Boot zip opening

[Annagain]

Does anybody have issues with the zips on their boots opening? I'm now on my third pair of smart boots (Mountain Horse, Brogini and now Shires) where the left zip opens every time I ride. The right zip is fine, I've gradually gone wider with every pair of boots in case that's the issue but my current pair are bordering on a bit too wide and it's still happening. The zips glide up beautifully, there doesn't seem to be any pressure on them. I've tried putting the puller both under and over the flap at the top and it makes no difference. My Toggi Calgary every day riding boots don't do it even though they're more snug than the last two pairs.

Any ideas why this is happening or how to stop it please? It's really annoying and looks terrible.

 

[Abacus]

Only if I’m lazy and don’t do up the tabs at the top. Strange that it’s only one. Silly but serious question: are your calves the same width, have you measured them? Are you asymmetric in other ways? It might not give you a solution but I’m curious

 

[Annagain]

My left foot is slightly bigger but my calves are pretty even. I think it does move about more than my right though.

 

[Meredith]

Are there little tabs on the under side of the zip pull?
They should lock when the zip is up and the pull laid flat. It may be that the tab doesn’t lock properly or possibly as you suggest that that you jiggle it loose. Is there anyway you can fix the pull down?
Although it would be fiddly, would a small piece of sticky tape work?

 

[Meredith]

Another idea
When I had a zip with a broken pull I put a piece of thin cord through the slot, made a loop and slotted the press stud top tab through the loop. The zip still slid down but not very far.

 

[neddy man]

Is the zip coming undone from the top, or is the top still together and tthe zip is coming apart from the bottom/ middle.

 

[Quigleyandme]

On my De Niro boots there is a little horse shaped tab of thin leather with a slot cut in sewn one side of the boot through which you pull the zip slider before fastening the flap over the top. Could your saddler do something similar?

 

[Zoeypxo]

I have ariat boots and they drive me insane. The zips slide down to my ankles every time i ride. I do them up correctly in with the tab aswell. I complained to ariat and they have sent me new zips. Tempted to just get new boots.

 

[Northern Hare]

One solution that worked for me is to buy a pair of short round (ie like spaghetti laces) black shoe laces. Using a hole punch, punch a small hole at the top of the zip, on each side. Then thread the shoe lace through each of the holes (there should be enough lace to allow you to open the top of the boot to put them on and off). Once you've done the zip up, thread the shoe lace through the zipper, pull tight and then tie the laces in a bow and tuck inside the top of the boot. ?

 

[Parrotperson]

I have ariat boots and they drive me insane. The zips slide down to my ankles every time i ride. I do them up correctly in with the tab aswell. I complained to ariat and they have sent me new zips. Tempted to just get new boots.

yep. me too. very annoying. arias aren't exactly cheap but they fitted me perfectly. such a nuisance

 

[Zoeypxo]

yep. me too. very annoying. arias aren't exactly cheap but they fitted me perfectly. such a nuisance

ariat said to me theyve never heard of this problem before

 

[Sussexbythesea]

Yes all the zipped boots I’ve had do including Ariat Bromonts and Mountain Horse. The worst are my smart Treadstep gaiters but I’ve gained weight so I think that might be the main issue. My everyday Ariat Concorde chaps don’t though.

 

[McFluff]

My Ariat bromonts do this when they get older And worn. Drives me mad.
Made me get a pair of celeris as my new comp boots. Figured that if I look after them and they last 8 years I’m same cost (actually cheaper as Ariat aren’t lasting like they used to!). And they were easier to break in as they fit my strange feet (very high arches).
i think the wee tabs on the zip wear.

 

[Parrotperson]

ariat said to me theyve never heard of this problem before

Ha! Pull the other one. It’s got bells on

 

[Annagain]

Thanks all for your suggestions. Replies / clarifications below.

Are there little tabs on the under side of the zip pull?
They should lock when the zip is up and the pull laid flat. It may be that the tab doesn’t lock properly or possibly as you suggest that that you jiggle it loose. Is there anyway you can fix the pull down?
Although it would be fiddly, would a small piece of sticky tape work?

Yes, I'm pushing them into the locked position. I did wonder about a piece of electrical tape under the zipper to stop it coming down but maybe across the zip to hold it in the locked position would work better. Will give that a try.

Is the zip coming undone from the top, or is the top still together and tthe zip is coming apart from the bottom/ middle.

Coming undone from the top.

One solution that worked for me is to buy a pair of short round (ie like spaghetti laces) black shoe laces. Using a hole punch, punch a small hole at the top of the zip, on each side. Then thread the shoe lace through each of the holes (there should be enough lace to allow you to open the top of the boot to put them on and off). Once you've done the zip up, thread the shoe lace through the zipper, pull tight and then tie the laces in a bow and tuck inside the top of the boot. ?

This sounds like an option. Have you put the hole through the actual leather or the zip material? I'm not sure there's enough room on the zip material or that it would be strong enough. The thought of defacing my new boots is a bit but needs must!! I think I'll try Meredith's suggestion first though, less permanent damage!

My Ariat bromonts do this when they get older And worn. Drives me mad.
Made me get a pair of celeris as my new comp boots. Figured that if I look after them and they last 8 years I’m same cost (actually cheaper as Ariat aren’t lasting like they used to!). And they were easier to break in as they fit my strange feet (very high arches).
i think the wee tabs on the zip wear.

This has happened on three different pairs of boots (only ever the left leg) all different makes and all right from new. It's definitely a me problem not a boots problem!

 

[TheChestnutThing]

Have this issue with my expensive mould to my calf boots but not my shires ones. It looks awful!

 

[Northern Hare]

This sounds like an option. Have you put the hole through the actual leather or the zip material? I'm not sure there's enough room on the zip material or that it would be strong enough. The thought of defacing my new boots is a bit but needs must!! I think I'll try Meredith's suggestion first though, less permanent damage!

Sorry I wasn't clear, I put the little holes (hole punch pliers on a very small setting) into the leather edging around the zip, so the punch went through the leather edging, and the zip material hidden by the edging strip. It only needs to be a small hole to thread the thin round laces through.

 

[Annagain]

Sorry I wasn't clear, I put the little holes (hole punch pliers on a very small setting) into the leather edging around the zip, so the punch went through the leather edging, and the zip material hidden by the edging strip. It only needs to be a small hole to thread the thin round laces through.

great thanks