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YKK zips is always something I look out for when going through op shops (charity shops, thrift shops, whatever you call them). If they spent a few extra cents o

YKK zips is always something I look out for when going through op shops (charity shops, thrift shops, whatever you call them). If they spent a few extra cents on a zipper the chances are better it's decent quality clothing.

jd3 3y ago
After years of thrifting/antiquing, honestly, out of all metal zippers I've come across, I would rate YKK last in both design and build quality. The brass Talons are the gold standard — I won't buy a vintage leather jacket unless it has either a Talon or Serval zipper, for example.
- stracer 3y ago
  > I won't buy a vintage leather jacket Are you by any chance Jensen Huang?
  - maximus-decimus 3y ago
    The legend says Jensen was born wearing his leather jacket.
- zinekeller 3y ago
  > I won't buy a vintage leather jacket unless it has either a Talon or Serval zipper, for example. You're might be correct on this front if the jacket is fron the mid-to-late 20th century - but as noted in the video today Talon is no more (it still technically exists but as a brand of an HK company). It's pretty much the same story: while YKK is definitely improving, a siginificant factor too is how (usually American) leading companies are cheapening their products because the brands are established (which won't affect in the short term but definitely adds up over the decades).
  - jd3 3y ago
    Correct — outside of a couple of japanese factories recreating/pantomiming their favorite vintage brands (buco, etc. — mostly using the original equipment from America!), I don't think there are any modern leather jacket brands worth buying.
cantSpellSober 3y ago
Slate did an article on this that backs this up > For an apparel maker designing a garment that will cost $40-$65 to manufacture, and will retail for three times that much or more, it’s simply not worth it to skimp [on zipper price] > Multiple apparel designers I talked to recalled incidents in which batches of non-YKK zippers failed to meet their standards https://slate.com/business/2012/04/ykk-zippers-why-so-many-designers-use-them.html https://slate.com/business/2012/04/ykk-zippers-why-so-many-d...
at-fates-hands 3y ago
I do the same for my backpacks and other hiking and mountaineering gear. I've bought so many high end packs, only to have the zippers fail and have had to re-sew them or hemm the seams back together. I had one mid range pack with YKK zippers about 15 years ago and its been nails on every trip I've been on. After that experience, I just look for YKK zippers now on anything I buy.
JohnBooty 3y ago
A lot of Amazon product listings will explicitly mention YKK zippers so you can search for e.g. "backpack YKK" This is a fairly decent way to find products of good quality. It's far from foolproof, and is certainly ripe for gaming, but it hasn't steered me wrong yet.

jd3 3y ago

After years of thrifting/antiquing, honestly, out of all metal zippers I've come across, I would rate YKK last in both design and build quality. The brass Talons are the gold standard — I won't buy a vintage leather jacket unless it has either a Talon or Serval zipper, for example.

stracer 3y ago
> I won't buy a vintage leather jacket Are you by any chance Jensen Huang?
- maximus-decimus 3y ago
  The legend says Jensen was born wearing his leather jacket.
zinekeller 3y ago
> I won't buy a vintage leather jacket unless it has either a Talon or Serval zipper, for example. You're might be correct on this front if the jacket is fron the mid-to-late 20th century - but as noted in the video today Talon is no more (it still technically exists but as a brand of an HK company). It's pretty much the same story: while YKK is definitely improving, a siginificant factor too is how (usually American) leading companies are cheapening their products because the brands are established (which won't affect in the short term but definitely adds up over the decades).
- jd3 3y ago
  Correct — outside of a couple of japanese factories recreating/pantomiming their favorite vintage brands (buco, etc. — mostly using the original equipment from America!), I don't think there are any modern leather jacket brands worth buying.

cantSpellSober 3y ago

Slate did an article on this that backs this up > For an apparel maker designing a garment that will cost $40-$65 to manufacture, and will retail for three times that much or more, it’s simply not worth it to skimp [on zipper price] > Multiple apparel designers I talked to recalled incidents in which batches of non-YKK zippers failed to meet their standards https://slate.com/business/2012/04/ykk-zippers-why-so-many-designers-use-them.html https://slate.com/business/2012/04/ykk-zippers-why-so-many-d...

at-fates-hands 3y ago

I do the same for my backpacks and other hiking and mountaineering gear. I've bought so many high end packs, only to have the zippers fail and have had to re-sew them or hemm the seams back together. I had one mid range pack with YKK zippers about 15 years ago and its been nails on every trip I've been on. After that experience, I just look for YKK zippers now on anything I buy.

JohnBooty 3y ago

A lot of Amazon product listings will explicitly mention YKK zippers so you can search for e.g. "backpack YKK" This is a fairly decent way to find products of good quality. It's far from foolproof, and is certainly ripe for gaming, but it hasn't steered me wrong yet.