3M: Dual Lock fastener strips

The quick, five-word review: think Velcro, but not shitty. Okay, a few more words for the modern miracle of Dual Lock: I found this super-strong, reclosable/reusable fastening tape suggested on a few stompbox pedalboard forums, gave it a try, and have since become a little obsessed. Backed with an acrylic conformable adhesive foam tape, it’s great for pedalboards but also fantastic as an organizational tool in the studio. Unlike Velcro, connecting two surfaces with this product results in a positive “pop,” indicating that it’s locked in place. I do mean LOCKED – there are three different grades of Dual Lock strength: Types 170, 250, and 400, and each holds pedals, gear, and almost anything with two flat parallel surfaces firmly in place. Example application: mounted acoustic panels that can be reconfigured just by peeling them off one wall and moving them to another. Sometimes it’s almost too firmly mounted! It works via tiny interlocking mushroom-shaped heads and has five times the strength of your grandpa’s Velcro. The two mating surfaces are interchangeable, meaning you can mix and match different Types (170 on 400, for example), and since there isn’t a “hook” or “loop” side to the connection, you don’t have to worry about which side you apply first. It comes in different widths and colors too! And remember, you can mix and match Types, but check the 3M site for more tips on the best combos. Don’t do what I did and buy Dual Lock Type 400 for pedalboard builds – Type 170 on one side with 250 on the other is plenty of hold. Save the strongest stuff for more challenging jobs, like keeping the bass player from leaving the session for more beer.