Experiences with zippers on packs?

[wake.joe]

I am not new to rucks, marches, climbs or trails. I have always used top loading packs, however.

I am interested in replacing my Gunslinger II with a Tactical Tailor Extended Range Operator Pack.

Has anyone ever had a failure of a zipper? Tactical Tailor is obviously fairly idiot proof; but I do come across a lot of hearsay about zippers failing in the field.

 

[mark5pt56]

I think if there's stress placed onto the zipper, it could fail. Mainly lateral pull on the teeth. I don't see that the GSII could fail in the manner as the loads are placed onto the straps and buckles.

 

[45.308]

Yes I have and buckles too to include one pack on its maiden trip.

Zipper teeth jumped timing and left a gaping hole, weather / water found its way in.
Laid pack down to access, zipped open, stuffed pack full again, pulling on zipper the carrier came off the track, no way to zip it closed with a giant hole in the pack, webbing and duct tape was used to secure it closed. Repair kits are sold but in the field, its easier said than done but it can be done.
Carrying heavy over-sized over-stuff pack popped a zipper open.

Others disagree but my experience says zippers on a pack have little value especially on large volume packs. The idea to access kit inside does not actually come to fruition in the real world. What is so important inside that you have to unzip to access it? If this is, then place the kit somewhere else. My main body was packed with the big over size heavy kit that I did not have a reason to access on the fly. For high demand kits on the fly, I found an easier point of entry so the kit could be accessed on the fly without removing my pack or unzipping it. Are there occasions, yes but over my decades of use they are rare and just remove pack, pull top kit out, access what you need. You just about have to lay the pack on its frame to access and then rezipper it shut. Zippers are a weak point. They leak.

I have a TT Removable Operator pack with zipper for 3 years now and its most def top shelf, on the same shelf as any top pack. Its my carry pack when outing for shooting kit; spotter, ammo, jackets, food / water, fist aid, repair, daily outing kit, etc, zip still good to go but if I went 100 miles out for 2 weeks, it would not be with me.

I had several Andinista packs from WildThings with zippers and mine never ever failed and talking to JB there, they never had a report of zipper fail since 1986. But, like him, I had one stitched up with no zipper because it was not needed and just added more weight.

The pack in question is quite heavy for a 3100 pack. I live by and taught; light is right, lighter is righter and lightest is rightest. A light weight quality pack does not fail. My technora Andinista weighed in the 2+ for 4000ci still running hard. But is a solid pack so if you want it get and use it but since you asked about zippers failing, not always but yes they do and at the wrong time and place.

good luck

 

[Spiff034]

I lug my 3 gun gear around in a double long gun case, and the zipper is always what kills the case. I've killed a voodoo tactical bag and now my safariland bag is on its last legs as well.

 

[Jay5oh]

Do you guys lubricate the zippers with anything? It may extend the life of the zippers. On my Jeeps with the soft tops (the windows zip in) I have gotten longer life by lubing them. I use Mopar zipper lube & cleaner but a company called Bestop makes the same thing. Cost is around $10 at the Jeep accessory retailers.

 

[ArmaHeavy]

For any load bearing needs, a YKK #10 zipper needs to be used. Last time I I checked it was the only zipper capable of having weight put on it, and I can't remember one failing on me. I can't say that there hasn't been any cases of one, just that it hasn't happened to me, and I specifically look for that exact zipper before I buy my gear. Take note that it's a little too big for some applications, like clothing, compared to smaller zipper.

You can lubricate anything as much as you want, but be careful that it doesn't attract dust, dirt, grime, and be more problematic for the zipper, and might cause it to jam.

Make sure what you lubricate it with won't eat away at the zipper. Some lubricants are designed for metal, not plastic, or the coatings that go on it. Take caution before you do.

Finally, zippers are mechanical devices. The more stress you place them, the quicker they will fail. This means you should take care of them the moment you get them, and not try to pull the zipper over some hard, point object just to get it closed. Also, try lining up the zipper teeth before they enter the zipper head. Stress can also be applied to the zipper head and cause that to fail too. I've had more of the pull tabs on the zipper heads break then anything else.