Zipper / Rain Fly Fowl Ups

I am using a Kelty Gunnison 4.2. When zipping the rain fly up or down... it likes to get caught up in the zipper. Is there a way to prevent this?

I usually grab the zipper in such a way that the folds of my tent/sleeping bag, etc. ride along the outside of my hand giving a clear run for the zipper. It doesn't work for everything but it's such an ingrained habit I hardly ever have an issue now.

It's suggested by some tent manufacturers that the inevitable dirt getting in the zipper teeth is a cause of problems. They recommend cleaning the zipper with a damp rag frequently.

In your case, it's a case of developing the technique of keeping loose fabric away from the zipper. Practice helps. So does patience!

I have two zippers that keep causing me problems. Unfortunately, one of them is my sleeping bag zipper. It always jams when I'm in a hurry to get out of bed!

Sounds like panic induced operator error.

Easily-snagged zippers are usually due to poor design. Because the design isn't going to change (unless you are really good at sewing!) the best available solution is what others have mentioned. You have to discover the best way to zip and unzip to prevent the fabric from snagging in the zipper and then train yourself to use that method every time.

Sometimes it is a matter of slowing down a bit and running a finger just ahead of the zipper to push the fabric aside as the zipper approaches. Good luck.

I have a North Face Cat's Meow sleeping bag that seems to have a locking system on the zipper designed to prevent it from being unzipped accidentally. Great feature for keeping you from getting cold, yet it seems to be the biggest annoyance ever when trying to use the bag normally. It's an odd multi-piece design that wants to be slightly closed (as if zipping up the bag) before it will release and let you unzip it. Great theory that is horrible in practice.

On the other hand, my Western Mountaineering bag (Alpinlite) has built in rigid area's on either side of the zipper that prevent any of the fabric from falling into it and getting caught, yet they easily overlay when zipped to prevent cold spaces. It also uses a regular (non-locking) zipper that works very well. That one's an awesome design!

Of course, that's just one difference between the $150 bag and the $555 bag...

I do pretty much the same thing. The zipper pull is gripped between my thumb and pointer finger, but my other fingers precede the zipper slightly and push the fabric out of the way.