How to repair a zipper on a tent

A broken zipper could be giving you grief because it makes the process of getting in and out of the tent a bother — or it could also be the case that mosquito and other creepy crawlies use your broken zipper as an opportunity to find their way in during the night.

Fortunately, repairing a broken zipper on a tent is a quick process with Clip & Zip, and you’ll be ready to head off on your next adventure in no time at all. Here’s an overview of the steps involved!

Common Zipper Problems You May Have

Tents can be quite durable — but even an annoying issue with a zipper can make your camping trip a headache. Here are some of the most common problems you may experience with your tent zipper:

Stiff Zippers: These zippers are difficult to move or often get caught, which also runs the risk of damaging the nearby material.

Broken Zippers: In these cases, the zipper itself has broken off or otherwise isn’t able to be pulled to open or close properly.

Missing Teeth: Having missing teeth means a zipper can easily fall off the track and otherwise be a nuisance to try to use.

What You’ll Need

First, you’ll need to make sure to have a zipper repair pack from Clip & Zip:

- Slider repair pack for tents and campaign equipment

In addition to this, you should have quick access to the following:

- A pair of small hinged or adjustable pliers
- Zipper stops
- Scissors
- Needle and thread

Determine the Type of Zipper

Take a look at the zipper to decide what kind of material it is made of. The most common materials are:

Nylon: Flexible zipper teeth that can look like a plastic spiral
Plastic: Stiffer material than the nylon option
Metal: Individual teeth that are often used in more heavy duty items

Identify the Size of Zipper

Figuring out what size of zipper to use is quick and easy! Look on the back of the zipper slider and you will see a number stamped on it. This number refers to the width of the zipper teeth in millimeters .. so #3 would be 3mm wide zipper teeth and #5 would be 5mm teeth.

Based on this number, you can confidently order your replacement zipper part.

At 1cm wide, the 10A is the largest slider size that Clip&Zip distributes. This zipper is normally compatible with zips for heavy duty clothing and equipment, such as workwear, coveralls, camping tents, etc.

This slider is compatible with two different types of zip: plastic and metal. It is also suitable for the large meshes generally found in workwear, overalls and outdoor items (trampolines, etc.).

Replacing the Zipper Slider

Use your pliers to carefully remove the zipper stop at the end of the zipper track. Once this is done, you’ll be able to slide the old slider off the zipper track.

Once this is done, you can take the zipper provided in your repair kit and align it with the track. Make sure that the zipper is aligned facing the right direction — the rounded side of the slider normally faces outwards.

After the slider has been placed on the track, you can either use the new zipper stop provided in your repair kit or crimp a new one into place using your pliers.

The goal is that the stop is put on tightly enough that the zipper slider does not come off, but not so tight that it causes damage to the tape.

Ready to Go!

Just like that, you should be ready to use your new zipper. Give it some tests to make sure it works as expected and then tidy up any loose threads or frayed edges afterwards.

After only a couple of minutes, you’ll be ready to go camping once again with your newly refurbished zipper.

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to contact@clip-zip.ca and we’d be happy to give you more information or to point you in the right direction!