"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." So next time your zipper acts up, don't panic, and don't automatically assume you need to toss your item.

"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." So next time your zipper acts up, don’t panic, and don’t automatically assume you need to toss your item.

We’ve all been there: you’re in the backcountry or on a long hike when you yank the zipper on your jacket and—bam!—it comes undone, gets stuck, or the whole thing rips off. You’re forced to ski or ...