ZIPPERS 101 Get the most out of your gear By Esther Andrews, Seattle Explorers and Junior MAC parent
W
e were driving back from the mountains, and the guy at the wheel was ranting. About zippers. Worst invention ever. Absolutely hated them.
Taking a quick glance at what I was wearing, it was clear: I would not be giving up my zippers. However, I could absolutely identify with the experience of having that particular invention let me down. Including in the mountains, when it mattered. But then, is blaming zippers themselves really fair? They’re everywhere, and most of the time we take them for granted while they quietly do their jobs and take all kinds of abuse, until one day they’ve had enough and start screaming for attention. Sound familiar? I thought so. If your relationship with your zippers could use a little rehabilitation, here are some approaches that might help. greater resistance to abrasion while the jacket is open, but many high-end shells are now constructed with lighter-weight waterproof coil zippers. It’s a sleeker look and eliminates the need for a cover flap, but it’s less durable.
All art by Esther Andrews.
Anatomy of a zipper
Care and maintenance
First, let’s be clear on what we’re dealing with. Every zipper has three parts: the tape, slider, and pull. All of these parts need to be compatible with each other, and each part is subject to wear and possible failure. YKK brand zippers are the industry standard for outdoor equipment and come in two basic styles: tooth (Vislon) and coil.
For all zippers, basic care and maintenance begins with keeping them clean! Protect zippers from dirt, rinse them when needed (right there in in the field if possible), and don’t force them, especially when they are dirty or iced up. Standard metal sliders are subject to corrosion, so rinse them well after contact with salt. Dirt, ice, and salt all put extra wear on both the zipper’s slider and tape.
Realistic expectations
Be gentle and avoid excessive force. Cross-loading is particularly hard on on zippers, so avoid any sideways pull when the zipper is not fully closed. In other words, hold bags and packs closed before zipping, unzip tent doors fully before squeezing through them, use snaps and buckles that help protect zippers from sideways forces, and close zippers completely before laundering.
Zipper sizes are roughly equivalent to the width of the teeth or coils when the zipper is closed, measured in millimeters. Size standards have changed in recent years. For example, virtually all sleeping bag zippers used to be 8C (8mm-wide coil zipper), but most manufacturers are now using 5C zippers. Likewise, tooth zippers are fantastic for shell jackets because of their
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Everyone counts grams, and manufacturers are under pressure to decrease weight without cutting features. As a result, zippers, buckles, webbing, and fabrics are all being downsized to make them lighter, and oftentimes weaker. It’s nice to have less weight to carry in the backcountry, but we also need to be much more careful if we want our equipment to last and not disappoint us. And we might consider using our purchasing power to reward companies that design and build gear that lasts, even if it ends up slightly heavier or with a shorter list of bells and whistles.
mountaineer | spring 2022
