Zip that won't close — on a hike

If the zip on your jacket springs open in the middle of a hike — especially in the cold or after many openings — it is often the slider that has spread apart. The heavy piece that slides up and down is slightly too loose to press the teeth or the coil together.

The repair is a temporary fix that will hold until you get home.

What you need

• A multi-tool with a pliers function (Leatherman, Gerber and others)
• OR two stones — works if you do not have a tool

How to fix it

1. Open the zip fully — slide the slider down to the bottom stop and pull the sides apart. If it is a sleeping-bag zip or another type without a bottom stop, open it as far as possible.

2. Squeeze the slider gently — use the pliers on the multi-tool to press the two sides of the slider slightly closer together. A little at a time — squeezing too hard crushes the slider.

3. Test as you go — put the zip together and check that it closes tightly. Repeat the squeezing if there are still problems.

4. Done — this is temporary. Replace the slider when you get home.

With two stones

If you do not have a multi-tool:

• Hold the slider between two flat stones
• Press gently with even pressure
• Test, repeat

Less precise than a multi-tool, but it works.

When this is not enough

Squeezing the slider is a short-term fix. If:

• The teeth or coil are missing — the whole zip must be replaced
• The slider is cracked — replace the slider
• The bottom stop is broken — full zip replacement

For a permanent repair at home: see Replacing a zip slider or Replacing the front zip on jackets for a full zip replacement.

Prevention

• Do not pull the zip hard when it gets stuck — find out what is blocking it
• Keep the zip clean — sand, dirt and lumps of ice wear it out quickly
• Lubricate it with wax or silicone spray now and then — gives 10x longer life

Back to Repair → · Replacing a zip slider → · Repairs on a hike →

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Text: Lars Peters and Snuitide (2022), revised 2026.