How to Fix Tent Zippers

A worn zipper slider will not hold zipper teeth in place.

Zippers are a vital piece of equipment on tents. Without a functioning zipper, the door flap will not remain closed, allowing insects and other critters into your tent. Overtime, zipper sliders wear. This causes the zipper slider to lose its grip on the zipper teeth. Either the zipper slider will pop from the zipper teeth or the zipper teeth will not engage behind the slider when this occurs. Replacing the zipper slider will restore the functionality of the zipper and keep bugs and other creatures from entering your tent.

Things You'll Need

• Replacement zipper slider
• Seam ripper
• Zipper repair clamp
• Phillips screwdriver

Instructions

1. Read the letters and numbers located on the front face of the worn zipper slider. The writing on the slider represents the size of the slider.

2. Purchase a replacement zipper slider matching the worn slider from your local camping supply retailer or online.

3. Use a seam ripper to open the threads located where the bottom of the zipper teeth meet the fabric of the tent. Separate the seam 1/8 inch past each side of the zipper teeth.

4. Pull the worn zipper slider toward the tent fabric until it slides into the separated seam and off the end of the zipper teeth.

5. Align the front opening of the replacement zipper slider with each row of zipper teeth. Push the new zipper slider forward to connect the zipper slider with each row of teeth.

6. Hold the separated seam together with one hand. Push the bottom of the zipper repair clamp through the bottom piece of tent fabric. Push the top of the zipper repair clamp onto the top layer of tent fabric until the top and bottom sections of repair clamp clip together.

7. Turn the Phillips screw located in the top section of the zipper repair clamp clockwise with a Phillips screwdriver until both sections of the clamp lock in place.

Tips & Warnings

• Sew the top and bottom layers of tent fabric together after the installing the replacement zipper slider if no zipper repair clamp is available.

References

• McNETT Outdoor: Tent Repair Guide
• Mountain Hardware: Zipper Repair Clamp