Silence your Snugpak Responce pack

[lostplanet]

I've done this mod to quite a few items in the past and thought I would share it here.

Grab your un-modifed grab bag and give it a shake, you'll see what i mean :)

Basically this mod silences your 'responce pak' in this case, from noisy morris dancer like zip pulls that 'highlander' also seem to like using.

Tools and Kit you will need:
- Ideally a leatherman super tool (for pliers and large flat blade screwdriver)
Or
- pair of long nose pliers
- a Medium size Flat blade screwdriver

- 4 lengths of Green 550 paracord @ 200mm each (longer if you want a knot other than a overhand) with burned off end to stop fraying.
- 10 mins spare time.

First picture shows you the offending zipper and second shows what it will look like after we have done.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y252/lostplanet/000_0042-1.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y252/lostplanet/000_0043-1.jpg

So firstly remove the Paracord from the zipper. Then take the Flat blade screwdriver and gently push it under the zippers clasp. Be careful here as you dont want to bend it too much, Just enough to get the zip pull out.
Edit: As some have pointed out you could simply cut the zip pulls off with snips, this is ok if you are happy you will not need them again. Be aware of the other method for more expensive items you don't want to risk voiding or arguing the warranty on.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y252/lostplanet/000_0046.jpg

So you end up with this:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y252/lostplanet/000_0047.jpg

Next get one on the lengths of paracord you have prepared and thread it through the clasp.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y252/lostplanet/000_0049.jpg

Use the pliers to clamp the zipper clasp back down, take care not to snag the paracord, One good squeeze should do it.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y252/lostplanet/000_0048.jpg

Tie your chosen Knot and repeat on the other zips.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y252/lostplanet/000_0044.jpg

Give the zip pulls to next Dancing bell ringing man you see and he'll be well impressed ;)

There you go , Give the bag a shake and you'll see that it is far more civilised. I haven't managed to break a clasp yet but I would imagine that after 10 or so times it may weaken it and potentially ruin your zipper. Use your common with this in mind.

Enjoy

[Andy2112]

Nice pics mate and a good idea.:D :cool:

[Graham_S]

Alternatively, use the cutters of the leatherman to snip the loop of the zip pull. it cuts quite easily, then remove and add cord pullers.
That's what I did.

[Glen]

I haven't managed to break a clasp yet but I would imagine that after 10 or so times it may weaken it and potentially ruin your zipper.

Might be safer to cut through the end of the pull tag, remove that, then just thread the paracord through the clasp.

[deeps]

Diagonal cutting pliers should cut through the tag bit which is to be discarded anyway - saves risking the actual zipper bit.

[Mikey P]

As a slight alternative, if you don't want to save the metal zip pulls, just cut them through at the thinnest point with tin snips or strong wire clippers. Then bend the eye with pliers, remove and bin.

I recycled the paracord ties that were on the zips when it came out of the bag by retying (sp?) them on once I'd removed the metal zipper pulls; however, they're quite short and so fiddly to retie - if I had to do it again, I'd replace them altogether like lostplanet did.

OK - just re-read whole thread and Glen's beaten me to it. Sorry for being a biff!:rolleyes:

[andy_e]

I just clipped mine too, wasn't going to re-use them so chucked 'em.

[lostplanet]

yea the recycled cord was a bit short, I had a load of 550 off-cuts laying around this time, Reason I didn't cut the zip pulls was that if for some reason I needed to I could easily put them back on, this is a good point when doing the same thing to a more expensive item where you would be worried about voiding warranty maybe.

It doesn't damge the Clasp I have found, if you are gentle in your prying action. After all they did it once to get the zip pull in there.

[Tengu]

why not cover tags in heat shrink?

[John Fenna]

For the sake of neatness?

[korvin karbon]

why not cover tags in heat shrink?

I was thinking the exact same thing, but the cord idea has the advantage of making the zips easy to open with gloves on, or in the case of an emergency your teeth, ie frozen cold, fingers numbs and you need to open the bag.

[Tourist]

why not cover tags in heat shrink?

Quieter but, they still make a noise.

[ANDYRAF]

why not cover tags in heat shrink?
Or Gaffer tape, also leave the strings in so you can use them with gloves on.:thinkerg:

[NatG]

there isn't really even a nbeed tfor the pliers/screwdriver, the tags can be "twisted" out with the correct application of pressure, and then ther'es no need to close them again

[lostplanet]

Nice pics mate and a good idea.:D :cool:

Thanks, one of those things that gets picked up but isn't always obvious to everyone.