Sleeping bag zip repair

[Bill P]

I have an older down winter sleeping bag and the zipper teeth are worn.
The bag still has plenty of life left in it.

Rather than open the bag up to install a new zip, I'm thinking of cutting off the old teeth on the insitu zipper and stitching a new zip directly ontop of the original tape.

A bit of a hack, but seems easy, and importantly, within my capabilities.

What do you reckon?

[CraigVIC]

Are you sure it's the teeth and not the zipper part? You can crimp it with pliers and it will work again if that's the case but it is a bit of a trick to get it just right.

[Moondog55]

Is it a brass toothed zip?
The problem I can see is the old tape starting to fray and unravel.
What is the actual problem; does the zipper open from the top easily ?
As always pictures help

[Lamont]

Years back we wanted to combine two sleeping bags. But they had different zips. So we sewed another zip right on top of the first in the webbing of that zip that I reckon you are referring to and it still works. Left both zips on. Used it for years.
That said seeing it's a winter bag and you reckon there's lots more use in it so maybe see if someone like One Planet (they refer to a mending service I think) or a tailoring service can do it- shouldn't cost too much. Hate to be out Woop Woop in the freeze and the dodgy mod fails. Freezing khyber. Youch.
Although if it's winter in Port Douglas you're preparing for...I say have a crack.

[commando]

Hi Bill
I found out the hard way about how important a bag zipper really is. My zipper busted on my first night out in Waterfalls Valley hut
with zero degrees outside it was too cold to have it open so i asked 20 people in the hut if they had a needle and thread and was
going to sew it 3/4s shut, no-one had a a small sewing kit, the free airline ones are really good, so i turned the bag upside down and slept
with the zip on the bottom. Myself i would pay someone $30 to change it and do it properly. I have had three zips on that Egge bag and
its a quick fix with an experienced person at the helm.

[Bill P]

Thanks for the tips and advice everyone. I had a closer look at the problem. The zip is a nylon #6 YKK with two sliders.

When the upper slider passes over the middle section of the zip , it seems the teeth dont mesh properly and the zip gapes open.

Interestingly, if i use the lower slider on the section, the teeth mesh corectly and the zip seems fine. I think i have a mix of a worn upper slider and teeth wear.

[Moondog55]

I think replacement needs to be thought about.
But if it is going to cost a bit of money would that cash be better spent on a new bag and the old bag relegated to car camping and car boot stashing?

[oldpiscator]

Sounds like it is the upper slider as suggested by craigvic. With needle nose pliers gentle squeeze the top and bottom section of the slider together on each side of the toggle.

[CraigVIC]

Definitely give the slider a go as it may well 100% fix the problem. You should be able to find a youtube or instructable on it. Just know there's a sweet spot between fixing the zip and making it very hard to pull up. Crimp it a little at a time until fixed.

[Bill P]

Success! I crimped the slider plates together about 0.5 mm, and the zip now closes normally.

I used a pair of locking pliers, so I could "dial in" the amount of crimp.

Thank you CraigVIC and everyone else for your help. !

[neilmny]

Success! I crimped the slider plates together about 0.5 mm, and the zip now closes normally.

I used a pair of locking pliers, so I could "dial in" the amount of crimp.

Thank you CraigVIC and everyone else for your help. !

I've fixed a stack of zips on clothing and tents, all sorts by using this approach.
If the zipper runs and then the zip opens up behind the slider, nipping the slider plates a bit has fixed them all.