We’ve all been there: you’re in the backcountry or on a long hike when you yank the zipper on your jacket and—bam!—it comes undone, gets stuck, or the whole thing rips off. You’re forced to ski or hike down with an open jacket flapping behind you. On items like sleeping bags, wetsuits, or backpacks, working zippers are essential. I called up Daniel Cates, owner of Technical Equipment Cleaners, an outdoor gear-repair company in Truckee, California, for his tips on fixing broken zips.

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