Gear Aid Tenacious Tape Repair Tape

Tenacious Tape is a strong weatherproof repair tape for tents, down jackets, ski pants and dry bags. It goes on cold, holds through washing, and is the thing that turns a torn jacket back into a jacket without a sewing kit.

What it fixes

Tears and rips in whatever you are standing in when they happen. Tents, ski pants, puffy jackets, hammocks, tarps, awnings, sleeping bags and packs - the ultra-aggressive adhesive bonds permanently to nylon, vinyl, rubber and plastic, which covers essentially every technical fabric you own.

The reason this is the one repair item worth carrying is that a small tear does not stay small. Down migrates out of a two-centimetre hole overnight and a tent tear runs with the wind. Fixing it the moment it happens costs you almost nothing in pack space.

Comes as a clear strip or roll, plus nylon versions in black, yellow, red and sage green - so a repair on a coloured jacket is close to invisible rather than announcing itself.

How to use it

Peel the backing, press it down firmly. No sewing skills, no heat, no glue to wait on. Round the corners of the patch with scissors before you apply it if you can - square corners are where a patch starts to lift.

Then leave it. After 24 hours the repair is machine washable, sealed with a waterproof coating that will not peel off in a wash or a storm. The strip is 7.6 x 50 cm (3 x 20 in), which is a lot of individual repairs from one pack.

Shelf life and storage

Keep it flat and out of the heat with the backing on. The repair kit in the bottom of your pack is a better home than the glovebox.