Velcro vs. Zipper???

[JJ Mathes]

I’m getting ready to start making/sewing a bug shelter. I’ve never sewn a zipper before and not especially looking forward to it. Then I started to think, why use a zipper at all, why not use Velcro instead. I've sewn Velcro before and had no problems, so before I order the materials I thought I would ask.

The door opening on the pattern calls for a 66-inch, #3 coil zipper, #3 regular double tab slider. I don't know what 66" of #3 coil zipper weighs vs 66" of Velcro

Weight isn’t an issue for me so much concerning this particular detail, I’m looking more at function, durability and ease of use.

1- with enough use zippers wear out, would Velcro be durable over the long haul?

2- can anyone see any problems with using Velcro for this application?

thanks

[Jan Rezac]

The first and most important thing to support a zipper is that the hook side of the velcro will catch the netting when it gets in contact, what wears the netting off quickly.

Zipper is also much easier to close, aligning the velcro to get a full seal would take a while.

[Brendan Swihart]

Don't let sewing zippers scare you. It's not as difficult as you might think. Search youtube and the web and I bet you can get good instructions. The coils act as a guide and you might end up with the nicest stitch on your whole project.

If you do use velcro, definitely use omni tape or no snag velcro or you'll have lots of holes in no time.

[John West]

I would just use the zipper, its really not as hard as it seems. Like the others said, the velcro will most likely cause all sorts of snagging problems.

[JJ Mathes]

Jan R- good points, in this particular design the velcro will not be in contact with the netting, but I still need to keep that in mind. And, I was wondering about ease of closing it too, I have strips of velcro on the beak of my GG SpinnShelter, no problems there, but that's short straight strips

Brendans thanks, I was just reading about no snag velcro/omni tape on Quest Outfitters site

[Terry Trimble]

Even omni tape will wreck havoc with bug netting and velcro just harder to close. If you don't like zippers your better off over lapping the bug netting using little flat cord tie offs like they use to use in the vintage tents. I did this on one of my tents but southern california is hardly a bug environment compared to east coast.
Terry

[Javan Dempsey]

Just want to drive home what others are saying, by pointing out that velcro is in fact MUCH more difficult to sew than zipper.

Velcro and Omni-tape are a total PITA, and it's the one thing I absolutely hate sewing. Zipper is a piece of cake, a zipper foot helps to get the stitch work close to the zipper, but isn't mandatory. The zipper coil acts a guide, don't fight it, just follow it.

[Mat Tallman]

yet another "zipper is really easy to sew" vote here. This was probably the simplest part about my recently made DIY bug tent.

[Author]

Posts