When the Zipper Won't Stay Zipped

[GotSpots]

So many jokes here…but leaving those for the professionals in the forum, hoping someone has a viable solution or suggestion:

I have a pair of lovely, perfectly broken in tall boots (Ariats, if it makes a difference) for every day use and the zippers continually come unzipped when I ride. Doesn’t make a difference whether the tab at the top is snapped or unsnapped, and happens even when the boots are zipped all the way to the tippy top before the snap closes. Suggestions? Sticky spray? Magic? I’d hate to replace the zippers or the boots just for that, as they fit well and are super comfortable, but it’s getting a bit aggravating to reach down and re-zip two or three times a ride. Thanks!

[PNWjumper]

Do the boots not have the little “locking” piece of leather to keep the zippers up (a little flimsy leather “strap” with a hole in it for the zipper tab under the snap tab at the top)? All of my Ariat tall boots and half chaps have that piece…except for my V Sports. I’m sure you would have used it if it was there, but it’s worth mentioning.

I used to have that problem with my older zip paddock boots. The easiest fix was to take a piece of duct tape (or black gorilla tape in the name of discretion) and stick it just under the tab after zipping my boots up. It was a pain, but it kept the zippers up! I don’t know if it would work as well on a back zipper for tall boots, but it worked great on the front zipper on paddock boots and would be an easy (if annoying) temporary fix.

[OnDeck]

I used to have a solution to this, but I can’t remember exactly what I used. It was a piece of string maybe, a small loop attached to the zipper. At the top I would put the top snap through the loop.

[salymandar]

[QUOTE=PNWjumper;7953506]
Do the boots not have the little “locking” piece of leather to keep the zippers up (a little flimsy leather “strap” with a hole in it for the zipper tab under the snap tab at the top)? All of my Ariat tall boots and half chaps have that piece…except for my V Sports. I’m sure you would have used it if it was there, but it’s worth mentioning.
.[/QUOTE]

Definitely worth mentioning … I had a pair of boots for three years before I realized what that piece of leather was for. I couldn’t understand why my zippers kept falling down. Not saying this is true in the OP’s case, though!

[greysfordays]

[QUOTE=PNWjumper;7953506]
Do the boots not have the little “locking” piece of leather to keep the zippers up (a little flimsy leather “strap” with a hole in it for the zipper tab under the snap tab at the top)? All of my Ariat tall boots and half chaps have that piece…except for my V Sports. I’m sure you would have used it if it was there, but it’s worth mentioning.

[/QUOT

I third this, that little leather strap was a recent discovery and it felt like the skies parted and heaven rained down gold light on me when I realized what it’s for.

I have some older ariat’s that just had a solid leather strap across the top. You could see about cutting a little hole in them to slide the zipper piece into.

[Ambitious_Kate]

Yes, thread the snap-over-tab through a loop of string you put on the zip. It will keep the zip up.

[Impractical_Horsewoman]

Recent Ariats are notorious for having bad zippers–I had to replace the zippers on my Ariat paddock boots three times in five years. Then, when I bought tall boots, I vowed I wouldn’t get that brand. Unfortunately, after trying on a million pairs the only ones short enough for my midget legs were Ariats. They aren’t nearly as bad as yours but the zippers and snaps are still a pain to fasten and unfasten. Replacing the zippers might not be that costly.

[Sueby]

Mine do this too, no zipper holder on my style (contours). Luckily my show boots have one!

[FixYourShoes]

Hi there! We are a shoe repair company from eastern Europe. If a zipper slider on your boots doesn’t hold a zipper and continually unzip it during riding - it means the slider is broken and the professional solution would be to replace it with the new high-quality one, which will always hold your zipper in any position. We offer that for 10$ per pair (sliders already included). We are using strong and durable shoe sliders in wide range of styles and colors (golden, silver, antique-bronze, black and more).
You can send us your shoes for repair or you can buy some sliders for the future if your local cobbler doesn’t have them (20$ for 5 sliders). Check some photos at our website FixYourShoes.com/shop/shoe-zipper-sliders
Note that these are for shoe coil (spiral) zipper, not for molded or metal zipper.

Thank you

[JustEquit8]

I have the same problem! 2 different styles of Ariat tall boots… and only my right leg. I can put it through the leather tab, and do the string to the snap thing and they still unzip when I ride!! And with my show boots it actually keeps pulling on the string and tab and goes lower and lower… I really don’t want to send these boots in to get fixed. They fit perfectly otherwise! I’ll be following this thread closely…

[TwoDreamRides]

[QUOTE=PNWjumper;7953506]
Do the boots not have the little “locking” piece of leather to keep the zippers up (a little flimsy leather “strap” with a hole in it for the zipper tab under the snap tab at the top)? All of my Ariat tall boots and half chaps have that piece…except for my V Sports. I’m sure you would have used it if it was there, but it’s worth mentioning.

I used to have that problem with my older zip paddock boots. The easiest fix was to take a piece of duct tape (or black gorilla tape in the name of discretion) and stick it just under the tab after zipping my boots up. It was a pain, but it kept the zippers up! I don’t know if it would work as well on a back zipper for tall boots, but it worked great on the front zipper on paddock boots and would be an easy (if annoying) temporary fix.[/QUOTE]

You. are. a… GENIUS!!!

My zippers always fall down. And that piece of leather looks so sloppy. I have been contemplating cutting it off for months, just never got to it. Now BOTH problems are solved! I had no idea it was there for a reason.

[snaffle635]

[QUOTE=salymandar;7953817]
Definitely worth mentioning … I had a pair of boots for three years before I realized what that piece of leather was for. I couldn’t understand why my zippers kept falling down. Not saying this is true in the OP’s case, though! :)[/QUOTE]

Me too!!!

Then one day I had a total A-HA moment when I realized what that extra little leather tab was for.

[Atlas_Shrugged]

[QUOTE=OnDeck;7953689]
I used to have a solution to this, but I can’t remember exactly what I used. It was a piece of string maybe, a small loop attached to the zipper. At the top I would put the top snap through the loop.[/QUOTE]

Great idea!

[Atlas_Shrugged]

Ya I found out about the tab on parlantis when one of the kids went to an actual tack shop to try them on (vs ordering cheaper on line)- but sometimes even they fail- but cant tie a loop to them because the slider is solid

[M_O_Connor]

[QUOTE=PNWjumper;7953506]
Do the boots not have the little “locking” piece of leather to keep the zippers up (a little flimsy leather “strap” with a hole in it for the zipper tab under the snap tab at the top)? All of my Ariat tall boots and half chaps have that piece…except for my V Sports. I’m sure you would have used it if it was there, but it’s worth mentioning.

I used to have that problem with my older zip paddock boots. The easiest fix was to take a piece of duct tape (or black gorilla tape in the name of discretion) and stick it just under the tab after zipping my boots up. It was a pain, but it kept the zippers up! I don’t know if it would work as well on a back zipper for tall boots, but it worked great on the front zipper on paddock boots and would be an easy (if annoying) temporary fix.[/QUOTE]

This is what I do…on my half chaps that often get mistaken for boots. Do it for long enough and the zipper does get sticky there, which also helps.

[OveroHunter]

I have the same problem, but I can’t get the leather piece to stay snapped closed. it always comes unsnapped and next thing i know my tall boots are half way unzipped. Following this thread!

[GotSpots]

Y’all are great! I don’t think I’ve ever seen the little tab on the back of the snap, but will look carefully. Will also try a piece of string if the zipper has a hole. Heck, last weekend I was reduced to spraying sticky spray on the zippers! (Didn’t work very well sadly).

[Hiddenspot]

I had the snaps replaced on mine with a much stronger one and that solved my problem. If you use the leather tab and have a strong enough snap, it might hold. Whole knew world for me when I learned about the leather piece which has a tiny slit to put the zipper pull through and the new snaps. A leather repair guy at the show did it for $5 each and he said he does it a lot.

[GreyGelding]

Also, sometimes the slider falls when the “pinch” isn’t tight enough to lock it into place. I have had success using flat, needle-nosed pliers and squish the slider down. Also, make sure your zippers are really clean and lubricated, sounds counter intuitive, but otherwise the stress of a tightened slider can do harm. Get a zipper cleaner from a camping section of an outdoor store, the bottle has a little scrubby brush attached to the top.