How to Use MagZip®: Let the Magnets Do the Work

How to use MagZip: bring the two halves close, let go, and let the magnets pull them together. Then pull the slider up. Don't push the pin into the box the way you would on a regular zipper. Get it close, let it go, let it come together, then pull.

That last part is the hardest thing to learn. Most of us have started zippers the same way our whole lives. This post covers the habit to drop, the one snag new users hit, and how to start MagZip® with one hand.

Why the old habit gets in the way

A regular zipper asks you to line up a small pin and force it into the box at the bottom. After decades of doing that, your hands do it without thinking. So when people first try MagZip, they force it.

That's the opposite of what MagZip needs. Many people choose MagZip because their hands, grip, eyesight or fine motor control have changed, and forcing the pin into the box is harder than it used to be. MagZip removes that step. The magnets do the lining up. Your job is to stop helping. Think less about threading a needle and more about setting a magnet on a fridge door.

How to use MagZip, step by step

1. Clear the path. Make sure no fabric, lining or scarf is between the two halves at the bottom.
2. Get it close. Hold the slider side in one hand and bring the other half within an inch or two.
3. Let it go. Relax your grip and let the magnets pull the halves together. You'll feel them meet.
4. Then pull. Once the halves are seated, pull the slider up like any zipper.

To open it, unzip all the way and pull the halves apart.

What a "whiff" is, and how to fix it

When you're learning, you'll get a whiff now and then. A whiff is when the magnets pull the two halves together, but something catches and the slider doesn't seat into the first tooth. You pull, and nothing zips.

Common causes:

• The magnets met slightly out of line.
• A bit of fabric or lining got caught between the halves.
• The halves were pushed together instead of left to meet on their own.

The fix is simple. Pull the halves apart, check that nothing is in the way, bring them close again, and let go. Then start the zip. With practice, whiffs get rare.

How to start MagZip with one hand

Yes, you can start MagZip with one hand. It takes at least a couple of fingers and a little practice. Scott at ANKHGEAR® starts his MagZip with one hand every time he uses it.

1. Bring the two halves close and let the magnets connect.
2. Hold the slider with two fingers, usually your thumb and index finger.
3. Use a third finger to push against the base, the bottom end of the other half, so it stays put.
4. Pull the slider up while that finger holds the base steady.

It may feel awkward the first few times. Keep at it. Once your fingers learn the motion, it's quick, and you can get there.

A simple practice plan

Like any new habit, a few minutes of practice at a time helps more than one long try.

1. First day: two hands, at a table. Lay the jacket flat. Start and open the zipper ten times. Focus on one thing: letting go before the magnets meet.
2. Next few days: two hands, wearing it. Start it each time you put the jacket on. Notice when you push, and stop.
3. Then: one hand. Try the one-handed method at the table first, then while wearing the jacket.

If someone helps you get dressed, have them practice too. The same rule applies to them: get it close and let go. A helper who forces it teaches the old habit right back.

Tips that make learning faster

• Practice with the jacket laid on a table or over a chair before you try it while wearing it.
• Slow down. Speed comes after the new habit sets.
• Trust the magnets. Get it close and let go, every time.
• Keep the base clear of loose lining and threads.
• If it doesn't start, don't push harder. Pull apart and try again.

Quick questions

Why won't my MagZip zip after the magnets connect?

That's a whiff. Something caught, or the halves met out of line. Pull apart, clear the path, and let the magnets meet again.

Do I need to press the halves together hard?

No. Pressing tends to cause whiffs. Get them close and let go.

Is it the same on a ZipperBuddy?

Yes. ZipperBuddy uses the same MagZip base, so the same steps apply. See the ZipperBuddy install guide for setup, or our FAQ for more.

Gear that gets out of your way. Don't have MagZip yet? ZipperBuddy adds it to a jacket you already own, no sewing. Or shop clothing with MagZip built in.