Chums Safety 12405100k Flame Resistant Kevlar No Tail Adjustable Eyewear Retainer, Black (Pack of 6)

The retainer is definitely better than most I have used out there; cheap ones with the hardened rubber loop which breaks easily, full neoprene retainers which frays easily at the edges after a month or two of daily use, and rope-style retainers from Chums which are nice because they are waterproof and strong but the ones I've searched for are not adjustable so there's a tail just hanging around the back of your head when you wear it.So, here are the pros and cons about Kevlar ones:Pro: Adjustable with decent balance in the look of the design so it doesn't look all awkward like when you put it on, Easily washable: the dampness isn't so noticeable once you squeeze all the water out of it. It doesn't appear to carry a smell like neoprene or other rubber-centric retainers does, although it might only be because I haven't used it long enough. Wear resistant: I wear my glasses every waking moment and I keep the retainers on wherever I go, I wash it once a day before I shower to keep it clean so there is a lot of opportunities for a retainer to break through this heavy usage. This is why the cheap ones break easily and why the neoprene ones starts to fray quickly. I've been using these retainer bands since I first received them so close to two months now (02OCT14-24NOV14) and it has yet to show signs of breaking (more details to be covered in cons section) Solid design: definitely sturdy, the grips at the ends of the band is quite tight so it holds onto my glasses fairly well but do note that my glasses are thicker on the bands, I haven't tried this on those wire thin frames (anyone who'd wear those flimsy things wouldn't bother with retainer bands anyways) No-tail: As advertised, there is no tail hanging around the back to tickle your neck.Con: Heavy, compared to neoprene, cheap retainers, and the rope retainers from Chums that I've used this retainer is on the heavier side, and that's when it's not wet. This means if you have a lighter framed glasses, it will weigh down your glasses when you move around, this can be a hassle to some. Grips are very effective so try to avoid putting this on frames that already have non-slip grips on it to prevent glasses from sliding off your face, it's doable but it took a hell of a long time for me to put mine on. If you question why I even bother if I already have non-slip grips on the bands of my glasses, it's because I prefer the security provided from retainers. Kevlar comes with a lot of the micro-strands sticking out of it so it doesn't look smooth, it isn't noticeable from a distance but anyone within arms reach can see the little bits of strands. You can smooth it out with some water but that does nothing when it dries. I tried burning it but it discolors the area where they flame touched and still leaves visible strands. I'm currently wearing the one that I burnt, the retainer definitely has less micro-strands visible as well as no signs of them balling up but I haven't worn it as long as I have the other retainer. Good news is it is flame resistant, Some of the discolor washes away along with the smell, just apply some soap but compare it to one you haven't burn and you will notice a difference. Structural integrity remains uncompromised with my "treatment" but that's probably attributed to the fact I didn't keep the flame on it longer than a second (I used butane torch, which may be a stupid thing to do on my part -- be careful when handling with fire).Since it wasn't in the product details I'll also include the details on the product description, in case you care about that kind of information:Made in Hurricane, UtahArc Flash Tested: Chums FR eyewear retainers were exposed to a high calorie arc flash