My cheap backpack zipper blew out on a train in Berlin

It happened two days ago on the S-Bahn, right as I was getting off. The main compartment just split open and my stuff went everywhere on the platform, it was so embarrassing lol. I had to buy a roll of duct tape from a kiosk for 5 euros and basically tape the whole thing shut. Has anyone else had a backpack fail mid-trip and found a better way to fix it fast?

3 comments

3 Comments

rose_bailey1mo ago

Honestly, how did you even carry it after the tape job? Tbh, duct tape is a solid quick fix but it gets so sticky and gross after a day. I had a strap snap once and used a carabiner and some zip ties from a hardware store to rig it, which worked way better for actually carrying it. The zip ties let me keep the bag closed tight without the mess.

drew_nguyen29d ago

Zip ties are a total game changer for bag repairs! The tape residue drives me nuts and ruins the fabric. Carabiners add some solid strength to a busted strap too. My old backpack lasted months with that combo. Hardware store fixes beat any quick tape job hands down.

webb.evan25d ago

That "hardware store fixes" line is spot on. It feels like we're all slowly turning into amateur handymen because so many things are built to fail now. You end up with a house full of jury-rigged solutions that outlast the original product.