Nothing ruins a good piece of gear like a nasty tear, be it from a sharp tree branch, rock, blade or just plain wear and tear. Even the most durable outdoor equipment, including the best waterproof hiking gear, is susceptible to damage. However, just because something becomes ripped doesn’t mean it needs to be tossed in the trash.
Fast fashion is on the rise, and the Environmental Protection Agency reported 11.3 million tons of textiles going to landfills in 2018. Investing in higher quality clothing that is made with sustainable materials is both good for the environment and for your pocketbook, as well-made clothing will last many more years than fast-fashion fixes. You can also seek out retailers like REI, which offer clothing and outdoor gear repair services.
By far, the most convenient way to repair your worn-out or damaged gear, however, is to do it yourself at home with a clothing or gear patch. That’s why I was so excited to try out NoSo Patches.
How I found NoSo Patches
NoSo Patches are lightweight, flexible, durable and waterproof patches that can be applied to clothing, sleeping bags, backpacks, tents and other outdoor gear that is torn or ripped. They come in a variety of shapes, colors, styles and prints — like this classic plaid style — and can be easily applied at home in just a few minutes.
Last year, one of my favorite puffy jackets began leaking feathers in several places. For months, I just dealt with it until finally, in a move of desperation, I slapped duct tape on the gashes. Now, I’m a huge fan of duct tape and use it far more frequently than I should, but I knew this was a short-term fix, so I began searching for clothing repair patches. A friend gave me a cheap patch she bought off Amazon, and it lasted several months before the edges started peeling off. That’s when I found NoSo.
NoSo is a female-owned company that makes affordable and adorable patches that can fix just about any outdoor gear you have, from down jackets and waterproof hiking pants to ultra-light backpacks and below-zero sleeping bags. According to NoSo (which also began repairing gear with duct tape — what can I say? Great minds think alike), its patches have helped save 3 million pieces of outdoor gear from landfills.
Custom patches are also available: NoSo supplies the fabric and you supply the logo. In fact, the brand has worked with loads of top outdoor brands like Big Agnes, REI, Arc’teryx and The North Face to create custom patches for them.
Why NoSo Patches are a score
As our society has shied away from sturdy, long-lasting clothes in favor of thin, cheap fabrics that are easily disposable, it’s become harder and harder to find places to repair clothing because those businesses are getting fewer and fewer customers. As such, any time you do find a place to repair your gear, it’s often fairly expensive. For instance, I once tried to repair the zipper on a $50 jacket and was told it would cost $20 — nearly half the price of just buying a new coat!
NoSo Patches are a score not only because they’re affordable but they’re extremely easy to apply and ultra rugged. They’re fully waterproof, meaning that you can wear them out in the rain and throw your patched gear into the washing machine without worrying they’ll fall off.
To apply the patches, there are three simple steps:
- Clean the area with isopropyl alcohol and remove loose threads.
- Peel away the back liner and press the patch onto the damaged area.
- Set the patch by applying heat from a home dryer, hair dryer or pure sunshine.
While bland and boring patches have their place — and NoSo makes its fair share of solid colors and simple heart, cross and reflective patches — what sets it apart from other companies is its wide variety of fun and creative designs. I opted for bowls of ramen noodle soup and bright-pink doughnuts, but they also make patches with smiley faces, tie-dyed swirls and even a sasquatch. Their website makes it easy to shop by category, should you be in the mood for cars, food, flags, animals or large patches.
The patches were extremely easy to apply. I just followed the directions and, a few minutes later, I had two bright and beautiful patches on the front and back of my jacket. After wearing the patched jacket out and about through cities and trails, I then laundered and dried the jacket in a traditional washing machine and dryer. The patches remained securely stuck to the fabric and didn’t begin peeling off or leaking feathers.
After trying them out, I’m such a big fan that I am now going to start carrying spare patches with me whenever I travel. On a 12-day hiking trip in Slovenia with Wilderness Travel, one of my oldie-but-goodie wool hiking shirts ripped on the second day. I was still able to wear the shirt, but it would have been nice to be able to immediately patch it instead of walking around with a hole in my underarm for another week. From now on, I’ll keep a few spare patches in my toiletries bag when I travel.
NoSo Patches are affordable, easy-to-use and they’re an effective way to repair gear instead of having to toss it in a landfill or take it to an expensive repair service. So, if you love your gear and you want to wear it as long as possible, NoSo Patches are here to save the day, and perhaps brighten yours up a bit with their fun designs while they’re at it.
