Q: Which zipper is used on footwear?
Footwear uses a size 5 or size 8 vislon zipper, usually on a boot shaft or a tall sneaker. The size 5 is enough for a fashion boot and the size 8 for a work or riding boot where the shaft is pulled tight. Vislon is preferred to coil because molded teeth resist the abrasion of a boot and do not deform when the shaft flexes. The zip must be set on a curved line that follows the ankle, with reinforced top and bottom stops.
- Size 5 vislon for fashion boots; size 8 for work boots.
- Curved installation following the ankle line.
- Reinforced stops and a covered top end.
The common pitfall is a straight zip on a curved shaft: the chain gaps at the ankle, the slider skips a tooth and the boot is unwearable. The second is corrosion, because sweat and road salt attack metal teeth and the spring in the slider. Specify vislon with a corrosion-resistant spring, and seal the top of the zip under a leather tab so grit cannot enter.