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"...you’d think that something so simple might have been perfected—becoming a 100 percent reliable commodity. But that hasn’t happened. There are still tons of

"...you’d think that something so simple might have been perfected—becoming a 100 percent reliable commodity. But that hasn’t happened. There are still tons of faulty zippers out there. Teeth that break. Pulls that pop. Herky-jerky sliding and irreparable lockups." Oh so true. I've had so many run-ins and fights with zippers over the years that I've developed an intense dislike for them. I come to the conclusion that they're a 100-year-old invention still looking for a suitable use. They're forever jamming or the teeth fail to engage, or they catch on clothing which then cannot be extracted. ...And I shouldn't have to remind the average male of their ability to draw blood. When they break they're impossible to repair. To repair them means changing them completely for a new one and for that one needs a 'degree' in sewing and the patience of a saint. Then there's the difficulty of finding a suitable replacement that fits. Buttons may be less convenient but at least any fool can replace them.

nemo44x 4y ago
> Buttons may be less convenient but at least any fool can replace them. Buttons are choking hazards to infants and toddlers. Zippers are far better for clothing for them when needed.
- trhway 4y ago
  Velcro. We have a small dog which needs clothes, and naturally zippers would be no-go and buttons wouldn't work well for many reasons. Velcro though is like magic.
  - crysin 4y ago
    The Velcro company kindly asks that you refrain from using Velcro as a noun or verb. Instead use the generic term hook & loop. https://www.velcro.com/dont-say-velcro/ https://www.velcro.com/dont-say-velcro/ This in jest but I like sharing this as it's really interesting the efforts Velcro goes to, to protect their trademark.
    - Cockbrand 4y ago
      Interesting, I’ve only seen rules like these for the proper verbal usage of Adobe® Photoshop®: https://www.adobe.com/legal/permissions/trademarks.html https://www.adobe.com/legal/permissions/trademarks.html
      - dsr_ 4y ago
        You could probably google a dozen more instances, but it's the sort of thing that bored journalists do every few years: https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2014/09/kleenex-is-a-registered-trademark-and-other-appeals-to-journalists/380733/ https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2014/09/kleenex...
    - Stratoscope 4y ago
      That is a very cute page. I like their attitude. And the video at the top of the page is absolutely wonderful. It's the funniest thing I've seen in a long time. Watch it with good headphones or speakers and the sound up. Direct link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRi8LptvFZY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRi8LptvFZY
    - sph 4y ago
      > When you use “velcro” as a noun or a verb (e.g., velcro shoes), you diminish the importance of our brand and our lawyers lose their insert fastening sound. Haha, so sad to hear. I wish I could print this and velcro it to my fridge.
    - OJFord 4y ago
      > When you use “velcro” as a noun or a verb (e.g., velcro shoes), you diminish the importance of our brand and our lawyers lose their insert fastening sound. So please, do not say “velcro shoes” (or “velcro wallet” or “velcro gloves”) – we repeat “velcro” is not a noun or a verb. Weird, the word they're looking for is 'adjective'. As the name of the company it absolutely is a (proper) noun.
      - mathieuh 4y ago
        Is it an adjective? It's the same kind of thing as "golf ball", which to me is a compound noun.
  - mathieuh 4y ago
    Why are zippers a no-go? I have a small dog I put a raincoat on when it's raining and it zips up.
    - trhway 4y ago
      fur may stuck into it. And if zipper gets stuck for whatever reason the dog may not like sitting for the prolonged time while you're trying to unstuck it. Of course it all depends on specific circumstances, and it is definitely great that it works for your dog. A garment with zipper also requires much better fitting - which giving dog shapes variations may be a tall order - than say with Velcro where usually there is some latitude, and with Velcro it is much easier to make adjustment by moving it a bit if needed while making adjustment with zipper looks daunting.
    - ben_w 4y ago
      Depending on the rest of the article design, that may be fine or it may risk fur getting caught in the zip. I have occasional trouble with my own body hair in zip. This would be the "bad" design: https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/613U7zu5OoL._AC_SL1266_.jpg https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/613U7zu5OoL... I don't know the terms of art so I can't google for a picture of the "good" design, but it would have a wide strip of fabric behind the zip that would ensure no fur gets near the zip mechanism.
  - nemo44x 4y ago
    Can certainly work in certain situations but not all with a young person. They can generally learn to rip open Velcro and now you’re dealing with that. Zippers require a certain level of coordination and dexterity they won’t develop for awhile.
vasco 4y ago
Since we're trading anecdata I haven't had a single zipper problem in 10 years+
- seabrookmx 4y ago
  Do you own a backpack? I don't often have zipper problems but it's always on a backpack, probably due to the abuse they take.
  - midoridensha 4y ago
    I don't have any trouble at all with the zippers on my 3 backpacks, but they're all Ospreys so that might make a difference. They all get a lot of abuse.
  - hadlock 4y ago
    I've been buying REI backpacks, they tend to grossly oversize the zippers, particularly on their travel backpacks. I have not had a zipper failure in, well since 2008 which was the last time I bought a backpack, because they (50 liter "large" travel backpack, and 18 liter "flash 18" backpack) haven't failed yet. I did have a clip failure on a timbuk2 messenger bag, but they gave me a replacement for free at one of their retail locations.
  - alpaca128 4y ago
    The only backpack that gave me zipper problems was so cheap it fell apart within one minute of use. The one I got afterwards was on the expensive side but it's now ~16 years old and has survived daily use pretty well, the zippers always worked perfectly despite me having put them through quite some strain. When a zipper fails for me it's 100% a jacket. Cheap, expensive, doesn't matter, they all get stuck now and then.
    - qu4z-2 4y ago
      I've had no issues on either backpacks or jackets. Shoes, on the other hand... (especially boots. Don't get me started)
    - 4y ago
rapsey 4y ago
Are you buying the cheapest clothes possible? This sounds very much like a problem that you cause yourself.
- gnicholas 4y ago
  I have a pair of kahkis from Banana Republic that have a touchy zipper. If I unzip too far, it is difficult to get the zipper back up. This has caused me significant consternation in public bathrooms! They probably cost around $60, with an MSRP 30% higher.
  - ryanklee 4y ago
    Banana republic does not sell quality clothing. Cheap construction, priced for branding.
    - gnicholas 4y ago
      This comment was in reply to a question about buying the cheapest possible clothes. My point was that zipper issues happen with clothes that aren’t cheap also. I realize BR is not high-end, but they are above Gap and Old Navy in their corporate family.
      - ryanklee 4y ago
        Yes, and I meant to convey that the quality of the clothing material and construction at banana republic is no better than the gap. It's just branding.
        gnicholas 4y ago
        That's funny, I've found that Gap uses lower-quality materials, especially compared to the nicer BR stuff. The BR non-iron dress shirts, for example, truly don't need any ironing. Gap has "non-iron" clothing as well, but it's of much lower quality and wrinkles much more easily.
maxbond 4y ago
Rubbing some paraffin on the teeth can help. That being said, if buttons work better for you, more power to you. People simply have different lifestyles and needs, and it's great to have options. I've not had nearly as much trouble as you describe (I've only zipped my weener twice in my entire life, and I don't think I drew blood), but there are other things in life that people swear by that just don't work well for me.
- mellavora 4y ago
  or beeswax. This is a classic trick for drysuits, where the zipper needs to stay waterproof.
- hilbert42 4y ago
  OK, fine. But read my reply to vasco. By the time I'd have found the paraffin or wax I'd have exploded with impatience. Besides, usually that's only a temporary solution as the lubricant comes off in the wash, thus the cycle repeats. Moreover, I've noticed repeatedly that once a zipper starts to give trouble it's inevitability on a downward slope to compete failure. Similarly so zippers with metal teeth and diecast-type zip housings suffer from clothes washing, as they are prone to progressive failure from being attacked[1] by washing powders and inorganic stain removers. (I've only zipped my weener twice in my entire life, and I don't think I drew blood) Granted, this is less of a problem nowadays as many zippers now use rounded interlocking nylon wire that's less likely to 'bite'. However, that once wasn't so especially in the days when jeans were more work clothes than a fashion statement. Their zippers were made strong and to last and had large brass interlocking teeth that could do real damage, and impatient guys like me were often 'bitten' to the extent blood would flow (I recall from experience). Presumably, the reason for the change arose from victims' complaints. __ [1] The sodium percarbonate in these cleaners attacks the metal, similarly so with metal the rivets and buttons in jeans (as in 501s, etc.), especially on the unpassivated underside that clamps to the material. The oxides that then build up rot the nearby fabric and the button can then detatch.
tomatocracy 4y ago
For me the annoying failure mode is when the metal ring on the puller which attaches to the slider eventually wears through and breaks (this seems to happen on bags and luggage a lot for me). The important parts of the zipper are all still working, it's infuriating that there isn't an easier way to replace the puller easily like for like (at least that I'm aware of).
- 2muchcoffeeman 4y ago
  Zip tie. Even a paper clip. If you have a 3D printer you can even make nice little pulls for the zip ties to attach to.
  - tomatocracy 4y ago
    Yes, I've usually just used a short piece of string. But I'd still like to be able to replace them with a proper puller.
    - kube-system 4y ago
      “Zipper pull” returns a good variety of results in Amazon.
  - jdfellow 4y ago
    Split rings (key rings) work well in my experience.
  - hilbert42 4y ago
    Yes, paperclips are wonderful for this purpose, especially so when used on one's fly zipper as they've a low profile and can't be seen. The best paperclips for this purpose are the V-shaped type that are narrower at the top. They've saved me from having to replace a zipper on a number of occasions. If you read my comment about washing powders attacking the crappy alloy material that's so often used in those pull tabs and causing them to fail then a paperclip is the ideal solution.
- tokamak-teapot 4y ago
ben_w 4y ago
Regarding button, while it's certainly easier to replace them than to replace a zipper (I can see where to put the needle and don't have to learn how to use the zipper foot for my sewing machine), I find the reattached buttons tend to come off again easily. Given I'm enough of a nerd to be on this site, I decided to try a pair of (small, rare earth) magnets next. While they were even easier to attach than buttons, the force between them was weaker than I had hoped, even allowing that I already knew it would only be a normal force and have minimal shear strength.
- hilbert42 4y ago
  I tried that magnet trick on a pair of my overalls after some of the press-locking fasteners broke but it too was an abject failure. Every time I bent over or made sudden movements the closure popped open. As I couldn't immediately get replacement press-locking fasteners, I resorted to sewing on buttons at points where the fasteners had failed but that wasn't the most brilliant of ideas. When it came to removing my overalls I could no longer just rip them open from top to bottom in one go - as is my usual wont.
tomjen3 4y ago
And now you know why people check that the product uses YKK zippers.

nemo44x 4y ago

> Buttons may be less convenient but at least any fool can replace them. Buttons are choking hazards to infants and toddlers. Zippers are far better for clothing for them when needed.

trhway 4y ago
Velcro. We have a small dog which needs clothes, and naturally zippers would be no-go and buttons wouldn't work well for many reasons. Velcro though is like magic.
- crysin 4y ago
  The Velcro company kindly asks that you refrain from using Velcro as a noun or verb. Instead use the generic term hook & loop. https://www.velcro.com/dont-say-velcro/ https://www.velcro.com/dont-say-velcro/ This in jest but I like sharing this as it's really interesting the efforts Velcro goes to, to protect their trademark.
  - Cockbrand 4y ago
    Interesting, I’ve only seen rules like these for the proper verbal usage of Adobe® Photoshop®: https://www.adobe.com/legal/permissions/trademarks.html https://www.adobe.com/legal/permissions/trademarks.html
    - dsr_ 4y ago
      You could probably google a dozen more instances, but it's the sort of thing that bored journalists do every few years: https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2014/09/kleenex-is-a-registered-trademark-and-other-appeals-to-journalists/380733/ https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2014/09/kleenex...
  - Stratoscope 4y ago
    That is a very cute page. I like their attitude. And the video at the top of the page is absolutely wonderful. It's the funniest thing I've seen in a long time. Watch it with good headphones or speakers and the sound up. Direct link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRi8LptvFZY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRi8LptvFZY
  - sph 4y ago
    > When you use “velcro” as a noun or a verb (e.g., velcro shoes), you diminish the importance of our brand and our lawyers lose their insert fastening sound. Haha, so sad to hear. I wish I could print this and velcro it to my fridge.
  - OJFord 4y ago
    > When you use “velcro” as a noun or a verb (e.g., velcro shoes), you diminish the importance of our brand and our lawyers lose their insert fastening sound. So please, do not say “velcro shoes” (or “velcro wallet” or “velcro gloves”) – we repeat “velcro” is not a noun or a verb. Weird, the word they're looking for is 'adjective'. As the name of the company it absolutely is a (proper) noun.
    - mathieuh 4y ago
      Is it an adjective? It's the same kind of thing as "golf ball", which to me is a compound noun.
- mathieuh 4y ago
  Why are zippers a no-go? I have a small dog I put a raincoat on when it's raining and it zips up.
  - trhway 4y ago
    fur may stuck into it. And if zipper gets stuck for whatever reason the dog may not like sitting for the prolonged time while you're trying to unstuck it. Of course it all depends on specific circumstances, and it is definitely great that it works for your dog. A garment with zipper also requires much better fitting - which giving dog shapes variations may be a tall order - than say with Velcro where usually there is some latitude, and with Velcro it is much easier to make adjustment by moving it a bit if needed while making adjustment with zipper looks daunting.
  - ben_w 4y ago
    Depending on the rest of the article design, that may be fine or it may risk fur getting caught in the zip. I have occasional trouble with my own body hair in zip. This would be the "bad" design: https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/613U7zu5OoL._AC_SL1266_.jpg https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/613U7zu5OoL... I don't know the terms of art so I can't google for a picture of the "good" design, but it would have a wide strip of fabric behind the zip that would ensure no fur gets near the zip mechanism.
- nemo44x 4y ago
  Can certainly work in certain situations but not all with a young person. They can generally learn to rip open Velcro and now you’re dealing with that. Zippers require a certain level of coordination and dexterity they won’t develop for awhile.

vasco 4y ago

Since we're trading anecdata I haven't had a single zipper problem in 10 years+

seabrookmx 4y ago
Do you own a backpack? I don't often have zipper problems but it's always on a backpack, probably due to the abuse they take.
- midoridensha 4y ago
  I don't have any trouble at all with the zippers on my 3 backpacks, but they're all Ospreys so that might make a difference. They all get a lot of abuse.
- hadlock 4y ago
  I've been buying REI backpacks, they tend to grossly oversize the zippers, particularly on their travel backpacks. I have not had a zipper failure in, well since 2008 which was the last time I bought a backpack, because they (50 liter "large" travel backpack, and 18 liter "flash 18" backpack) haven't failed yet. I did have a clip failure on a timbuk2 messenger bag, but they gave me a replacement for free at one of their retail locations.
- alpaca128 4y ago
  The only backpack that gave me zipper problems was so cheap it fell apart within one minute of use. The one I got afterwards was on the expensive side but it's now ~16 years old and has survived daily use pretty well, the zippers always worked perfectly despite me having put them through quite some strain. When a zipper fails for me it's 100% a jacket. Cheap, expensive, doesn't matter, they all get stuck now and then.
  - qu4z-2 4y ago
    I've had no issues on either backpacks or jackets. Shoes, on the other hand... (especially boots. Don't get me started)
  - 4y ago

rapsey 4y ago

Are you buying the cheapest clothes possible? This sounds very much like a problem that you cause yourself.

gnicholas 4y ago
I have a pair of kahkis from Banana Republic that have a touchy zipper. If I unzip too far, it is difficult to get the zipper back up. This has caused me significant consternation in public bathrooms! They probably cost around $60, with an MSRP 30% higher.
- ryanklee 4y ago
  Banana republic does not sell quality clothing. Cheap construction, priced for branding.
  - gnicholas 4y ago
    This comment was in reply to a question about buying the cheapest possible clothes. My point was that zipper issues happen with clothes that aren’t cheap also. I realize BR is not high-end, but they are above Gap and Old Navy in their corporate family.
    - ryanklee 4y ago
      Yes, and I meant to convey that the quality of the clothing material and construction at banana republic is no better than the gap. It's just branding.
      - gnicholas 4y ago
        That's funny, I've found that Gap uses lower-quality materials, especially compared to the nicer BR stuff. The BR non-iron dress shirts, for example, truly don't need any ironing. Gap has "non-iron" clothing as well, but it's of much lower quality and wrinkles much more easily.

maxbond 4y ago

Rubbing some paraffin on the teeth can help. That being said, if buttons work better for you, more power to you. People simply have different lifestyles and needs, and it's great to have options. I've not had nearly as much trouble as you describe (I've only zipped my weener twice in my entire life, and I don't think I drew blood), but there are other things in life that people swear by that just don't work well for me.

mellavora 4y ago
or beeswax. This is a classic trick for drysuits, where the zipper needs to stay waterproof.
hilbert42 4y ago
OK, fine. But read my reply to vasco. By the time I'd have found the paraffin or wax I'd have exploded with impatience. Besides, usually that's only a temporary solution as the lubricant comes off in the wash, thus the cycle repeats. Moreover, I've noticed repeatedly that once a zipper starts to give trouble it's inevitability on a downward slope to compete failure. Similarly so zippers with metal teeth and diecast-type zip housings suffer from clothes washing, as they are prone to progressive failure from being attacked[1] by washing powders and inorganic stain removers. (I've only zipped my weener twice in my entire life, and I don't think I drew blood) Granted, this is less of a problem nowadays as many zippers now use rounded interlocking nylon wire that's less likely to 'bite'. However, that once wasn't so especially in the days when jeans were more work clothes than a fashion statement. Their zippers were made strong and to last and had large brass interlocking teeth that could do real damage, and impatient guys like me were often 'bitten' to the extent blood would flow (I recall from experience). Presumably, the reason for the change arose from victims' complaints. __ [1] The sodium percarbonate in these cleaners attacks the metal, similarly so with metal the rivets and buttons in jeans (as in 501s, etc.), especially on the unpassivated underside that clamps to the material. The oxides that then build up rot the nearby fabric and the button can then detatch.

tomatocracy 4y ago

For me the annoying failure mode is when the metal ring on the puller which attaches to the slider eventually wears through and breaks (this seems to happen on bags and luggage a lot for me). The important parts of the zipper are all still working, it's infuriating that there isn't an easier way to replace the puller easily like for like (at least that I'm aware of).

2muchcoffeeman 4y ago
Zip tie. Even a paper clip. If you have a 3D printer you can even make nice little pulls for the zip ties to attach to.
- tomatocracy 4y ago
  Yes, I've usually just used a short piece of string. But I'd still like to be able to replace them with a proper puller.
  - kube-system 4y ago
    “Zipper pull” returns a good variety of results in Amazon.
- jdfellow 4y ago
  Split rings (key rings) work well in my experience.
- hilbert42 4y ago
  Yes, paperclips are wonderful for this purpose, especially so when used on one's fly zipper as they've a low profile and can't be seen. The best paperclips for this purpose are the V-shaped type that are narrower at the top. They've saved me from having to replace a zipper on a number of occasions. If you read my comment about washing powders attacking the crappy alloy material that's so often used in those pull tabs and causing them to fail then a paperclip is the ideal solution.
tokamak-teapot 4y ago

ben_w 4y ago

Regarding button, while it's certainly easier to replace them than to replace a zipper (I can see where to put the needle and don't have to learn how to use the zipper foot for my sewing machine), I find the reattached buttons tend to come off again easily. Given I'm enough of a nerd to be on this site, I decided to try a pair of (small, rare earth) magnets next. While they were even easier to attach than buttons, the force between them was weaker than I had hoped, even allowing that I already knew it would only be a normal force and have minimal shear strength.

hilbert42 4y ago
I tried that magnet trick on a pair of my overalls after some of the press-locking fasteners broke but it too was an abject failure. Every time I bent over or made sudden movements the closure popped open. As I couldn't immediately get replacement press-locking fasteners, I resorted to sewing on buttons at points where the fasteners had failed but that wasn't the most brilliant of ideas. When it came to removing my overalls I could no longer just rip them open from top to bottom in one go - as is my usual wont.

tomjen3 4y ago

And now you know why people check that the product uses YKK zippers.