My carry-on zipper died at 5am in Chicago Midway, had to improvise fast

Flew out last Tuesday for a cheap weekend trip to see my cousin. Got to the gate, went to grab my charger from my backpack, and the main zipper just split right down the middle. Whole bag was about to explode my clothes everywhere. I had like 20 minutes before boarding. Ran to the newsstand, bought a roll of duct tape for $4, wrapped it around the bag like 3 times. Got it home okay but now I gotta figure out if I can fix the zipper or just buy a new bag. Anyone ever repaired a zipper on a cheap backpack or is it not worth the hassle? Also would love cheap bag recs that actually survive more than a year.

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1 Comment

milaprice22d ago

Duct tape is a temporary fix at best. That zipper is done, the teeth are likely bent or the slider is shot, and you'll be re-taping it every trip. Repairing a zipper on a cheap bag costs more in time and frustration than just buying a new one, so don't bother with the hassle. You got your money's worth out of that backpack. Cheap bags are meant to be disposable, and if you want one that lasts, you need to pay more than $30. That's just how it works. Everyone wants a miracle fix but nobody wants to hear that the real answer is spending $80 on a bag from a brand that actually backs their stuff. You'll end up doing the same tape trick on the next cheap one, so just accept the cycle or open your wallet.