Zipper vs. hook and loop for footbox. Any thoughts?

[Soda67]

While looking at another thread, it raised this question in my mind- for a TQ that does not have a sewn footbox, what are the reasons not to use a short zipper in lieu of Velcro? The other thread was about modifying a sleeping bag, and one of the concerns was the zipper tearing the hammock. I've used my bag in the hammock and had no problems. The other thing I know will come up is weight- but how much more can a 20" #3 zipper weigh in relation to the same length of hook and loop and either snaps or buckles at the top end? As I'm getting ready to build my TQ, any thoughts would be appreciated.

[MAD777]

This may be my paranoia, but zippers are somewhat sharp metal objects. I like to keep somewhat sharp metal objects outside of my hammock so that I don't end up outside of my hammock, on the ground.

[humer91]

You dont have to use velcro. My burrow has nice little plastic snaps that snap together to make a footbox, then cinch the shock cord to close the hole.

[sargevining]

I use plastic snaps and a shock cord drawstring thru a channel at the end to allow for venting.

[Trail Runner]

Go with sargevining's suggestion and use the plastic snaps and shock cord drawstring. In addition to what MAD777 stated it's pretty easy to snag and rip the TQ fabric when zipping up.

[Mindiman]

Velcro can be very uncomfortable to skin when rubbing against the hook, snaps can stress fabric and eventually tear out, i put heat shring tubing on zipper pulls to minimize noise and metal to hammock contact in my sleeping bag TQ until i invest in a good TQ, shock cord is very equipment friendly, i think small loops and toggles are more versatile for a multi use TQ, happy hangin'

[mrmike65]

While I don't understand why someone wouldn't just sew the foot box, I do like the drawcord idea. Sew a length of 1 1/2" wide ribbon along the bottom of the TQ to make a channel, run drawcord through it, and terminate on each end with a cord lock. Then all you have to do it pull the cordage tight to bunch up the end to make a footbox.

[hvelowade]

The EE top quilts (or at least my one, bought last year), have all of the above. A zip, drawcord, and then some snaps as well. I dislike the drawcord as when I have it fastened tight, which is almost all the time, there's a long length of elastic cord that has got caught a few times, even though I've tied it up.

[MarshLaw303]

I've sold thousands of TQ and until this year they all used a zipper to attach the sides and shockcord to close the bottoms. Even now that we offer the sewn footbox Enigma we still sell many more zippered foot Revelations.

A zipper has only two spots that could possible abrade a hammock body; The end of the zipper where both haves attach and the slider at the top of the footbox. The ends are in the middle of the footbox which is curved keeping it off the hammock body (not that it could even damage the hammock unless rubbed under tremendous force). The slider of the zipper is between your legs where no weight is on it and it just lays there.

Basically there are no razor blades or pointy edges that long to destroy the hammock. I've never heard of one problem and I use them in my hammock all the time.

The zipper keeps out drafts much better than snaps and is way lighter and easier to use than velcro. It's an easy choice.

-Tim

[JasonACraft]

Going slightly off topic...but can we see some of those diy plastic snap and draw cord tq's? I'm planning mine as well and can't wrap my head around the snaps just yet....