Shoutout to the guy who fixed my tent zipper with a pencil

My rainfly zipper kept jamming on a trip in the Sierras last month. A stranger walked over, rubbed a pencil tip along the teeth, and it slid smooth after that. Why do brands sell expensive zipper lube when graphite from a #2 pencil works better?

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3 Comments

colescott3mo ago

Stopped me cold when I read this. I've been camping forty years and never once thought about using a pencil on a zipper. Always carried those little tubes of silicone lube and they'd gum up or melt in the heat. Can't believe how simple and obvious this is. Graphite is basically dry lubricant, right? Used it on locks all the time. Just never made the connection with tent zippers. Going to toss a couple pencils in my repair kit before my next trip.

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murray.robert3mo ago

Three Sierra trips and a pencil's all you need.

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charles_coleman3mo ago

Huh yeah no I get what you're saying but that's a pretty hot take. Pencil graphite is dry and it works for a bit but it doesn't last. I've tried it on a zipper on my old tent and it just wears off after a day or two of opening and closing. Then you're back to square one with a stuck zipper but now there's gray dust all over the place. I think the silicone lube is a pain but at least it hangs around for a whole trip. Pencil feels like a half fix to me.

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