Advice for Noisy booties?

shiny

I ordered these white booties and I am hoping to make them keepers, but there's a hitch... the zippers make a LOT of clanking noise when I walk...

http://www.zappos.com/eric-michael-ireland-white

... otherwise they are super comfortable and uber cute!

Help! Surely there's a quick fix to reduce/eliminate the noise?

11 years ago

General

12 replies

Latest reply was from dashielle (Ann)

Inge

(website)

Moderator

They sure are uber cute!
Is it the entire zipper, J? Or just the little pull tab (if the latter, then I'd try replacing it with a different one). If it's the entire zipper, I'm not sure how to fix this. Hopefully someone else will.

11 years ago

shiny

Veteran

Inge, the pull tab clangs against the zipper. The zippers are fully functional - need to be able to zip them up and down to get my feet into the booties - so I don't think I can replace the pull tab. Also when I do leave them completely unzipped, that reduces the noise substantially because then the pull tab is hitting the sole, but I can't leave them that way to walk.

I think what I need to do is cover the zipper pulls with something - either just on one side where it won't show, or maybe a piece of plastic tubing? I guess maybe a cobbler could replace with rubber pulls.. hmmm...

11 years ago

Helena

Veteran

Could you get a little strip of padding to put on the back ... I am thinking of these strips I got from the shoe store; they are meant to pad the back of a shoe where it can dig into the heel ... they are sort of a sticky foam almost, that you could cut down to size. Or something similar?

11 years ago

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

Hmm, maybe coat them with something - even clear nail polish, like several coats to build up a little buffer.

11 years ago

milehighstyle (Linda)

Veteran

You could tape them down with double sided fashion tape, but you'd probably have to keep replacing it.

11 years ago

Dimity

Active Member

What about putting a tiny rubber band around it?

11 years ago

Marilyn

Veteran

I have a pair of booties that does that. It's not terribly annoying but every once in a while I'm like, "what the heck is that?".

What about those little self stick felt buttons you get at the hardware store. People use them on cupboard doors, etc. so they don't bang. They come in different sizes from tiny to large and are dirt cheap so could be replaced as needed.

http://www.bunnings.com.au/mad.....-_p3970260

11 years ago

Diana

Veteran

You could probably have the metal zipper pulls replaced by something like those cord pulls they use on gear jackets and stuff, but it would look more casual...

Felt backing is a good idea, as long as you can find it in a matching color... you can usually get sticky felt sheets at craft stores.

11 years ago

Marilyn

Veteran

I see no way to replace the pulls on those boots. To replace a pull you have to open up the item at the top of the zipper to expose the zipper ends. Pulls are threaded onto the zipper. Even on a bootie with just a regular side zip you would have to tear open the top of the bootie on both sides of the zipper.

I suppose you could cut off the current pulls with a hack saw then tie on something like leather cording found at a fabric store.

11 years ago

Gaylene

Veteran

Before going to the expense of replacing the pull tabs, I'd grab a bottle of an all-purpose household glue that dries clear, like Elmer's All-Purpose, and put some dots of glue on the underside of the pull tab. Once the dots dried, it might be just enough of a cushion to keep the two metal parts from clanking. And the glue dots would be invisible, plus be waterproof and sturdy enough to last for several wearings.

11 years ago

Marilyn

Veteran

Maybe something like this. They come in white and have a split ring to attach to the zipper. The original pull would have to be cut off.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Two-Re.....dd-On-Tabs

11 years ago

dashielle (Ann)

(website)

Veteran

One option for consideration http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....ipper-hack

11 years ago

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