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  1. #1
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    Is sitting on the zipper safe?

    I don't remember seeing this posted anywhere, and I am probably just being paranoid, but is it safe to put weight on the zipper? By that I mean when you are sitting into the hammock (just before you pivot and swing your legs inside). It seems to me that zippers aren't designed to hold weight and if it became crimped or stretched it would cause the zipper to fail.

    So, has this happened to anyone (no sitting on it with pliers in your back pocket doesn't count)?

    Should I be worried? Haven't had any problems yet, but then I have been avoiding putting full weight on it.

    Thanks all.
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  2. #2
    gunner76's Avatar
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    Now you gave me something new to worry about.
    I am still 18 but with 52 years of experience !

  3. #3
    Senior Member shumway's Avatar
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    If you enter with your weight centered on the fabric, very little weight will be on the zipper. At least not enough to worry about.

  4. #4
    Senior Member Ramblinrev's Avatar
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    Zippers are by design very flexible when they are opened. There is space between the teeth and the coils so they can bend quite significantly. I've run a zipper around a 90* arc and still had it zip up and open with no problems.

    The issue of weight is really a non-issue in my mind as the flexibility of the zipper compensates for those forces. One's butt is very adept at spreading weight load out over space resulting in low per inch pressure areas. I would not worry about it.
    I may be slow... But I sure am gimpy.

    "Bless you child, when you set out to thread a needle don't hold the thread still and fetch the needle up to it; hold the needle still and poke the thread at it; that's the way a woman most always does, but a man always does t'other way."
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  5. #5
    Senior Member Lonely Raven's Avatar
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    Agreed. Just get your butt in as far as is comfortable, and not worry about it. If my big butt doesn't break a zipper, I'm thinking it's OK.
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  6. #6
    Senior Member exup's Avatar
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    I've always worried a bit about this too. Not having all my weight on the zipper, but having my legs rested on it while hanging a bit high. But no problems yet. Thanks Ramblinrev. That helps.

  7. #7
    Senior Member Ramblinrev's Avatar
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    It is best to make sure the zipper is all the way open when ever you are sitting on it. The problem is not so much the coils or teeth being deformed as it is the coils or teeth pulling off the ribbon. Once that happens the zipper is kaput. Zipper tape is surprisingly strong but the bonding process is not always perfect.

    By only opening the zipper part of the way you create a different stress on the tape and _that_ is what will lead to zipper failure. Open it all the way and you should not have a problem.
    I may be slow... But I sure am gimpy.

    "Bless you child, when you set out to thread a needle don't hold the thread still and fetch the needle up to it; hold the needle still and poke the thread at it; that's the way a woman most always does, but a man always does t'other way."
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  8. #8
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    the zipper is fine to sit directly on, the zipper-tape that the zipper teeth are attached to is basically a webbing material, and the edge of the hammock fabric is sewn to that, so the edge of the hammock fabric and the fabric/webbing part of the zipper are taking the load, not the teeth. i've had great success with the #3 ykk over the last 5 years and find it totally sufficient for this application

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