1. Will the ZÜCA SPORT fit in the overhead compartment?
  2. Will the ZÜCA PRO fit in the overhead compartment?
  3. What stuff can I carry on and what's the scoop on liquids? TSA says 3oz and most airlines say 3.4oz? What about my 8 pound Tyrannosaurus tooth?
  4. When will my ZÜCA ship and how soon will I get it?
  5. How can I track my shipment - do I have to establish a user account when I order?
  6. OK, I give up. How do I install the insert bag in the ZÜCA Sport frame?
  7. One of my zippers split open, what can I do?
  8. How can I clean the bag?
  9. Are the bags water repellent?
  10. How do I clean the frame?
  11. How long will my wheels flash before I have to change the batteries?
  12. I don't want my wheels to flash, what can I do?
  13. One of my wheels quit flashing, what can I do?
  14. Will I void my warranty if I take my ZÜCA apart and customize it?
  15. My handle is bent. Is that covered under the warranty?
  16. My handle does not easily release and go up and down when I push the button on the top. What should I do?
  17. How do I get that fastener that looks like a plastic wire tie off the plastic shipping bag inside the box. I wanted to put a birthday gift inside the ZÜCA and had to cut the plastic shipping bag open!
  18. I want to tell you about a design idea I have but how do I describe the colors?


  1. Will the ZÜCA SPORT fit in the overhead compartment?

    NO, The ZÜCA Sport was not designed as a carry on bag. It may fit in some airline overheads but please check with your airline for overhead dimensions. If you are looking for a ZÜCA you can carry-on check out our ZÜCA PRO (see next FAQ below). We also sell a travel cover to protect your ZÜCA in the event you check your bag.
  2. Will the ZÜCA PRO fit in the overhead compartment?

    YES! The ZÜCA PRO is designed as a carry-on travel bag and conforms to the FAA standard of 45" total (45" L+W+H). While the Pro fits easily in the overhead compartments of the vast majority of commercial aircraft, there are exceptions among smaller commuter aircraft (meaning smaller than 737's, MD80'S and similar.) Please verify with the airline you are traveling with that the model aircraft being scheduled for your trip will meet the FAA Standard. Also verify that your airline has not imposed new restrictions in the last few months as many airlines are currently changing the carryon rules. The Pro is 10" x 19.5" x 13" so it is compliant with FAA restrictions.
  3. What stuff can I carry on and what's the scoop on liquids? TSA says 3oz and most airlines say 3.4oz? What about my 8 pound Tyrannosaurus tooth?

    Here is a short, simple easy to read description of what you can carry on. Your tooth sounds like a lethal weapon duh...
  4. When will my ZÜCA ship and how soon will I get it?

    Orders will ship from our CA warehouse within 48 hours of purchase unless priority shipping is selected. The map below, provided courtesy of UPS, shows the approximate time for UPS GROUND shipments. You may also select other UPS shipping options including 3 Day Select, 2nd Day Air, and Overnight Delivery. Delivery calculations count only weekdays, for example, a 2nd Day Air package shipped on Friday will arrive on Tuesday. We will ship your order according to your shipping method selection, however we do not guarantee the performance of any carrier.


    Copyright UPS
  5. How can I track my shipment - do I have to establish a user account when I order?

    Two ways: First, once your order ships, you will receive an email from us via UPS indicating that your order has shipped from our warehouse including the current tracking information. This is usually sent around 4:30PM Pacific time. Keep this email and return to it to get updated information.

    Second, if you established a user account when you entered your billing information, you may use the account name and password you specified to return to "Account Maintenance". There you have the option to update your billing information, add or edit ship-to addresses, and you can also check the status of any of your orders. Select the order you would like to track and if it has shipped, you will see a red tracking button which will take you to the UPS current tracking information. If it has not shipped, you might see a status code such as Freight Hold, or Backorder. If you need more help, contact us.
  6. OK, I give up. How do I install the insert bag in the ZÜCA Sport frame?

    Here is a really boring step by step description: First, take the bag and open the main front zipper. Then place the open bag over your head. Just kidding. Reach inside and form the bag into something the shape of the frame. Next, if your bag is supplied with a large Velcro strip or two on the top of the bag, remove the top half of it or them from the strip fastened to the bag but don't remove the wax paper from the tape backing on the Velcro yet. Turn the frame upside down and look under the seat between the telescoping handle and the round grip hole. There is a space there where you can place the velcro to hold up the top of the bag. Now remove the wax paper being careful to not allow it to stick back on itself. Place the Velcro strip on the underside of the seat next to the telescoping handle plastic housing. The other velcro strip if your bag has one, goes just in front of the grip handle in the middle of the seat. Now place the frame on it's back (handle down, and all four wheels on the floor) and place the bag in the frame through the front opening in the frame. Now unzip the "zipper tubes", huh? The zipper tubes are the two long zippers on either side of the main opening. When zipped, they form a "tube" of fabric that goes around the metal frame tube to hold the bag in place. Start the zipper on a straight piece of the front metal tubing since it is easier to do here than on the curved section. Be sure the zipper is mated completely before you start zipping. Run both zippers a short distance and then, slide the zipper tubes down into place on the metal tubes, and finish zipping. Now cover both ends with the protective Velcro straps. Next, from the main front opening, fold the floor panel down into place and form the bag into the frame including sticking the Velcro on the top of the bag to the new Velcro strip(s) you placed under the seat. You're almost done. Turn the frame over so that all four wheels are on top. Find the two Velcro straps that hold the bag to the back of the frame and fasten them around the square frame tubing (not the handle). You're done! Need more help, look at one of the units on the website or contact us.
  7. One of my zippers split open, what can I do?

    The zippers are self-repairing. Usually you can carefully force the zipper backwards and it will re-zip the unzipped portion behind the zipper head. It may take a couple of tries to get it working perfectly. Once repaired zip it shut once more and make sure it is fully aligned. If not, contact us and if it is covered under the warranty we will repair or replace it for you.
  8. How can I clean the bag?

    There are a couple of ways. If there is a new life form growing inside the bag from a discarded yogurt cup, I suggest starting with a garden hose from a safe distance. When you can get up close and personal, you can hand scrub the interior and exterior with a sponge and a mild detergent solution. We have also tested the bags in the washing machine, and discovered that each Velcro tab needs to be fully attached to its mate before washing, and even then we don't recommend washing it with anything you value in case one of the Velcro tabs should come undone. If you decide to use your washing machine, set it to a short, gentle cycle with cold water, and then hang the bag to dry.
  9. Are the bags water repellent?

    Most newer ZÜCA bags have both water repellant exterior and water resistant interior coatings. When we got big enough to start making our own fabrics, we were able to put good stuff on the inside and the outside to help keep water out. Repellant means that the surface has been treated to make water and other gook bead on the surface and not soak in. You should know however that every time you use soap or detergent on a fabric treated with a water repellent coating you run the risk of losing some repellency. Sunlight is also hard on the repellent material (our newest bags now have repellent that is very resistant to soap, most household solvents, and sunlight.) Water resistant means that even if the fabric soaks up water, it will resist passing the water through the fabric. This is the result of the coating we put on the inside of the fabric and washing has little effect on that coating. The coatings we use are not perfect since perfection in water repellence and resistance comes with a tidy price, (think really good ski jacket) but in most cases the coating we use will keep your stuff dry until you have the good sense to come in out of the rain (or quit playing in the sprinklers.)
  10. How do I clean the frame?

    You can scrub it gently with a sponge and soap or a mild detergent solution. We use two different frame finishes. The Sport finish is called "Powder Coat", which is Colophony, a resin obtained from pine trees and other plants. It is applied to the metal as a dry, extremely fine powder using static electricity to attract it to the metal, and then baked on to produce a finish more durable than paint. Abrasive cleansers, steel wool or SOS pads can change the look of the finish by polishing it but may be the only way to remove some marks. The finish is non-toxic. The finish on the Pro is Anodized Aluminum. Anodizing uses an electric current to etch tiny cavities in the metal which are then filled with a dye. The surface is then sealed providing a hard and colorful surface that is resistant to corrosion, stains, and more resistant to scratch's than the bare metal.
  11. How long will my wheels flash before I have to change the batteries?

    The good news is, there are no batteries. The wheels generate their own electricity as they turn and should last a long time.
  12. I don't want my wheels to flash, what can I do?

    You will need a small adjustable wrench and depending on the age of your ZÜCA you may need a 5mm Allen wrench to pull the wheel off. The LED's in the wheels are powered by a small electrical generator (magneto for you engineers) in the hub. There are two ways to disable the flashing system. One way is to swap the upper non flashing wheels for the lower by simply removing the wheel nuts and changing one for the other.

    The other solution is to remove the flashing wheel, remove the bearings by carefully prying them out with the axle bolt back and forth a little at a time, and then push the magnetic armature out of the wheel. (Don't do this while standing in water!)(JK) Replace the bearings and put the now non-flashing wheels back on your now non-flashing ZÜCA. You might want to save the armatures in case you miss the safety and fun of the flashing wheels someday.

    If you have trouble with this procedure please contact us or ask your nearest skateboarder for help.
  13. One of my wheels quit flashing, what can I do?

    There are at least two possibilities. First, you could have a maladjusted wheel nut or axle (no offense intended). Try tightening the axle bolt a bit using a 5mm Allen wrench (for later model ZÜCA Sport models) and small end wrench or adjustable wrench to hold the inside nut. For earlier models you just need a couple of wrenches. Turn the bolt with the Allen wrench or end wrench a little at a time until the wheel lights up when you spin it. (Be careful, if you tighten it too much, you can squish the plastic armature too much which can fracture the magnetic strip around the armature. Once the magnet is broken, you will need to replace the armature or the entire wheel if we are out of extra armatures.) At this point, there may be some resistance when you spin the wheel so you will need to loosen the bolt gradually while checking the lights. The best setting is when the lights flash, but little resistance is felt when spinning the wheel and there is no side play when you try to wobble the wheel. See TMI below.

    Another possibility is that you have left your ZÜCA sitting in deep muck or water for a while. If so, the magneto may be wet (or mucky). Remove the wheel and then from the wheel hub remove the bearings and plastic magneto armature, see above item 9. Clean and dry everything and reassemble following the above adjustment procedure. If after all that your wheels still don't work, or if the above procedure seems daunting, contact us. If it is covered by the warranty, we will take care of the problem.

    TOO MUCH INFORMATION: The wheel lights up because there is a magnetic core between the bearings that must stay still while the wheel spins. The wheel has windings inside like an electric motor. These windings generate electricity as they move over the magnetic core or armature. So if the bearings are not seated all the way into the wheel, or if the wheel bolt is too loose, then the core is not held still by the inner race of the bearing, sadly not producing the electricity that lights the LED's embedded in the clear Polyurethane.
  14. Will I void my warranty if I take my ZÜCA apart and customize it?

    Yes and No. We encourage you to have fun with your ZÜCA and you should feel free to customize it. If you do take it apart and later return it for warranty repair, it is possible that we will not resolve the problem under the warranty if, in our judgment, your workmanship or modifications somehow led to the problem, or if your customization is really ugly.

    Also, if we replace a part, we are not responsible for replacing your cool or not so cool modifications that might have been attached, but if possible we will, at your request, send any such modified parts back to you, ugly or not.
  15. My handle is bent. Is that covered under the warranty?

    Probably not! The handles rarely bend, and when they do it is typically due to some major outside force right? If you feel that you have a handle that somehow bent due to an unknown force (include a photo of the unknown force) or a defect in the material or workmanship, please go to our Service and Care page to request a return number. We will examine the problem and if it is a defect, we will replace the handle free of charge and ship it back to you. If the handle has tire tracks from a Hummer on it, we will give you a repair estimate. (A picture of this event may also be a candidate for The HAPPY (or not so happy) FACES of ZÜCA)
  16. My handle does not easily release and go up and down when I push the button on the top. What should I do?

    This sounds like it would probably be covered by our warranty provided the handle is not bent, or straightened after being bent (see item 15 above). The first step is to determine which generation handle you have. We currently have three, and you can identify them as follows:

    Generation 1 - has rectangular telescoping tubes with ridges, and a black button on top.

    Generation 2 - Also has a black button, but has smooth, more rounded telescoping tubes.

    Generation 3 - is the only handle with a red button with a ZÜCA logo.

    So, assuming you are not talking about a bent, straightened, or squished handle, and if it is still under warranty, please go to our Service and Care page to request a return number or call our contact us department to discuss replacement.
  17. How do I get that fastener that looks like a plastic wire tie off the plastic shipping bag inside the box. I wanted to put a birthday gift inside the ZÜCA and had to cut the plastic shipping bag open!

    YIKES! STOP - DON'T CUT THAT NICE FASTENER OR BAG! The little fastener that looks like a wire tie is, like most of our packaging, designed to be reusable. If you squeeze the little tab, you can push the end of the tie back through the head and presto, the bag is open and you can close it neatly afterwards with the same plastic tie. Later you can save it and use it to re close potato chip bags, as a napkin ring at your next dinner party, or hang something on your ZÜCA. Have lots of fun finding new uses for it.
  18. I want to tell you about a design idea I have but how do I describe the colors?

    Check out www.zuca.com/Pantone_Colors.htm and enjoy! We look forward to receiving your ideas, but if you send it to us, please understand that unless you have a patent, you will legally lose ownership of it. That sounds kind of ugly, but consider the fact that we may already have your idea in our design book. If that is the case, and if you send us your design, we would not be able to freely use our own idea even if we thought of it first. The patent office was established to solve this exact problem. Go to www.uspto.gov and you can file a provisional patent yourself. No attorney required at least for the first year of protection.