retain equipment within MOLLE-compatible platforms. Both products are available in coyote brown, olive drab, ranger green, and other mil-spec colors.

Woven hook and loop provides repeatable adjustability without sacrificing retention strength — common in plate carrier cummerbunds, duty belt adjustment, body armor side closures, and holster retention straps. HALCO® woven nylon delivers 22.7 lb/in² shear strength with 30% closure strength reduction after 2,000 engagement cycles, maintaining functional adjustability through extended field use. HALCO® Unnapped Loop resists clogging from sand, dirt, and lint, which is the primary failure mode for standard loop in field environments.

Halco manufactures and converts hook and loop products in Hayward, California (USA). For programs requiring Trade Agreements Act compliance, Halco can provide country-of-origin documentation for specific products. Contact Halco directly to confirm TAA compliance for your program requirements.

Berry Amendment applicability varies by end product, contract, and applicable DFARS clauses. Halco’s product portfolio is built around the large COTS segment of the military market. When a program requires Berry-compliant raw materials, Halco can source qualifying material from domestic manufacturers and provide full converting services — slitting, die cutting, adhesive lamination, and strap fabrication. Contact Halco for product-specific origin and compliance documentation.

HALCO® Weldable Hook and Loop — a polyester-based product designed for RF and ultrasonic welding — is commonly specified for tent and shelter seam closures where a sealed, waterproof seam is required. Welded closures eliminate the needle penetrations that compromise waterproofing on sewn seams. HALCO® woven nylon sew-on hook and loop is used on door panels, blackout panel attachments, and ventilation flap closures where the seam is not exposed to weather.

HALCO® fabricates custom straps and die-cut cable ties for UAS (unmanned aerial system) applications in widths from 12mm to 50mm. Hook and loop straps add grams instead of ounces compared to rigid mounting hardware, allow tool-free battery swaps in the field, and maintain holding strength under flight vibration. Options include cinch straps with lightweight plastic buckles, back straps for battery retention, and die-cut back-to-back cable ties for wire harness bundling. Available in black, coyote brown, and OD green with optional custom printing.

HALCO® Wide Loop Fabrics — available in knit (54″ wide, PU-backed) and woven (60″ wide) constructions — are the loop field materials sewn into plate carrier front and back panels, helmet covers, and tactical vest surfaces. These wide loop panels provide the attachment surface for morale patches, ID patches (POLICE, MEDIC, blood type), IR reflective markers, placards, and cummerbund mounting. Halco supplies wide loop in mil-spec colors with optional foam lamination for padded loop panel constructions used in body armor comfort liners.

HALCO® Woven Nylon Hook and Loop. Halco’s woven nylon meets A-A-55126C, is available in all standard mil-spec colors, and is supplied through Halco’s in-house converting operation — meaning custom widths, die-cut shapes, adhesive lamination, and fabricated straps are available from the same source as the raw material, with low minimums and fast turnaround.

Yes. Halco’s dye-to-match program produces hook and loop in any Pantone-specified color with minimums as low as 1,000 yards. This supports manufacturers who need program-specific color matching, camo-adjacent tones, or brand-specific colors for commercial tactical products.

A-A-55126C (December 2016) is the current active revision of the U.S. military commercial item description for hook and loop fasteners. It specifies performance requirements for peel strength, shear strength, breaking strength, dimensional stability, color fastness, and environmental resistance. The specification classifies products by Type (hook profile: Type 1 = 5 mil, Type 2 = 8 mil) and Class (material and edge treatment). Halco provides materials meeting Type II / Class 1 (100% nylon with selvage) and Type II / Class 3 (100% polyester with selvage).