From minor mishaps to serious crises, the failure of outdoor gear can ruin your entire trip. Here, we explain how to never break a zipper again
Technical outdoor gear is not cheap. I dread to think what I’ve spent on it over the years. Backpacks, sleeping bags, Gore-Tex jackets, fleeces, waterproof trousers, tents… it all adds up. What do these items all have in common? The humble fastener, AKA the zipper.
How to never break a zipper again
Zippers keep you warm, dry and safe in the outdoors but are so often the first thing to break. Understanding how they work, the basic components that make up a zipper and mastering their maintenance can add years to the life of technical gear and save you thousands in the process. Here’s how to never break a zipper again.
Parts of a zipper
A standard zipper is made up of eight key elements. Knowing their roles will help you understand how to maintain and sustain a zipper for longer.
Chain: The continuous piece that is formed when both halves of a zipper are engaged and interlocked.
Teeth: Also known as elements, the teeth are the rows of nubs that mesh or lock together to create the zipper chain.
Tape: The zipper tape is the fabric running along the outer sides of the zipper teeth/chain.
Slider: The larger component on the zipper that runs up and down along the zipper tape. Its purpose is to engage and disengage the teeth as you zip and unzip.
Pin: The small pointed piece at the line of a separating zipper that is inserted into the box.
Pin box: Often called the starter box or simply the box, the pin box is only found on fully separating zippers such as those on jackets. It is the small square at the bottom of the zipper on the tape on the opposite side of the insertion pin. The starter box aligns and holds the insertion pin so the slider can mesh the teeth together.
Pull: The tab of metal or plastic you grasp to slide your zipper up and down.
Stops: Usually found at the top of the zipper, the stops prevent the slider from slipping off the top of the zipper.
Zipper buying tips
Follow these three basic principles when buying a piece of technical gear that has a zipper.
1. Check for YKK
Did you know that just one Japanese company makes over half of the world’s zippers? Chances are that if you take a look at a zipper on a piece of your outdoor gear – or any clothing for…
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