How to repair a jacket zipper using ZlideOn
A jacket with a broken zipper usually isn't a broken jacket. Nine times out of ten the slider has simply worn out, and replacing it takes a couple of minutes at the kitchen table — no sewing, no tools, no trip to a tailor.
Get the right ZlideOn for your jacket
First things first! Check the number printed on the back of your old slider (e.g. 3, 5, 8), or measure the width of the zipper teeth, and pick the ZlideOn that matches. Most jacket zippers are metal or plastic in size 5.
Recommended product for jackets
Carefully snap off the broken slider
Grip the old slider with a pair of pliers and snap it off the zipper chain. On a jacket it's easiest to work from the bottom end, where the zipper separates. Go gently so you don't crush the teeth.
Fully open your ZlideOn
Hold the ZlideOn between your fingers and open it up completely, so the two halves are ready to sit around the zipper chain.
Click it onto the zipper
Place the open ZlideOn over the zipper teeth and press both sides firmly together until you hear it click shut. Zip at least 10 cm on the first pull to align the teeth — your jacket is repaired.
Better to see it in action?
The whole repair takes less than a minute. Watch it done from start to finish.
Watch the ZlideOn repair video
Important things to remember
A broken zipper pull and a broken slider are the same repair. The pull is the tab you hold between your fingers; the slider is the metal body it hangs from. When the pull on a jacket snaps off, the slider underneath is normally worn as well — which is why fitting a whole new slider fixes the zipper properly, rather than threading a keyring or paperclip through what's left of the old one.
ZlideOn replaces the slider — not the zipper chain itself. Before you start, run a finger along the teeth and the fabric tape: if teeth are missing or the tape has torn away from the jacket, the zipper needs a tailor rather than a new slider. In the vast majority of cases, though, the slider is what has worn out, and a replacement is all it takes.
Getting the size right matters. Check the number printed on the back of your old slider or measure the width of the zipper teeth before ordering. Jacket zippers are usually size 5, but heavier winter coats often run to 8 or 10. If you're unsure, a multipack covers the most common sizes and is the safe choice.
On a separating jacket zipper, fit the ZlideOn onto the side that carries the larger part of the stopper — the retainer box at the bottom. If the zipper skips or won't close cleanly after the first 10 cm, don't force it: open the slider, check that both rows of teeth are seated fully inside, and press it shut again.
Why repair your jacket instead of buying a new one?
A good jacket is built to last many seasons, and it makes little sense to retire one over a single worn-out part the size of a thumbnail. Replacing the slider with ZlideOn takes minutes, costs a fraction of a new jacket, and needs no sewing, tools, or repair shop. Made in Europe from durable zinc and steel, a ZlideOn slider stands up to the same weather your jacket does.
Repair, don't replace. Every jacket kept in use saves the CO₂, water, and raw materials that go into producing a new one. Choosing to repair is one of the simplest, most effective sustainable choices you can make — and with ZlideOn, it's also one of the easiest.