Cable Ties: Plastic versus Hook-and-Loop

Cable ties have become the go-to fastener solution for bundling and managing cables. 

But with so many varieties of cable ties, from steel and plastic zip ties to hook-and-loop cable ties, how do you know which type is best for your application?

This article seeks to help you decide between a plastic and a hook-and-loop tie. We’ll explore how performance specifications, pricing, and construction impact your decision. 

Plastic Ties

Plastic cable ties, otherwise known as “zip ties,” have a design that typically features a tip, a strap, and a head section. 

Inside the head is a tooth, or a “tang.” The plastic (or metal) tang engages ridges along the tie’s length, keeping the tie from opening. The tie is inserted past the tang to prevent it from being pulled backward in the opposite direction. 

A self-locking, one-piece nylon tie creates a finely adjustable and secure hold.

The construction and components of the plastic tie all play a role in the fastener’s specifications, including its tensile strength and tooth engagement. 

For example, some ties, like a Panduit barb ty, feature a metal tooth based on the manufacturer’s guidance that it will engage better and prevent the tie from opening more easily.

How To Use a Plastic Cable Tie

Initially, all plastic cable ties were applied by hand. To use the tie, an individual would wrap it around the wires, cable, or other object, insert the tip through the head of the tie, and cinch the tie to establish a secure hold. 

Today, hand-operated and other semi-automated tools assist with rapid-tie application. Typical users of these semi-automated tools include wire harness manufacturers. 

The most common uses for zip ties include:

• Packaging for consumer electronics
• Bundling wires
• Home appliances
• Toy packaging
• Sporting goods
• Holiday Lighting

Are Zip Ties Reusable?

Most cable ties are designed for a permanent hold. Their design and engagement are intended to be permanently applied to a cable bundle. If you need to remove the fastener, you must cut it off.

However, some plastic zip ties are designed to be releasable and reusable. Reusable zip ties feature a releasable tooth, which allows the user to open the cable tie more easily using their finger. These are among the few plastic cable ties considered to be reusable.

While these ties are marketed as reusable, some customers need help reopening and reusing some plastic zip ties. Engineers and specifiers are sometimes concerned that on-the-job technicians will take the easier route by cutting the zip ties off the cable bundles. 

Cutting cable ties can accidentally damage the cables themselves, so many specifiers don’t want nylon ties used in their applications.  

Hook-and-Loop Cable Ties

Manufacturers and installers often use hook-and-loop cable ties because they are gentle on wires and easier to reuse. These types of textile fasteners are specified for the job.

Because reusability and protection for the cables are essential to many applications, hook-and-loop cable ties have grown in popularity.

Hook-and-loop ties, sometimes called hook-and-loop straps, are the right fasteners when you don’t want to risk damaging the object, wires, or cables you manage. 

Hook and loop ties are less prone to being over-cinched onto a cable bundle. This benefit is critical to network performance with fiber, data centers, and low-voltage cabling. 

How To Choose the Correct Hook-and-Loop Cable Tie

One of the best-constructed fabric-style ties and the most well-known brand is VELCRO® Brand One-Wrap® Ties. 

Speedtech is a leading authorized distributor of VELCRO® Brand Fasteners for the industrial marketplace. Contact us for one-on-one guidance if your application calls for a VELCRO® Brand Fastener or to learn more about ONE-WRAP® cable ties.

Speedtech also manufactures the SPEEDWRAP® brand industrial-grade hook-and-loop cable ties and fasteners. 

Made from VELCRO® Brand ONE-WRAP™, SPEEDWRAP® hook-and-loop cable ties are laminated without adhesives, so there is no chemical residue, and the product does not delaminate during use.

These industrial-grade hook-and-loop ties can be cycled (opened and closed) hundreds of times. 

How To Use a Hook-and-Loop Cable Tie

How a hook-and-loop tie is used depends on its construction and design. For example, some manufacturers make ‘face straps’ that feature a section of hook sewn or welded to a section of loop material. This allows the fastener to wrap around something and adhere to itself.  

However, the highest-quality reusable hook-and-loop cable ties are made differently than a face strap. 

Examples of higher-quality designs include VELCRO® Brand ONE-WRAP® and SPEEDWRAP® brand cable ties. Both of these reusable cable ties feature a hook on one side and loop material on the other along their entire length or what we call “back-to-back” style hook-and-loop.  

The Benefits of a Back-to-Back Style Hook-and-Loop Tie

Back-to-back construction means the fastener has a hook surface on one side and a loop material on the other, back-to-back. 

So, unlike ‘face straps’ that only have a section of loop attached to a section of hook, a back-to-back style tie can wrap around wires, cables, or an object and then onto itself and is adjustable along the tie’s entire length.

Back-to-back hook-and-loop ties are the go-to choice for professionals because of their adjustability and ease of use.

The Industrial-Grade Alternative

Not all back-to-back hook-and-loop fasteners are manufactured the same, and a tie’s construction and manufacturing techniques used to produce them greatly impacts the fastener’s longevity and reliability.

Most back-to-back hook-and-loop manufacturers combine hook material to loop material, using adhesive between the two substates.

The raw materials used for these two brands feature hooks molded into the loop substrate. The end result is a fastener that will stay together as one piece throughout its lifetime and application. 

Because of their higher level of quality construction, VELCRO® Brand ONE-WRAP® and SPEEDWRAP® brand cable ties are chosen by quality-conscious engineers and used by professional installers and end-users for industrial applications.

How To Use Back-to-Back Style Hook-and-Loop Cable Ties

Because hook-and-loop materials are married back-to-back, the tie wraps around an object or cables and laps back onto itself for a secure hold. Just like their nylon ‘zip tie’ counterparts, some hook-and-loop cable ties feature a cinch slot on the head of the strap. 

For example, the standard style SPEEDWRAP® cable tie allows the tip to be inserted through the cinch slot, and then the user can cinch the strap down onto itself for a secure hold. 

The cinch slot also allows the user to wrap the strap around a cable, keeping it affixed to the cable when used. 

When the user wants to bundle that cable, the hook-and-loop cable tie is attached and ready to bundle the cable.  

Applications for Hook-and-Loop Cable Ties

Because they are hook-and-loop, the applications for these ties are almost limited to one’s imagination. 

Some popular applications include organizing, routing, and securing wiring by telecom and networking installers in on-premise wiring systems and computer data centers. 

The ties are the go-to fastener for low-voltage cabling installations. 

The entertainment industry uses hook-and-loop ties holding together different cables for musicians, video equipment, and on-stage performances in the entertainment industry.

There are many uses for recreation, automotive, aerospace, and other markets.  

Ideas uses:

• Organizing computer and electronics cables
• Securing wires along the frames of bikes or scooters
• Bundling garden hoses or outdoor extension cords
• Keeping fishing rods and camping gear bundled for storage or transport
• Managing cables behind entertainment centers and TV stands
• Tidying up charging cables and headphones for travel
• Fastening plants to stakes or trellises in gardening
• Securing items in place during moving or transportation
• Arranging holiday lights and decorations
• Temporary fixes for straps or gear

Common Questions About Cable Tie Types

What materials are plastic cable ties made from?

Most plastic cable ties are made from nylon (specifically, nylon 6/6). Most people are familiar with these ties, as they are used in various consumer products (i.e., the annoying ties that require a pair of scissors to cut through).

You may also encounter metal cable ties in different industries. For example, metal ties are commonly used to attach signage to light poles and exterior applications. 

What materials are hook-and-loop cable ties made from?

Most hook-and-loop products are fabricated by marrying hook material to loop material back-to-back using adhesives. Then, machines cut them into usable shapes, such as mimicking the traditional shape of a cable tie with its head, strap, and tip sections. 

Over the years, the strength and style of hook-and-loop cable ties have changed due to consumer demand.

VELCRO® Brand ties use a different process. VELCRO® Brand ONE-WRAP® material (manufactured by Velcro Industries B.V.) doesn’t use adhesives. 

Products like our SPEEDWRAP® industrial-grade hook-and-loop ties use the same VELCRO® Brand material, which will not delaminate over time. SPEEDWRAP® industrial-grade hook-and-loop ties are great in commercial applications and are sold by leading national manufacturers and distributors.

Are you unsure what materials or construction type is appropriate for the ties you need in your application? Contact Speedtech today for one-on-one guidance, pricing, and support. 

How durable is a plastic cable tie?

The durability of a plastic cable tie depends entirely on the manufacturer. Some ties break easily, while others hold together for years.

Nylon 6/6 meets UL94 V-2 flammability ratings and works in temperatures as low as -40ºF. For heat, most plastic cable ties’ melting point is around 185°F. 

Some plastic cable ties are UV-stabilized ties meant for outdoor use, and they include materials designed to withstand fluctuations in temperature and weather conditions.

How durable are hook-and-loop cable ties?

One of the most significant differences between plastic and hook-and-loop cable ties is their durability. Because of their design, you can use a variety of hook-and-loop cable ties in versatile ways without worrying about whether or not they’ll break.

These ties leverage tiny hooks and loops’ simple yet effective mechanism to create a secure, adjustable, and reusable bond that’s strong enough to hold anything.

Unlike traditional plastic zip ties, which might degrade or break after a single use, hook-and-loop ties maintain their integrity and functionality over time. Simply snap, unsnap, and re-snap again.

A hook-and-loop cable tie allows maximum functionality over time if you’re in an environment requiring frequent changes, such as IT departments, audiovisual setups, or home entertainment systems.

Because hook-and-loop ties are constructed using robust materials, they withstand various environmental conditions, including repeated bending and flexing, without losing strength. For hook-and-loop cable ties designed for specific situations, manufacturers might add UV resistance for outdoor use or reinforced strength for securing heavier bundles.

All of this depends on the materials used and the construction technique for the hook-and-loop cable ties you purchase. So buyer beware! You often get what you pay for and there’s a reason why market-leading industrial Distributors only resell VELCRO® and SPEEDWRAP® Brand hook-and-loop cable ties.

Are hook-and-loop cable ties reusable?

Hook and loop ties are reusable and far easier to reuse. 

Some hook-and-loop cables withstand up to 20-thousand lifecycles. That means you can open and close that cable tie 20-thousand times without the hold weakening. 

By reducing the need for single-use cable ties tossed into landfills, hook-and-loop ties align with growing eco-conscious initiatives across industries, keeping prices lower and warehouses more efficient.

Final Decision: Which Type of Cable Tie is Best?

This answer depends on your application and a variety of factors, 

For example, If cost is your driving factor, plastic zip ties are the best choice. Before you purchase, educate yourself on the differences between manufacturers. Some plastic cable ties are made with recycled plastic. This can cause discoloration or impact the tie’s performance. There is a reduced concern with some higher-quality brands and manufacturers. 

Care should also be taken when storing plastic ties. Plastic cable ties are hygroscopic, meaning they absorb and release moisture throughout their lifetime.  

When the bags containing them are opened, moisture is released. If the ties are not used shortly thereafter and the bags are not properly stored and sealed, the ties can dry out over time and become brittle. This is even more common during winter when bags are left open, the heater is running in the warehouse, etc. The climate sucks out any moisture in those bags and ties.  

Plastic ties are inexpensive and highly versatile.   

However, if factors beyond cost are essential for how you will use these cable ties, then hook-and-loop fabric-style ties might be the best choice. 

For example, if you need a versatile and reusable cable tie solution or want to color-code wires and other items, hook-and-loop is the best option. 

When you need a strong, gentle, reusable tie on wires and cables (won’t damage them), then hook-and-loop may be your only choice. 

If the environment is important to you and you want to help cut down on the amount of single-use zip ties that could be tossed into landfills, hook-and-loop reusable ties are a much better choice.

But, buyer beware!

The options within the hook-and-loop family of materials, shapes, and fabrication techniques for producing them are vastly different depending on the manufacturer and brand. 

Speedtech takes the guesswork out of finding the perfect hook-and-loop fastener for your project. For one-on-one guidance on selecting the correct hook-and-loop for your cable tie, contact Speedtech International.

SPEEDWRAP® is a registered trademark of Speedtech International, Inc.

VELCRO® is a registered trademark of Velcro Industries BVBA. Used with permission.