There are several pet peeves backpackers hate. Two of them are the fact that carrying water in a 1-liter aluminum or plastic bottle will take up valuable space. The other is a broken zipper. While there are some fixes for these problems, we encountered new solutions when we met up with Michael Beverly at Ace Camp, during the 2014 Summer Outdoor Retailer show in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Beverly demonstrated how the Ace Camp silicone water bottles and cups, easily fold away to create additional space in your backpack when they’re not in use. The silicone water bottles are also flexible, allowing for easier packing and storage. While the benefits of a flexible, non BPA silicone bottle and cups are obvious, the company’s FixnZip® zipper repair system was quite ingenious.

The FixnZip® is a complete repair kit for any broken zipper that doesn’t require any sewing or tools. Three sizes area available that allow you to repair a broken zipper slider in the field. The patented technology works on nylon coils, as well as plastic or metal zipper teeth. For more information on these products, visit www.acecamp.com and www.fixnzip.com.