- The tear is shorter than your thumb
- Minimal fabric is missing
We all know that repairing things is really cool, but where does one start? With teamed up with Snowdonia Gear Repair to bring you a series of quick repairs you can do yourself. Keep reading for a step by step guide to taping a tear in a jacket.
Choose your tape. Most insulated jackets take nylon tape, like Gear Aid Tenacious Tape. For waterproof layers, use a clear PVC tape for maximum waterproofing like Gear Aid PVC Tape.
Cut or select a patch. Make sure it’s big enough to cover the tear with at least a centimetre extra on each side. Round the corners.
Prep your fabric. Push any feathers back in with tweezers, or grab them from the other side of the fabric and pull them back in. Clean the area around the tear using gentle soap or wash it with a tech wash appropriate to the garment type (waterproof, down etc.).
Lay the fabric flat and get the tear sitting flat.
Peel the paper off the back and stick on your patch. Correct wrinkles by unpeeling from fabric and re-applying, then smooth the patch, working from the centre outwards.
Apply heat to set the adhesive. With a piece of wax or parchment paper between the heat source and fabric, start on a low setting so as not to burn the fabric. Check your work every 5 seconds or so. A silver shimmer at the edges of the patch indicates that the adhesive is warm enough. Stop as soon as you see it. If your heat is too low, continue to incrementally turn up the heat until you see the shimmer.
Let the patch set until cool.
Pat yourself of the back. You’ve just fixed your jacket!
Veronica Lowe • April 11, 2025
Veronica Lowe • April 10, 2025
Veronica Lowe • April 10, 2025