OK brands, pay attention. This is the zipper you need on your next generation of cycling jackets. It’s called MagZip and it works with one hand.
I’ve fumbled with cycling vest and jackets with one hand (in vain) while riding too many times to count, and I have an almost 100% failure rate. I’ve either ended pulling off to zip up a jacket or tried doing it with both hands off the bar, which is somehow much harder than it should be considering I can ride no handed just fine when I’m not trying to do anything with my hands. I’m sure I’m not alone.
The MagZip could solve all of that. It uses tiny neodymium magnets to pull the base of the zipper together and position it in perfect, closed alignment. Then, it can simply be pulled up with one hand. Brilliant, but it took quite few years to develop. Video and more below…
The MagZip will be featured in Under Armor’s Fall 2014 line up, and they’re the first company to jump on the innovation. We’re hoping more than one cycling apparel brand adopts the technology, too. And soon.
The MagZip was created by Scott Peters when he saw his uncle struggling with a zipper. His uncle suffered from a degenerative illness that affected hand strength and dexterity. After five years of prototyping and testing 27 iterations, the final version was created. The trick was the hook and catch shape of the base that allowed it to hold together and align itself for proper zipping.
Via FastCoDesign