Is there a point where patching a backpack stops making sense?

My buddy swears by patching his old Jansport with duct tape and says it's good for another 5 years, but after my third patch on a strap the whole thing ripped at a bus stop in Portland. Anyone else hit a limit on repairs where you just gotta call it quits?

3 comments

3 Comments

jakeperry29d ago

Is it worth patching a bag if the fabric around the patch is already worn thin? I've found that once the base material starts fraying, no amount of patches will hold long term. Better to start fresh before you're stuck picking up your stuff off the sidewalk.

oscarmurphy29d ago

Hit it with some fray check or even clear nail polish around the edges first, let it dry, then slap the patch on. I've saved a few bags that way, buys you another few months easy if the holes aren't huge yet.

skylerm557d ago

Oh man, my friend Dave tried to keep his old North Face alive way past its time. He patched a hole near the bottom with some heavy duty fabric tape, looked fine for like a week. Then he was walking through the rain downtown and the tape just peeled right off, all his notebooks got soaked. He ended up having to duct tape a plastic grocery bag around the whole bottom just to get home. He finally just gave up and got a new one.