If It’s Broken, Fix It: Outdoor Brands That Repair Gear
How brand-run repair services can save the gear you love and reduce your environmental impact in the process
Updated:
May 13, 2026Table of contents
It’s an unfortunate fact: Folks who spend a lot of time outdoors tend to love their gear to death. From backpacks to tents, your go-to equipment is bound to wear down over time. Thankfully, many brands offer repair services to help keep your gear in fighting shape. These programs save you money and reduce your environmental impact by keeping your gear out of the landfill. Here’s a rundown of some of the best repair programs in the outdoor industry, and why we include them in our sustainability criteria.
Why Repair Rather Than Replace?
In a world where disposable products are the norm, why should you repair your gear rather than replace it? According to a report published by the United Nations Environmental Program, the textile industry is responsible for 2-8% of global greenhouse gas emissions and 9% of microfiber pollution in oceans (read about microplastic pollution here). It also uses 86 million Olympic-sized swimming pools of water annually. And consumption is rising: the average U.S. consumer bought nearly 70 garments per year in 2021, up from 40 in 1990.
In 2018, the EPA reported that the U.S. alone generates around 13 million tons of clothing and footwear waste each year—around 5% of municipal solid waste—while more than 100 million tons of textile waste are produced globally. At the same time, textile utilization—or the number of times a garment is worn—has decreased by almost 40% compared to 15 years ago. While repairing gear doesn’t reduce the emissions from manufacturing, extending its lifespan can significantly lower its overall impact—doubling a garment’s use can cut emissions by nearly 50%. Repairing gear keeps it in use longer while saving you the cost and hassle of replacing it.
What Types of Gear Can be Repaired?
Most minor gear failures are repairable—but not every brand will take your gear back for a fix. Here’s a rundown of the types of fixes that comprehensive repair programs can typically handle. We also include some gear care tips for each type of gear to help you keep the gear you love in commission longer.
Most apparel failures are relatively easy to fix and can be repaired by any repair service with a sewing machine. Running shirts, climbing pants, and the like don’t always need to be repaired by the brand that made the product, but some brands offer repairs for seam failures, rips, missing buttons, and more. Your local tailor can often handle button or zipper replacements, seam repairs, patching, and more (If the brand that made your gear will repair it, that’s awesome, but to reduce shipping emissions, we first recommend repairing your gear locally if possible).
Small holes in down jackets are easy to patch with a strip of Tenacious Tape or similar adhesives, but brand repair services can replace entire panels of fabric or sew a patch onto your jacket for more involved fixes like large tears. It’s essential to patch a tear in a down jacket before down starts spewing out—very few services put down back into your jacket. Zipper replacements are another common fix offered by most repair services. Pro tip: If you use a piece of Tenacious Tape to patch a jacket, cut rounded corners to avoid peeling over time. Keep in mind that washing your down jacket regularly is essential to keeping it warm and grime-free: many folks use Nikwax’s Down Wash Direct.
Outwear such as rain jackets, ski shells, and ski pants can be patched or re-waterproofed if you notice the elements soaking through. Comprehensive repair services typically offer waterproof patches, waterproof zipper replacements, and seam re-taping to restore weather protection. Regular washing is also key: using specialized detergents helps restore the durable water repellent (DWR) treatment (which wears out over time, leading to the oh-so-familiar “wetting out” feeling). Nikwax’s Tech Wash and Grangers Performance Wash and Clothing Repel are popular choices for cleaning your jacket and renewing your DWR. Keeping grime out can prolong the life of both the DWR and the garment, preventing the need to replace your gear.
Backpacks experience a lot of wear and tear; as a result, buckle and hardware replacements are among the most common repairs. Depending on the buckle’s design, you might be able to replace it on your own using a no-sew buckle, but in some cases, a buckle is sewn on and involves a more extensive fix. In this case, a brand’s repair service can typically remove and replace the buckle and webbing if needed. When rips occur, backpacks can often be patched or re-paneled depending on the construction. Backpack zippers can also be replaced. As with most gear, keeping your zippers clean is essential to ensure functionality and avoid replacement.
When it comes to tents, a lot can go wrong. Fortunately, fabric and mesh tears can often be patched or repaneled depending on their severity. Small holes in sil-nylon fabrics—which are becoming increasingly popular—and mesh can also be repaired at home using products like GearAid’s Silnylon Patches and Tenacious Tape Mesh Patches. Tent poles can fail in several ways, but most repair services can replace individual pole segments or shock cord instead of requiring a full replacement set. Other common fixes include replacing guylines, zippers, and buckles. To help extend your tent’s lifespan, wash it once a year—or more often after muddy trips—to maintain waterproofing and keep zippers functioning smoothly.
Popping a sleeping pad ranks high on most backpackers’ lists of worst fears. Fortunately, punctures are often easy to patch, either in the field or through a gear repair service. Nemo Equipment’s warranty and repair manager encourages customers to handle simple repairs at home, noting, “We send out quite a few pad repair kits that have the glue, patch, and everything needed to support the customer doing it on their own.” Another common issue is broken valves, a more involved repair that many comprehensive gear repair programs can handle. Pro tip: If you’re patching a pad in the field and can’t easily find the leak, inflate it in water so you can see air bubbles and identify leaks.
Sleeping bags are often made with thin, low-denier fabrics that can rip easily. Patching holes quickly with products like Tenacious Tape helps prevent insulation loss, as not all repair services can refill insulation (though some, like Rainy Pass Repair, can refill down). Over time, zipper replacements and larger patches are also common repairs. Regular washing—following manufacturer guidelines—helps prevent grime buildup, keeps zippers running smoothly, and restores loft as insulation compresses over time. Drying with tennis balls can help revive loft, and products like Nikwax’s Down Wash Direct are a safe option.
Case Study: Why Does Nemo Equipment Offer Repair?
We spoke with Andrew Baxley, warranty and repair manager at Nemo Equipment, to learn more about the company’s repair program. Baxley explained that Nemo can service at least some part of nearly every product it makes. Common repairs include sleeping pad punctures and valve issues, mesh and fabric tears in tents and sleeping bags, and furniture repairs. The company also supports at-home fixes by sending replacement parts like tent pole shock cord and pole segments. For a relatively small brand, Nemo’s repair program is extensive: In 2023 (the most recent available data), the company repaired more than 900 pieces of gear and distributed over 2,100 replacement parts (for a small company, that’s a lot). Some repairs were covered under warranty, while others were completed for a small fee. In 2024, Nemo reported that repair coverage was available in three-quarters of its markets, with plans to expand further.
While repair programs can reduce waste, water use, and emissions, they also require significant investment. “I'd say there are definitely cases where it does cost more to do the repair than it does to replace it,” Baxley told us. “And I'd say that there are times that it's the opposite.” Nemo does not currently track emissions or waste reductions tied specifically to repairs, but Theresa McKenney, the company’s director of sustainability, says the brand aims to avoid “carbon tunnel vision” in its sustainability efforts. Rather than replacing products prematurely, Nemo prioritizes extending their usable life whenever possible. “We're not just sending out a replacement for something that could be fixed with a little elbow grease,” she says. The program also gives customers confidence that their gear can be repaired when something breaks. Baxley adds that repair and repairability are among Nemo’s most important sustainability initiatives because they help keep gear in use and out of the landfill.
What Makes Gear Unrepairable?
Some gear just isn’t salvageable. Baxley has seen many repairs come through the doors at Nemo, and he explains that repairability comes down to whether a product’s structural integrity can be maintained. For example, tears crossing multiple tent seams are much harder to fix because additional stitching can compromise waterproofing and strength. Products with welded seams—where fabrics are bonded with heat, pressure, or adhesives instead of stitching—can also be difficult to repair. Welded construction is common in sleeping pads, rain jackets, and some backpacks. When ripped stitching is involved, though, “it’s almost a no-brainer that we can repair it.” Some common issues Nemo cannot repair include delaminated tent coatings and reinserting down insulation into sleeping bags. Still, it’s worth checking whether a damaged product can be repaired before sending it to the landfill.
Companies have different parameters for what they consider to be irreparable. Patagonia, for example, publishes a list of unrepairable items, including delaminated products, heavily worn fabrics, excessive tears, and multiple broken zippers. Arc’teryx takes a more case-by-case approach, declining repairs based on the item’s age, condition, or type of damage. When making a major purchase, it’s worth reviewing a brand’s repair policy to understand what types of damage are actually covered.
Brands With Standout Repair Services
Here’s a rundown of some of the best repair services in the outdoor industry. Remember that before sending a product in for repair, you need to fill out a request on the brand’s website and clean it before shipping—most companies won’t repair your gear if it’s too dirty.
Patagonia offers one of the most comprehensive repair programs in the outdoor industry, though customers should review its list of unrepairable items before submitting gear. In 2025, the company repaired nearly 175,000 products worldwide and operates the largest apparel repair center in the U.S., located in Reno, Nevada. Patagonia prioritizes functionality over appearance, so repaired garments may not perfectly match the original color. Customers pay a flat $15 round-trip shipping fee, while most repair work is covered by the company. Patagonia also sells repair kits and provides repair tutorials and resources. If all you need is a Tenacious Tape patch, the company will even send one for free through customer service.
Norrøna’s repair service offers a variety of fixes that we don’t commonly see, including replacing a backpack frame and changing the elastic in a hood. Norrøna will also fix broken zippers, holes, and seams on most of its products. Additionally, it can change buttons, patches, screws, shoulder straps, and elastic pieces on outerwear and backpacks. It lists a full repair menu and price list on its website, with repair costs ranging from $10 and $100, depending on complexity. Norrøna also uses spare parts and fabrics for most of its repairs to decrease waste. Finally, the brand will send replacement parts and patches for at-home repairs (request them here). These include Gore-Tex patches, zipper sliders, buckles, gaiter hooks, zipper pulls, cord, and buttons.
Osprey offers free, comprehensive repairs for all its products under its All Mighty Guarantee. Osprey will fix anything that can be repaired, from torn fabric to busted buckles, no matter how old the product is. The brand focuses on functional repairs, so replaced webbing or buckles may be of a different color than the originals. Osprey offers both replacement parts for at-home repairs and comprehensive in-house repair services for more extensive damage. If it can’t repair your product, it will replace it. f it can’t repair your product, it will replace it. You are responsible for the cost of shipping your gear to Osprey, and it covers shipping costs on the way back.
Arc’teryx launched its ReBird repair program in 2021 and now offers free in-store service for simple fixes, while more complex repairs can be mailed in for a fee. In 2024 (the most recent available data), the brand repaired over 28,000 garments, up from 25,000 in 2023, while continuing to expand its ability to handle more involved repairs. Additionally, the brand operates a dozen ReBird service centers worldwide, where customers can have gear washed, re-waterproofed, and repaired. Plus, Arc’teryx has also developed its own detergent and DWR aftercare treatment to help keep its products in play.
Fjallraven opened its first repair center in Ornskoldsvik in 1972, and its tradition of repairing gear has held strong since. In 2024 (the most recent available data), Fjallraven’s North American repair centers (located in Colorado and Canada) fixed over 4,000 products, up from 3,500 in 2023. The brand also performs simple repairs at its flagship locations, located in Boston, Boulder, Chicago, Denver, New York, and Seattle. Unlike most outdoor brands, Fjallraven will repair used products purchased through its Pre-Loved resale program or verified partners (like REI Garage Sale). It also provides replacement parts and publishes care and repair guides to help customers maintain gear at home.
Rab’s care and repair program stands out for both its scale and breadth. In 2024 (the most recent available data), the company serviced more than 13,500 products, including patching, zipper replacements, panel replacements, and seam repairs. Warranty-covered repairs are free, while non-warranty work is available for a fee. Rab also washed nearly 8,500 products in 2024 and publishes extensive care resources detailing topics ranging from “How to Pack and Store Your Sleeping Bag” to “What to Take in a Field Repair Kit.”
Warranty vs. Repair Services
Even for minor failures, many outdoor industry warranty programs replace broken gear rather than repair it. A warranty guarantees that your product will be replaced or repaired if it breaks under a covered condition within a specific timeframe—but most often, replacement is easier, so companies send you a new product. Warranty coverage also typically applies to manufacturing defects or quality issues—not the everyday wear and tear that outdoor gear experiences. A repair service, in contrast, will usually accept gear regardless of how it was damaged or when it was purchased. Thus, while some warranty programs offer repair services, a warranty does not necessarily constitute a repair service.
How Better Trail Defines Repair Services
When evaluating repair services, we look for comprehensive programs capable of handling both minor and major damage across most of a brand’s products. Repairs must be completed through a dedicated service facility, either in-house or through a legitimate repair partner, and the cost should be significantly lower than replacing the product, with repair serving as the first line of defense for damaged gear. While not required, we also appreciate brands that provide replacement parts and repair kits for do-it-yourself fixes.
For product categories that generally cannot be repaired—such as ski helmets—we do not include repair services in our sustainability criteria. Ultimately, repairability is a major part of the outdoor industry’s effort to reduce its environmental impact, helping keep well-loved gear in use and out of the landfill.
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