Equipment-Spyder

Jan in a previous message mentions the issue of having a "cold zipper" right next to lips!

Know the feeling!

I have found a solution since many many ski jackets have this problem! Since I ski in very cold weather with high winds this is what I do!

I take a polar fleece scarf which is the same color as the inside of the jacket! I cut the scarf so that I have a 30 cm. long piece!

I sew the scarf along the top of the ski jacket collar from 10 cm. left of the zipper! Just 2 cm. from zipper I stop stitch! Thus I have a scarf flap loose for about 20 cm.

When I zip up, I place this 20 cm. flap in front of my chin, between zipper and lips! The end goes to my right shoulder inside the jacket collar!

It severs two functions;
1. Keeps cold zipper away from tender lips
2. Keeps cold wind (when skiing fast) to enter via collar.

You can do this in 15 minutes and it provides a cozy neck Jan! Yes I had to change my "coach" Spyder Jacket ( $700) this way! I also wrote to the Spyder designers and soon you will see changes!

One thing I always keep an eye out for is really big zipper tags.
If it is difficult to open without gloves it'll be impossible in gloves at -20C.
I often have to tie shoe laces through the tabs to add exra grip.

Hirsty,

One of the things you can do just before skiing season to these lager zippers is to take a bar of soap ,,yes bar of soap such as you find in hotels and rub along open zipper!

Great lubricant.

Now if you want to get "fancy" get some white lithium grease put one drop on kleenex and rub on open zipper! Lasts about three years!

Thanks Pavelski.

You really do have some graet top tips.

I reckon rubbing a candle on the zip teeth would also be pretty good if stuck.

I love it how a question about clothes turned into zipper lubrication!!

Hey Ross, you have to keep those zippers lubricated!

Candle wax does help. My friend Mike from Nova Scotia will love to hear this. In this manner he will use up his stock of candle wax!


Speaking of lubricated zippers, one of the very worst things that can happen while you are skiing is to have a zipper "jam" due to material from ski jacket!

I check all my new jackets and cut off any material that interferes with zipper! I once froze my neck since zipper stuck just at neck level! Had to take jacket off like a poncho, get pliers and rip inner material off zipper.

I just knew there had to be a ski related application for candle wax :!:

Mike :lol:

Hi - Just stumbled across the site by accident having just bought my first Spyder gear. I bought much for the reasons pointed out by some of the experienced guys who have already replied to you. There are lots of fake sellers out there (especially mail order) but some authentic ones on eBay also. With the exchange rate as it is, you can get a great deal. PM me if you want details. If you are going to buy, you should go to your local shop to size it first. Hope this is still in time to help you.