Boot Tizip repair?

Anyone know a vendor who does this? 

No idea.

But since no one else has replied...How's it broken? Might be able to fix it yourself if you can't find a company to do it for you.

What is a Tizip and how is it different from a normal zipper?

Gunkiemike wrote: What is a Tizip and how is it different from a normal zipper?

It's a beefy waterproof zipper that is probably in OPs gaiters - see https://rockandice.com/gear-reviews/climbing-boots/scarpa-phantom-guide-insulated-single-boot/

Post a photo of the damage. A lot of different things can go wrong with a zipper and it’s hard to diagnose without a photo. 

​This post​​​ fixed my split zipper

The pliers method is a fine field fix. But it's very easy to overdo the pressure which will result in excess pressure on the teeth and the webbing that holds the coil in place. What will end up happening is you'll wear down the teeth/webbing and suffer a total zipper failure as the teeth pull away from the webbing. At that point you'd be looking at a full zipper replacement that is pretty complex. If your problem is indeed the slider, and you're not out on a trip, the best option is to get a replacement slider rather than try to pinch the old one closed.

Almost any drysuit repair shop should be able to do it I’d imagine.   I’ve had several t zips repaired with no probs for my drysuits. I’d find one locally and give them a call 

Matt Z wrote: Post a photo of the damage. A lot of different things can go wrong with a zipper and it’s hard to diagnose without a photo. 

Fair. The zipper pulled sheared in half. Even if I could get it back on, it wouldn't do anything. 

akafaultline wrote: Almost any drysuit repair shop should be able to do it I’d imagine.   I’ve had several t zips repaired with no probs for my drysuits. I’d find one locally and give them a call 

I thought of that, but so far no luck (asked a couple). Got any specific, flexible shop in mind? 

Never fixed a tizip before but it looks like it might be viable at home. Like a shop you'd have to source the replacement slider. Then take the top stops off so you can get a new slider on, then replace top stops so the new slider stays on. Rejoining the zipper teeth together might be annoying.

r m wrote: Never fixed a tizip before but it looks like it might be viable at home. Like a shop you'd have to source the replacement slider. Then take the top stops off so you can get a new slider on, then replace top stops so the new slider stays on. Rejoining the zipper teeth together might be annoying.

That's basically how to do it BUT in order to get the new slider going from the top, the teeth (coils, actually) have to be together. It could be straightforward to do this (start at the bottom. I've found a couple pair of needle nose pliers very helpful), or it could be maddeningly frustrating-to-impossible.

Good tips thanks guys 

Where are you located? I would look for a whitewater shop. They do zipper replacements on dry suits.

B Newt Riverman wrote: Where are you located? I would look for a whitewater shop. They do zipper replacements on dry suits.

Yeah tried that, haven't found anybody willing yet 

It is a pain but you can manually put a zipper together. Do that for the first inch or so at the bottom (which will be the hardest). Do the same at the top leaving the last few teeth a part (try to make sure the alignment is not off by a tooth). If you can do the whole zipper all the better. Then put a new pull on the top which you can work down. It will hard because the teeth further down are not together but "forcing" it will not hurt the teeth. Once a few more teeth are together at the top bring the pull back to the top. Then work pull down again. Repeat until the pull reaches the teeth manually put together at the bottom. The biggest issue getting teeth aligned all along the zipper.

That said you could send the boot to the mfg and have them do it too as I would expect the pull breaking be a warranty issue.

Allen Sanderson wrote: It is a pain but you can manually put a zipper together. Do that for the first inch or so at the bottom (which will be the hardest). Do the same at the top leaving the last few teeth a part (try to make sure the alignment is not off by a tooth). If you can do the whole zipper all the better. Then put a new pull on the top which you can work down. It will hard because the teeth further down are not together but "forcing" it will not hurt the teeth. Once a few more teeth are together at the top bring the pull back to the top. Then work pull down again. Repeat until the pull reaches the teeth manually put together at the bottom. The biggest issue getting teeth aligned all along the zipper.

That said you could send the boot to the mfg and have them do it too as I would expect the pull breaking be a warranty issue.

This is a good tip, thanks. I will try it if I can find another pull, which ... hasn't been easy. Haven't found a vendor for that yet. 

You would think it would be a warranty issue, yes, but Salewa has the worst warranty of any company I've ever dealt with. They said they warranty the boots for 2 years, hard stop. 

Jacon wrote:

Yeah tried that, haven't found anybody willing yet 

Try Golden River Sports in Golden Colorado. Also email Nancy at the Repair Lair in Minneapolis MN, she might be able to help you out or point you in the right direction. 

B Newt Riverman wrote:

Try Golden River Sports in Golden Colorado. Also email Nancy at the Repair Lair in Minneapolis MN, she might be able to help you out or point you in the right direction. 

Given the various types and sizes of TiZips, you'll want to have good closeup pics and measurements. If the boot's zip is much different than what's used on drysuits, it's going to be especially tough.

B Newt Riverman wrote:

Try Golden River Sports in Golden Colorado. Also email Nancy at the Repair Lair in Minneapolis MN, she might be able to help you out or point you in the right direction. 

Thanks, I emailed them. 

Did you ever successfully repair your zipper? Mine was splitting again and I pinched the slider to much so the zipper doesn't slide all the way up anymore (and it is still split).

Scarpa said they can't fix it, and neither can any of the local raft shops