Are zippers the weak point on all large floorless shelters?

[Turkeygetpwnd38]

I just got back from spending 3 weeks in my SO Redcliff. Was camped around 11k, a little below the treeline and dealt with a lot of weather, more than usual for late Sept. About half way through the zipper failed, wouldn't close or would split half way down. I got dawn and a toothbrush, cleaned it, didn't matter. Obviously this caused some issues. I made due by using the bug screen and velcro, although the velcro stops way too high.
I previously had the zipper replaced about 9 months prior and the new zippers had less than 30 days on it, probably more like 20. The original zipper lasted 4-5 years, hundreds of nights. I've had good luck with the red cliff in weather but this has got my confidence in it shaken. Was this just a freak thing? A weak point in all larger floorless shelters? Maybe I've been lucky but I've never had a zipper fail on a higher quality standard tent.
I think I am going to start looking for a replacement, 6-8 man size. I have some other gripes with the red cliff, kind of do a lot OK but nothing great kind of shelter, but the zipper problem has become a safety issue twice.
Some background- I fly into places a lot for hunting so cannot bring a wall tent or Cabela's 35lbs dome. I usually use my red cliff for late season stuff, prefer floored for Aug/Sept in most cases. I'm looking at the Argali Yukon right now, says they use YKK #5, anyone know if that is the same SO uses? Any other options I should look at?

 

[Jimss]

Not all zippers are created equally. It’s tough to compare zippers on both different brands and models of tents.

From my experience with zippers, tension points where there is more stress on zippers have a greater chance of failure. If you add in weather and dirt/grime to stressed points it adds even more chance for failure. Obviously the more times zippers are opened in stressed areas the better chance of failure.

My guess is there may be ways to loosen stress points and clean/lubricate zippers so this doesn’t happen. A last option may be to purchase a brand or model that is better designed. I’ve used and abused flies, tents, backpacks for years without failure. I’ve had a few that failed but there usually is a reason.

 

[Lil-Rokslider]

Same thing happened to my SO Redcliff on a goat hunt last fall. I got the zipper replaced, and am going to try pitching it a bit less taut from now on.

 

[Turkeygetpwnd38]

Same thing happened to my SO Redcliff on a goat hunt last fall. I got the zipper replaced, and am going to try pitching it a bit less taut from now on.

Being careful of pitch definitely helps, the way its designed puts a lot of pressure on zipper it you try to get a taut pitch. One problem is remembering to loosen everything in the morning. I'll tighten out all the guy lines at night to help with sag but if you forget to loosen in the morning, it gets super tight during the day when it warms it.

 

[ResearchinStuff]

maybe @Brad@Argali can shed some light on this.

 

[Grassymike]

I would just replace the zipper with a heavier one. I have a 20 some year old Kifaru 4 person tipi that has a massive coil zipper, still going strong. Not sure the size but like a #10 or so.

 

[Chris in TN]

I can't answer your question but I can say that years ago I started oiling any zipper on my stuff that I thought was important and I think I've had less drama from zippers since I started that.

 

[Turkeygetpwnd38]

I can't answer your question but I can say that years ago I started oiling any zipper on my stuff that I thought was important and I think I've had less drama from zippers since I started that.

That doesn’t just attract and collect sand/grime?

 

[Chris in TN]

That doesn’t just attract and collect sand/grime?

I usually don't hunt in places that there's a lot of dust and sand. If I did I'd likely use a dry lube like graphite.

 

[Brad@Argali]

I just got back from spending 3 weeks in my SO Redcliff. Was camped around 11k, a little below the treeline and dealt with a lot of weather, more than usual for late Sept. About half way through the zipper failed, wouldn't close or would split half way down. I got dawn and a toothbrush, cleaned it, didn't matter. Obviously this caused some issues. I made due by using the bug screen and velcro, although the velcro stops way too high.
I previously had the zipper replaced about 9 months prior and the new zippers had less than 30 days on it, probably more like 20. The original zipper lasted 4-5 years, hundreds of nights. I've had good luck with the red cliff in weather but this has got my confidence in it shaken. Was this just a freak thing? A weak point in all larger floorless shelters? Maybe I've been lucky but I've never had a zipper fail on a higher quality standard tent.
I think I am going to start looking for a replacement, 6-8 man size. I have some other gripes with the red cliff, kind of do a lot OK but nothing great kind of shelter, but the zipper problem has become a safety issue twice.
Some background- I fly into places a lot for hunting so cannot bring a wall tent or Cabela's 35lbs dome. I usually use my red cliff for late season stuff, prefer floored for Aug/Sept in most cases. I'm looking at the Argali Yukon right now, says they use YKK #5, anyone know if that is the same SO uses? Any other options I should

I just got back from spending 3 weeks in my SO Redcliff. Was camped around 11k, a little below the treeline and dealt with a lot of weather, more than usual for late Sept. About half way through the zipper failed, wouldn't close or would split half way down. I got dawn and a toothbrush, cleaned it, didn't matter. Obviously this caused some issues. I made due by using the bug screen and velcro, although the velcro stops way too high.
I previously had the zipper replaced about 9 months prior and the new zippers had less than 30 days on it, probably more like 20. The original zipper lasted 4-5 years, hundreds of nights. I've had good luck with the red cliff in weather but this has got my confidence in it shaken. Was this just a freak thing? A weak point in all larger floorless shelters? Maybe I've been lucky but I've never had a zipper fail on a higher quality standard tent.
I think I am going to start looking for a replacement, 6-8 man size. I have some other gripes with the red cliff, kind of do a lot OK but nothing great kind of shelter, but the zipper problem has become a safety issue twice.
Some background- I fly into places a lot for hunting so cannot bring a wall tent or Cabela's 35lbs dome. I usually use my red cliff for late season stuff, prefer floored for Aug/Sept in most cases. I'm looking at the Argali Yukon right now, says they use YKK #5, anyone know if that is the same SO uses? Any other options I should look at?

Zipper life is a combination of a number of things. Sand and dirt will shorten your life considerably, but so will ice. Anything that gets on the zipper teeth and causes friction as you zip/unzip will reduce your zipper life. Putting your tent under high tension and using it is also hard on your zippers. The other tip for prolonging zippers is to try and lay your door flap parallel with the other tent panel the zipper tape is sewn into when you zip.

I can’t comment on why your current zipper failed, but our YKK zippers are as robust as you can get. The way the panels of a tent creates tension on zippers can also impact zipper life.

Any type of lubricant is also a good idea to get the most life out of your zippers. I’ve used chapstick in the field a few times out of necessity, but anything that won’t attract dirt and sand is best.

 

[Mike Islander]

I have the Redcliff. Are folks who are getting zipper tears starting with the four initial rectangle points staked out on tightened fabric? Proper setup is to leave a foot of slack between the stakes on each zipper side. This reduces zipper stress when you install the poll.

 

[Turkeygetpwnd38]

I have the Redcliff. Are folks who are getting zipper tears starting with the four initial rectangle points staked out on tightened fabric? Proper setup is to leave a foot of slack between the stakes on each zipper side. This reduces zipper stress when you install the poll.

Set up is correct. The problem isn't when you are installing pole. I have the 1 door model, if you set everything taut for wind/weather, it puts a lot of stress on zipper, especially when wet cold morning/night and then warm during day. I'm sure that contributes but I don't think is the main issue. Sounds like I got my answer, it's just a potential fail point on all larger single wall designs.
The Yukon design being more rectangular with two doors might minimize the stress on the zippers vs tepee design. Add in the no sag silpoly material, I'll probably give it a try.