* This article originally appeared in the December 1996 issue of Rider magazine.

This is one of those great product ideas that's difficult to test completely, but that I know from experience with our sample and the maker is going to make a lot of people happy. the innovative Zip-r-strip seems like a simple enough goodie. Designed for all us fatties whose favorite leather or textile riding jacket has mysteriously shrunk over the years, The Strip is a two-inch wide, variable-length of thick leather with zippers on each side that zips into your jacket and expands its capacity, as though you had magically lost that spare Metzeler overnight. Neat, huh? Or maybe your jacket fits but you want more room for layers underneath in the winter.

Whatever. Thing is, riding jackets come with a lot of different zippers, storm flaps, waistbands, collars, etc., so the Zip-r-strip I had made may not represent yours, unless you also happen to own a Hondaline Nighthawk leather bomber jacket from the mid-80's. Judging from the workmanship on my Zip-r-strip, however--and a contributo who called and said he was extrememely pleased with the one Tom made for his armored Gore-Tex suit--I think this guy can make a good Zip-r-strip for just about any jacket. And who knows--he may even me able to fit you with one right off the shelf.

For $34.95 plus $5 shipping and handling, Tom the Tailor will send you a Zip-r-strip with male and female zipper parts that mesh with each side of your jacket's zipper and in a color and texture that closely match as well. If you need custom work to accomodate oddball colors, textures, and special zipper configurations, snaps or flaps, Tom can probably do it for a nominal additional charge. Finally, if you want a Zip-r-strip that's wider than two inches (one jacket size), it's just $10 for each additional two inches or fraction thereof. Believe it or not, he's made them up to 12 inches wide...

- Mark Tuttle Jr.