Premature Zipper wear

[Peter Mackin]

Has anyone noticed that wear is happening really really quickly on "modern" zippers at the insertion pin,primarily at the plastic protection and then the underlying tape.
I have 40 /50 year old jackets that don't have this issue. Here's a 40yr old schott zip that's been used and abused since I bought it new in the 70s,no wear whatsoever. Vanson seems to be one of the worst of the bunch.

 

[TartuWolf]

Yeah that does seem to be the nr 1 location of wear and failure. Such a bummer. And for sure the Vanson plastic pin does not help either. I have seen much more reinforced solutions for this. Seems like it should be a no brainer for jacket makers.

 

[Peter Mackin]

It now one of the 1st thing i look at when buying, especially with vanson, I hate plastic on the zipper, I've heard it's to stop scratches on a petrol tank..Absolute nonsense, it's about cost,plain and simple.i have a replacement zip waiting to go on my Enfield when I can get round to it ,no plastic

 

[Bawheid]

I have 2 jackets in my roster awaiting just this problem resolved. Torn at the zipper tape.

Just like the photo from TartuWolf

An Eastman Luftwaffe with a shiny nickel RIRI zipper which is a real bummer as only YKK available locally.

If my leather jacket maker/repairer can use a shiny nickel or brass YKK I will go that way.

The jackets do get worn , just not zipped which is a bit of a pisser.

What does it cost to buy and install that brass YKK zipper at your local guy ?

For what it's worth my Vanson zippers ( 3 variants of) are all holding up well so far.

And yes I have a Schott jacket from 1994 and the heavy brass zipper is 100%

 

[navetsea]

dual zipper has less problem since the whole lower slider is the zipper box so it's more flexible we can position it in a way to make it easier for the pin to securely pass it and the pin also much longer, the lower slider is also flaring out in shape covering most of the zippertape from abrasion wear against our jeans waistband edge or against our belt & buckle, and while wearing it zipped I can release tension while sitting for example by unzip it more from the bottom to not straining the zipper box too much

 

[Bawheid]

I know some folks like 2 way zippers but I personally find them harder to get along with.

One of my jackets has a 2 way RIRI zipper, the only one I have in the collection.

 

[navetsea]

I know some folks like 2 way zippers but I personally find them harder to get along with.

One of my jackets has a 2 way RIRI zipper, the only one I have in the collection.

when securing the pin I grab the hem of the jacket with 3 fingers against my palm and thumb+ index finger holding the slider of the lower slider that function as zipperbox so it stay at the bottom securely, before entering the pin with the other hand.

 

[Khilij]

when securing the pin I grab the hem of the jacket with 3 fingers against my palm and thumb+ index finger holding the slider of the lower slider that function as zipperbox so it stay at the bottom securely, before entering the pin with the other hand.

I just tried this. It made it a lot easier and took a good bit of the fiddling about out of the equation. Thank you for the tip!