Skip to main content

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

Zipstitch is the Suture-Less Bandage Every Outdoorsman Needs

Image used with permission by copyright holder

What do you do when you’re 10 miles into a 20-mile backpacking trek through the backcountry when you trip over a root, fall, hit your knee on a rock, and wind up with an inch-long gash that bleeds profusely and is too big to close with a regular bandage or gauze wound-wrap? Do you try to patch it up as best you can and trek the 10 miles to civilization? Do you radio in an emergency to the local ranger station and wait for a team to extract you? Or do you suck it up, pull out your suture kit, and sew yourself up?

About that last one: We applaud you for your chutzpah and desire to handle things on your own, but please do not give yourself stitches while out in the wild. Chances are, you’re not a doctor, you don’t know how to close the wound properly. Even if you can close the wound and stem the bleeding, you’ll probably end up with an infection from doing some backwoods healthcare. Instead, turn to ZipStitch.

zipstitch
Image used with permission by copyright holder

ZipStitch is a latex-free, non-invasive, simple-to-use skin closure device. Think of it as surgical stitches only without the needle and thread. Instead, what you have are two pieces of sticky plastic that sit on either side of the laceration with a series of four cinch-lock plastic pins spanning the wound site. After cleaning the area, flushing out the wound, and stopping the bleeding, just apply the ZipStitch to the wound, pull the plastic cinch-lock pins tight until the sides of the wound come together, trim the edges, cover in gauze, and you’re good to go. It’s that easy. Don’t believe us? Check out this video:

Treating a wound with ZipStitch

Each ZipStitch can close a wound up to 1.5 inches long, but multiple ZipStitches placed together can treat a much larger laceration. Also included: a gauze pad to stop bleeding, an alcohol wipe to clean the area, and a bandage.

A single ZipStitch pack costs $30, which may seem expensive, but compared to a trip to the emergency, calling in a ranger rescue, or bleeding for 10 grueling miles, it’s a small price to pay.

You can get your own ZipStitch online. Buying in bulk results in discounts, so if you’re an avid backpacker, a pack of three will save you 5 percent.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Chase McPeak
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Chase McPeak is the former Lifestyle Editor. Chase regularly appeared on Beards, Booze, and Bacon: The Manual Podcast where…
Here’s everything you need to pack for a trip to Yellowstone National Park
From backpacks and boots to headlamps and hiking snacks, here are all the essentials you'll need.
best national parks rv camping yellowstone 2

Yellowstone National Park is one of the crown jewels of America’s National Parks system. It quite literally has it all: Majestic geysers, technicolor thermal hot springs, bison-filled forests and fields, craggy canyons, roaring waterfalls, and — you get the gist. Stretching nearly 3,500 square miles across northwest Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana, Yellowstone attracts millions of visitors and tourists looking to revel in the beauty of the country's most spectacular landscapes (just don't get too close to the wildlife).

Indeed, it's an absolute bucket-list-worthy destination for adventure-minded people who want to visit beautiful national parks this year. If the idea of its picturesque landscapes gets you excited, here’s a list of the essentials you'll want to pack to stay safe and comfortable, so you can enjoy everything the park has to offer.
What to pack for day trips in Yellowstone National Park
Whether you’re planning to visit Yellowstone in the spring, summer, fall, or winter, there’s a whole host of items you’ll need to pack to ensure your comfort and safety. Here's our expert packing list:
Daypack

Read more
Yellowstone National Park issues a new warning (and we can’t believe people need to be told this)
Yellowstone National Park faces a rise in human and animal contact, which has caused loss of life.
A breathtaking view of Yellowstone National Park at sunset.

Yellowstone National Park, renowned for its breathtaking natural beauty and abundant wildlife, has recently witnessed a series of distressing incidents involving people visiting Yellowstone. These actions have not only endangered people but also resulted in the tragic loss of wildlife. 

In light of these events, the park authorities are urgently calling upon visitors to understand the negative impact their actions can have on wildlife, even if those actions are well-intentioned. 

Read more
Packing for the weather: The hiking gear you need for different climates
Don't let ice or desert conditions ruin your hike. Here's what to pack to stay safe and comfortable
Weather with sun and clouds

If you have a good pair of hiking boots and woolen socks, you’re ready to hike — mostly. You know how cold or hot it might get in your region, how much rain you might expect, and how hard the sun is going to beat down on you.

These considerations are even more important when hiking in other regions. The weather in Florida is hot and humid, while the weather in New Mexico will by hot, dry, and maybe colder at night. Taking to the trails in the Pacific Northwest means staying warm and dry in the temperate rainforest, while hiking Wisconsin’s Ice Age trail means bundling up no matter what season you go.

Read more