I'm wondering how often the issue of broken zipper comes up on a hammock. How big of a concern is this and how would you go about field repairing a slider?
I'm wondering how often the issue of broken zipper comes up on a hammock. How big of a concern is this and how would you go about field repairing a slider?
I haven't seen much talk about zipper failure. I think the ones on the better quality hammocks are pretty dependable. I know the one on my Hennessy looks like it would be military issue it is so robust.
"To turn from this increasingly artificial and strangely alien world is to escape from unreality. To return to the timeless world of the mountains, the sea, the forest and the stars is to return to sanity and truth." --Robert Burnham Jr.
Do you have zippers on your other gear/clothing? Do you worry about those zippers?
Can the zipper fail?? Yes, but its not likely.
For the most part, the cottage folks have been using good quality stuff. There really isn't a lot of tension or stress on the zipper when the hammock is occupied. The zipper is just keeping the netting tight, your weight is on the fabric below you.
I do recall a HF member (I wont mention any names) who flipped over while inside the hammock, seriously.
The netting and the zipper held him up.
Operator error seems to be the biggest cause of any zipper problems.
Take care not to sit on the netting.
Open zipper fully when exiting or entering the hammock.
Take care not to zip fast causing snags in the fabric or netting.
"once" while in my Clark hammock, I managed to put to much pressure on the zipper and caused it to seperate. I just pulled the zipper-pull back across the open section and then rezipped it up.
I've gotten hammock material stuck in my BLackbird zipper but it has not broken. Been using this hammock for years now.
Exercise, eat right, die anyway -- Country Roads bumper sticker
Fall seven times, standup eight. -- Japanese Proverb
On clothing the zipper is often metallic and if broken, easily substituted so there is little need to worry. But it's true, lifetime I've had few zippers malfunction. However, I know that on a tent the zipper is one of the first things to fail.
I've read an account of a career thru hiker that had zippers fail so often they decided to learn how to field repair it and bring extras. When the biteys are out full force zipper failure could be a game breaker.
Had zippers catch on stuff, but never break - on clothing or gear. Zippers are pretty tough. If the pull tab breaks, I would sub it out with a piece of wire.
I got in a fight one time with a really big guy, and he said, "I'm going to mop the floor with your face." I said, "You'll be sorry." He said, "Oh, yeah? Why?" I said, "Well, you won't be able to get into the corners very well."
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Well, I found out first hand what using a crappy zipper added to a new hanger can do. To much pressure from the bugnet caused the zipper to separate. A bad zipper can not be fixed in the field but you can do a few things to get you through. Most zippers fail due to the pull. If while zipping it you twist the pull it will put more pressure on the zipper closing it. Also if you keep needle and thread you can pass a few stitches just before the zipper failure. You must also fix the problem that caused the zipper to fail in the first place.
Yosemite Sam: Are you trying to make me look a fool?
Bugs: You don't need me to make you look like a fool.
Yosemite Sam: Yer deerrrnnn right I don't!
If the zippers fail so infrequently then it wouldn't justify putting a #5 over #3 size because of the added weight.
All the zippers I have put on except one have been #3 zippers from DIY gear.com and they are still working without a hitch. Have never had a problem with a #3. Now a recycled zipper from a sleeping bag is a whole other story.
Yosemite Sam: Are you trying to make me look a fool?
Bugs: You don't need me to make you look like a fool.
Yosemite Sam: Yer deerrrnnn right I don't!
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