My tent zipper gave out during a storm in the Smokies last weekend.

Olivia Wells · 2026-03-15T12:25:05.798271+00:00

I was stuck inside for two hours while the rain came in, and I had to use a bunch of safety pins to hold the door shut. What's the best way to fix a broken coil zipper on a rainfly, or is it just time for a new tent?

victor2097mo ago

Hayden's got a point about the timing. A repair might work for a bit, but if the fabric around the zipper is also worn out, you're just delaying the next failure.

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hayden_lane7mo ago

Ever notice how zippers always fail at the worst possible time? You can try a repair kit, but honestly, if the rainfly is old, it might be a sign.

2

vera5147mo ago

Been there, safety pins and all. I had a zipper blow on an old rainfly and used a kit from the outdoor store. It got me through the season but the fabric was just too beat. Victor209 is right, if the material around the zipper is thin or frayed, a fix is just a band-aid. You'll be doing it again next storm. Weigh the cost of a new fly against the hassle of another field repair.

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