SOURCE FOR ZIPPER GUARD FABRIC & YKK #5 COIL ANTI SNAGGING SLIDER COVER

Paul,

My Montbel parka slider would constantly snag and jam on the baffle under the zipper.   I sewed on a strip of grosgrain that had more body than the uber-lite fabric to solve the problem –

I folded the zipper back at the bottom to reveal the details. At the left of the photo you can see how it normally lies.

This same issue afflicts our Copper Spur rainfly flap.

What are you dealing with?

Thanks Greg,

Grosgrain, even easier than I thought.

Just for the fun of it………..I am turning a pig’s ear into a silk purse, or trying to.

All suggestions greatly appreciated:
<h1 class=”entry-title”>OPTIMIZE 308G. 800FILL, 20.5OZ.45?F,$93 CHINA SLEEPING BAG TO 16 OZ?</h1>
https://backpackinglight.com/forums/topic/optimize-308g-800fill-20-5oz-45f93-china-sleeping-bag-to-16-oz/

Regards,

Paul

Greg,

Did compressing the insulation under the grosgrain result in a cold spot?

Paul

Paul –

I sewed the grosgrain to the existing seam on the outside edged of the draft flap, and very close to the inside edge.  The air-trapping grosgrain layer probably improved the overall effectiveness, at a small weight penalty.

Greg, Thanks for you suggestions.They are gratefully appreciated..

I think that I understand how you did it.  i am gong to try your suggestions at the same time that I make the draft flap. I will put 40 gram 3M Thinsulate in the draft flap. Is it important that the draft flap be inside the sleeping bag/quilt? Or should I put a draft flap on both sides? My zipper is going to 24-30″ long .

Thanks again for your help.

Paul

Another way to “fix” a snagging zipper…

For a soft jacket (or sleeping bag) that get an annoying zipper snag I have often coated the offending fabric with a “stiffener”.  That is usually a thin thread “stitch locker” or some other drying coating.  Urethane tent seam sealer might work.  But not silicone (sticky).

If making something new I too would sew in a stiffener.

Some years back, Montbell came up with an idea for its sleeping bags of replacing puffy baffle protectors behind zippers with a stiff baffle containing a high ratio of insulative value for thickness; like 3M Thinsulate, for example.

They designed it in such a way that there is no snagging of the zipper when slid open and closed. At least that has been the case with the spiral down bag I purchased. The bag is now over a decade old, and the zipper still operates without snagging, without the need for lubrication. Note: for SUL fans, the total weight is 20 oz, and at least two of the models have been reviewed on BPL.

The amount of heat lost through the stiff baffle seems to be much less than the older puffy ones, perhaps because the stiffness of the baffle holds it tighter against the zipper, without the flopping around of the puffies when I toss and turn. For those who sleep like King Tut, that might not be so.

I think this is a simpler and more effective approach than the zipper guards, and will use it with Thinsulate when making the next bag; which will be synthetic, and only when I can obtain the same insulative value for the same weight as down. In the meantime, the Montbell bag is so excellent, that there is no reason to replace it with an MYOG, synthetic or down.