Score one for the lowly button: After soldiers complained that space-age Velcro, which got easily clogged with dirt and sand, wasn't effectively keeping their fully-loaded cargo pants pockets closed, the Army began testing alternatives. Come August, soldiers headed to Afghanistan will receive pants outfitted with three buttons per pocket, reports USA Today.
One sergeant summed up the advantage nicely: "Buttons are silent, easy to replace in the field, work just fine in the mud, do not clog up with dirt, and do not fray and disintegrate with repeated laundering." The other upside: The Army will save 96 cents per uniform. The material will still be used on sleeve cuffs and to adhere nameplates and patches.
(More velcro stories.)