Boot zippers

[Pdm25150]

Hello everyone,  I need to put approximately 8 inch heavy duty zipper in a pair of 11 inch pull on boots. They are Thorogood leather boots.

I have drop foot and other nerve damage so my ankle is like a universal joint and no strength/movement.  So I'm thinking YKK but need help with which one to get. Looking at web sites and so many YKk zippers I'm lost.

Need some help for a pair of heavy duty 8 inch zippers I can sew by hand hopefully.  My machine won't do it. If I can't do by hand then guess I will send to someone. I know someone here has done this any help or suggestions is appreciated. 

[Dwight]

On all my work shoes / boots . . . I have laces just like "normal" guys wear.

But I put those lace up zippers in them . . . and they can be made as tight or loose as you want them.

Pull the boot on . . . pull the zipper up . . . you're good to go .

Bought em off ebay . . . search for "lace in boot zipper"

May God bless,

Dwight

 

[Mulesaw]

@Pdm25150 I would go for the YKK Vislon type zipper.

I replace a lot of zippers on riding boots, and the Vislon zippers can take a bit more of a beating than most spiral zippers can. 

I would probably aim for something like a 5/16" (8mm) or  a 3/8" (10 mm) wide zipper.

The easiest way to sew in a zipper in a pair of boots (from my experience) is to:
-Make sure the zipper has got an appropriate length, it should go from the top to maybe 3/8" below the lower heel flap/reinforcement
-Use some double sided tape to hold it in place while doing the sewing. 
-Start by sewing one side of the zipper, starting at the top of the boot and work your way down towards the heel. 
-Next sew the other side of the zipper from the heel going up. But make sure to test early on that the upper end of the zipper will end at the same height on the boot as the other. (To avid that you by accident shift one side of the zipper a bit farther down in the heel portion, something that can happen in soft flexible riding boots).
-Most riding boots have a small strap at the top with a click button, this strap serves to hold the "handle" of the zipper up, so that the zipper can't open by accident. You can always ad that on you boot at a later time if you experience that the zipper opens by itself a lot.

Brgds Jonas

 

[TomE]

@Mulesaw  Thanks for the tip, Jonas.  I used a brass YKK zipper for riding boots but it didn't close smoothly until the sharp edges had worn off the teeth.  Meanwhile, I coated the teeth with pencil lead to lubricate them.  The Vislon zipper sounds like a better deal.  Do you install a metal stop at the bottom of the zipper after trimming to length?  

[Northmount]

3 hours ago, TomE said:

Do you install a metal stop at the bottom of the zipper after trimming to length?  

If you stitch across the bottom, the slider isn't going past that point.

 

[Mulesaw]

15 hours ago, TomE said:

@Mulesaw  Thanks for the tip, Jonas.  I used a brass YKK zipper for riding boots but it didn't close smoothly until the sharp edges had worn off the teeth.  Meanwhile, I coated the teeth with pencil lead to lubricate them.  The Vislon zipper sounds like a better deal.  Do you install a metal stop at the bottom of the zipper after trimming to length?  

Hi Tom

Normally I use the spiral zippers, because that is what most boots are supplied with from the start.
If the zippers are on the inside instead of on the back, and they don't have a cover flap, then I'll install the Vislon type. The spiral type have some thread weaving to hold the individual teeth in place, adn the boot constantly moving around on the skirt of the saddle will cause those to wear though in a month or so with very active riding (10 horses pr day or so). But the Vislon while not quite as elegant can hol up to a snowmobile suit for a kid. So that is sturdy.

I can try to make an instructional post when I get back home showing the process. 
Normally I mark the correct length of the zipper based on the old one. Then I install a metal stop at the bottom. Cut the zipper to the correct length after installing the stop. I then melt the teeth just below/under the metal stop using a heated piece of metal (a nail usually). And then I install it.

Brgds Jonas

[Pdm25150]

Thanks everyone you are a big help! Love my boots but just can't wear pull on anymore.  Nerve damage is a B*^$h.

[Mulesaw]

@Pdm25150 Just a tip: Normally the zipper stops right above the heel cap on the boots.

On riding boots the heel cap is usually around 3/4" high.  It still makes sure that the zippers doesn't take all the load from the foot that is trying to split the boot open. Also you might need to put some sort of cover flap on the inside of the boot, so the end of the zipper won't gnaw into you heel. These things are normally done already on boots with zippers, but since you are going to install one from scratch, it might be worth planning it beforehand so you don't end up doing the work twice.

An idea could be to look at some similar styled boots with a zipper, and then use that as an inspiration.

Brgds Jonas

[cord1974]

On 10/23/2024 at 9:49 AM, Pdm25150 said:

Love my boots but just can't wear pull on anymore. 

I'm in a similar situation. My left ankle is fused due to nerve damage.

I have my cobbler put zippers in all my left boots.

Brass teeth YKK is what he uses. Not sure of the actual name of the product line. 

[Pdm25150]

On 11/10/2024 at 3:06 PM, cord1974 said:

I'm in a similar situation. My left ankle is fused due to nerve damage.

I have my cobbler put zippers in all my left boots.

Brass teeth YKK is what he uses. Not sure of the actual name of the product line. 

Yes it can be miserable, my foot just bobbles around like a bobble head trying to get boot on. Going with YKK antique brass I think.  Well as soon as I can find the length I want. Thanks again. 

[DieselTech]

1 minute ago, Pdm25150 said:

Yes it can be miserable, my foot just bobbles around like a bobble head trying to get boot on. Going with YKK antique brass I think.  Well as soon as I can find the length I want. Thanks again. 

You can buy YKK zipper by the foot or meter from SailRite I believe they keep most finishes too. Plus they got zipper stops & all the related zipper hardware.