DO IT YOURSELF: 4 EASY FIXES

The cheapest and quickest way to mend your gear is to do it at home. You don’t even need a sewing machine to…

PATCH UP A JACKET

Snagged your raincoat on some barbed wire? Caught your beloved down jacket on a thorn? It happens. Thankfully, rips and holes are easily mended. Here’s how. We’re repairing a waterproof shell, but the process is similar if you’re mending an insulated jacket. Your needle and thread can (and should) stay in the box – pierced and torn shell fabrics call for the use of adhesive tape and patches.

TIME: 10 mins

YOU WILL NEED:

• Scissors and cleaning cloth.

• Repair tape or patches. We’ve used the black Gore-Tex Fabric Patches made by Gear Aid (£9 from Cotswold Outdoor). For insulated jacket fabrics, we recommend stretchy Tenacious Tape (£9). Gear Aid also make seam grip (ideal for gluing down loose taped seams). We also rate the seethrough Repair Aid tape and patch packs from Storm (from £6, stormcare.co.uk).

2 Cut to size a patch or strip of tape that will amply cover the entire rip or hole. There needs to be at least 12mm between the edge of the patch and the tear. Round off any corners (this will help prevent the patch from snagging and peeling off). For this small puncture, we cut around a coin.

1 Start by cleaning the damaged area with a damp cloth, wiping away any dirt or grime, then leave it to dry. (If you’re repairing an insulated jacket, carefully pull any loose filling back into the baffle from the inside, or gently push it back inside using a pencil).

3 With the damaged area laid on a flat, firm surface, place your patch over it and smooth it down from the middle outwards, eliminating wrinkles and bubbles.

4 Leave the patch to adhere for about 24 hours. You can tumble dry it on a low heat or gently rub it with a warm, clean iron for 30 seconds for a stronger bond.