34 » Backcountry March + April 2011 » Washington Trails How to Do It » Fix It First A little elbow grease—and duct tape—will go a long way, and you can always call the professionals when the damage is serious

As an avid hiker and climber, I tear through can also fix any Gore-Tex garments, backpacks, gear and garments at steady clip. I’ve found and any type of sleeping bag or insulated that the most cost effective way to keep me in jacket. If you’re terrified of throwing out your useful clothing and reliable gear is to mend my twenty-year-old boots or embarrassed to be damaged items rather than replacing them. seen breaking in new ones, one longtime local favorite boot repair place is Dave Page Cob- My go-to quick-fix solution is …duct tape! bler in Seattle’s Fremont neighborhood. In Port- No big surprise there, and yet I keep finding land, try Mountain Soles for boot repair. And new ways to use duct tape on my gear. Gaiters if you are looking to get your rock climbing sliced with a cram- shoes resoled, I recommend Cascade Cobblers pon? A rip in the in Winthrop. You can mail them your thrashed bottom of Gore-Tex shoes and they will send back grippy, beauti- pants after a glis- fully resoled shoes for a good price. sade? A tent pole stay meltdown? All And if the problem isn’t damaged gear, but this and more can no gear at all—try making it yourself! easily and quickly be mended with this If your skills go beyond duct tape and Seam silver wonder tape— Grip, stop by Seattle Fabrics. Their product se- which even comes lection is ample, and their staff is quite helpful. in a variety of colors Just be sure to do your research ahead of time these days. You do so you understand the differences between have to be careful, , waterproof, and waterproof breath- however. I advise able fabric and know what type of fabric you against duct taping need for your creation. Arriving at the fabric any material that store with this knowledge will reduce the resembles ripstop amount of time you spend in the store scratch- Duct tape is a fabric. Once adhered to this type of fabric, duct ing your head. Try something simple for your great first line of tape compromises the integrity of the material first project, such as overmitts. Master that defense for busted and makes it more difficult to actually repair. and you can move on to gaiters or a sack. gear. Photo by Jim Sew ripstop fabric tears or get them profession- It is easiest to start with pre-made patterns, Brewer. ally mended. either by scaling patterns you find online or by purchasing them. But if you are the ambitious For a more solid fix on your malleable gear, type, you can also design your own patterns. try Seam Grip. This product can fix everything Creating your own gear will cost you more from your boot rind to a cracked Nalgene. I’ve time initially, but it may prove to be a fun seen it in action, and it is truly legit. Another endeavor and can be economical once you’ve gear repair must-have is McNett Gore-Tex mastered your do-it-yourself projects. Fabric Repair Kit. It’s easy to use, comes with rectangular and circular patches, and can be Pacific Northwest weather and conditions used to mend any Gore-Tex fabric. can be rough on your clothing and gear. Completely replacing your gear can really add Of course, duct tape can’t fix everything and up if you head straight to the gear shops. Try Cheri if sewing was the worst grade you received making simple pieces on your own, and, for in high school (totally me!), you may want damaged gear, duct it, mend it, or get it profes- Higman to out a local repair shop. Rainy Pass sionally fixed. If all else fails, then replace it. I Repair, found in Seattle’s Wallingford neighbor- look upon my gear’s battle scars, war wounds Cheri reviews gear hood, can be a bit expensive, but their work and glue resin with pride and honor. That gear for Washington is incredible. I brought them a torn-to-shreds has seen it all, and it deserves another couple single-wall Black Diamond tent, and they made of seasons, another handful of summits and a Trails. it work like new for a reasonable amount. They few more miles on the trail.w