My tent zipper broke in a downpour at Lake Tahoe last month.

I was trying to get inside during a sudden storm and the main door zipper just came off the track completely. I ended up having to use a bunch of duct tape from my repair kit to seal the flap shut for the night. What's the best way to fix a tent zipper in the field if you don't have a sewing kit?

2 comments

2 Comments

avery_walker301mo ago

Why not just use a safety pin to hold the zipper together?

scott.grace1mo ago

Wait, a safety pin for a tent zipper in a downpour? That's wild. In my experience, those little pins can't handle the tension on a big tent flap, especially when it's windy and wet. They'd just bend or pop right open. I've seen people try paperclips too, and it always ends badly. You need something that can actually take the pull, like a zip tie or even a bit of cord through the zipper pull.