Does anyone use the really think usually velcro straps I see more and more guys on fixies riding with. How do they compare to traditional straps and clips?

I think you mean wide, not thick. And yes, I have a pair on one of my bikes and they work just as well as clips / straps, but are more comfortable.

I find them more secure and easy to use. Also no clip = more toe clearance. Go with good ones like YNots which are thicker than some of the cheaper brands as they hold open better and make getting your foot in easier. They are comparable to double straps and clips as far as how locked in your foot feels. The only negative is that they don't look as classic as straps and clips if that matters to you. Personally I prefer the wider, cheaper, and lighter BMX style platfom pedals they are are usually paired with to even something like GR-9s for use with street shoes.

My new bike is coming with straps and clips but I was looking at switching. Im going with gr9s either way (using the long bolt trick for double straps). My thing is the more toe clearance. I like that idea

Not sure if the slots in GR9-s are wide enough to cram the straps through but it's worth a shot. I do think a pair of $10-15 BMX platforms work better with this setup and if you get the plastic ones they are lighter as well. I've got some YNots and Haro Small Block pedals which have a nice concave to them and they are perfect. Had some Fyxation straps that were too floppy and hard to get into. YNots and Holdfasts are much better.

velcro is the way to go if you're a casual rider or someone who likes to do tricks.

Been riding some HoldFasts for almost a year... they aren't the cleanest, but they've held up through quite a bit of use and abuse and show almost no signs of degrading

I've tried Tramp Straps, Hold Fast, and Purefix. If you can spend the extra bucks, buy Hold Fast straps. If not, get Tramp Straps, they're pretty strong, just not quite as comfortable, and not as easily as adjustable. Purefix straps just suck.

+ 1 for Hold Fast straps. Comfortable and made well.

But I think clips and straps look better and are a little easier to get into. That said you can ride without your foot in the strap unlike clips.

Cages give me ingrown toenails though ): It just feels so horrible and inefficient having so much of that upward pressure on my toes. To each their own though.

When I rode with straps I LOVED my holdfast and would recommend them a thousand times over. Leather and cages look cooler though. I'm all about that cred bout that cred (street credit).

Putting in a vote for YNOT straps. I have these on my Nature Boy:

I bet they look great on that purple NB

I like my Ynots better than the Holdfasts I used to have. Both are very good (and blow doors on cheap straps like Fyxations) but the Holdfasts have this nylon edging that frayed pretty easily. It's exactly where your pedal catches when walking your bike. They were a little easier to adjust than the Ynots at the expense of the Ynots being stiffer.