Gear Repair For Grown Ups

By: Dan Hansen, Gear Destroyer Extraordinaire

Like merit badges on a scout’s uniform, duct tape patches have graced down jackets since the beginning of time. Yes, the true worth of any mountain town dirtbag is often expressed through creative duct tape repairs. And with new possibilities with colored and patterned duct tape, it’s a whole new world.

That’s all fine and dandy for ski bums and those who wear the dirtbag badge loud and proud, but what about those of us who have grown past the lift years (a.k.a. the post-college “gap year”)? Lucky for us, there’s a new solution on the market perfect for patching up those down layers so you don’t leave a trail of feathers wherever you go.

Noso Patches have transformed at-home gear repair for the masses. Think of them as patches with personality. Available in half a dozen colors and a variety of shapes, chances are pretty good they’ll have something you’ll be happy slapping on your favorite puffy. It couldn’t be easier: peel the backing, place over hole in jacket/sleeping bag/tent/whatever, and throw it in the dryer for a few minutes to fully activate the glue.

Note: medical cross patches do not come with a WFR Certification.

​These patches came in handy recently after a sleeping bag zipper cut a gash in the middle of my brand new Rumpl blanket. The Rumpl is arguably the most expensive blanket I’ve ever owned (thank mom and dad) and I didn’t want to admit defeat by throwing a spot of duct tape right in the middle of it. So I grabbed a Noso Patch and applied it to the tear. Bam! Like new again. And it even added a little spot of color onto an otherwise monotone blanket.

Long story short, if you need to patch your puffy jacket, sleeping bag, tent or whatever, Noso Patches are a perfect solution. No, they aren’t as cost effective as a strip of duct tape but they are way more durable and they look pretty damn pro. So for those of you who, like me, want your gear to function well AND look nice, take a look at these patches. Your gear will thank you.