Teenagers are stealing strangers’ Nike zippers. Blame Tiktok

Teenagers have found a new way to amuse themselves: Stealing people’s backpack zippers. Not just any zippers, specifically Nike Elite backpack zippers. Why? You’ll have to ask a teenage boy that one.

TikTokers are going viral on the platform for either showing their collection of removable zippers or mourning their now-zipperless backpacks. While it’s not clear exactly where the trend originated, TikToker @kyrieirvingishimm posted one of the earliest viral videos of the trend, showing off several Nike bag zippers that he allegedly stole, captioning the post “I’m from NYC. Do not leave your Nike Elite lacking around me.”

The trend has since spread like wildfire (as bizarre trends seem to do) with the help of social media, now racking up over 26 million related posts on TikTok. Thousands of videos are up under tags like #NikeElite and #zipper, with teens showing off their collections. What do participants do with these zippers? Attach them to their own backpacks or shoes to wear as a trophy and hope they don’t become a victim of their own game.

One video with 835,000 views, captioned “day four of snatching people’s Nike elite zippers,” shows a backpack with at least 15 zippers of all different colours hooked on. Last week, user @sammvovk put up a post showing a store display of the Nike Elite bags with every pocket opened to search for the coveted zippers. “Nah, y’all taking this trend way too seriously,” he wrote.

@sammvovk Nike elite bag #nike #nikeelite #zipper #dreds #fyp ♬ Karma – Dee Billz & Kyle Richh & 41

@sammvovk Nike elite bag #nike #nikeelite #zipper #dreds #fyp ♬ Karma – Dee Billz & Kyle Richh & 41

Nike elite bag #nike #nikeelite #zipper #dreds #fyp

With no Nike Elite backpack owner safe, people have taken to posting tutorials on TikTok to help others protect their zippers. One TikToker showed how looping the zipper tie around a few times makes it trickier to remove, giving the backpack owner time to realize and confront the thief red-handed.

@gio.porrett Replying to @aiden 🃏 my tutorial on how to braid nike elite bag zippers so they dong get stolen #CapCut #basketball #basketballtiktok #nikeelitebackpack #nike #zipper ♬ original sound – gio.porrett

@gio.porrett Replying to @aiden 🃏 my tutorial on how to braid nike elite bag zippers so they dong get stolen #CapCut #basketball #basketballtiktok #nikeelitebackpack #nike #zipper ♬ original sound – gio.porrett

Replying to @aiden 🃏 my tutorial on how to braid nike elite bag zippers so they dong get stolen #CapCut #basketball #basketballtiktok #nikeelitebackpack #nike #zipper

On a Reddit thread someone also suggested, “Put the tags on the front of your bag and if you leave your bag take them off and bring them with you that’s what I do to keep mine safe.”

However, for some the advice came too late. “Someone at my school took 2 of my water bottles and will only give them back if I give him 15 zippers,” wrote one zipperless Reddit user. Stay safe out there, friends.