Gluing holes and tears in outdoor gear

For gear that is not machine-washed — packs, tents, gaiters, hip belts — gluing is often the simplest repair. Spray adhesive or varmevinyl plus a fabric patch gives a solid, durable result on most textiles.

Two good methods

Spray adhesive (universal, permanent)

Best for large areas and rounded surfaces (packs, hip belts).

1. Clean the area — scrub well with a cloth to remove grease and dirt
2. For rounded gear: fill it up or place something inside so it stays firm while you glue
3. Cut a fabric patch to the size you want. For many small holes or a worn-thin area — use one large patch that covers the whole area
4. Spray adhesive on both the gear and the fabric patch
5. Wait 1–2 minutes — the adhesive needs a little oxygen to activate
6. Place the patch on and press firmly
7. Heat with an iron / wax iron for extra hold (not if the fabric is delicate)
8. Clamp between two books while the adhesive cures fully (1–2 hours)

Use universal spray adhesive (permanent), not the temporary spray adhesive from hobby shops — the latter is much weaker and meant for other purposes.

Varmevinyl (heat-bonding)

Best for clothing where you want a neat result. Requires an iron.

1. Cut the varmevinyl patch to the shape you want with rounded corners
2. Position it the right way round — the adhesive is on one side of the varmevinyl
3. Press with an iron (medium heat, no steam) for about 10–15 seconds
4. Let it cool before use

For both methods: cut a piece of fabric from an old garment as reinforcement if you want extra strength (varmevinyl plus a fabric patch gives the strongest repair).

Reactivating with heat

Spray adhesive can be reactivated with heat, even after many years. That means you can:

• Remove the whole patch if needed (place a kitchen towel between the iron and the patch, turn up the heat until the adhesive releases)
• Just lift a small section to add more adhesive underneath

Handy on longer trips where the repair has to be renewed.

Pack example

On trips with skis it is common for the skis to wear holes in the pack fabric where the sewing machine cannot reach (on the back, by the hip belt, along the lower part). Cut a large fabric patch from heavy fabric — 500-denier Cordura or similar — and glue it on with spray adhesive. The result ends up more hard-wearing than the original fabric and will last many more seasons.

Washing

• Spray-adhesive repairs: hand washing with soap works fine. Not all spray adhesives tolerate machine washing — check the product instructions.
• Varmevinyl: tolerates machine washing at low temperatures (30–40 °C).

When you should sew instead

• Waterproof shell clothing — sew the seam plus glue a patch on the inside to preserve the waterproofing
• Load-bearing gear under heavy strain — carry mesh, belts — feel free to combine sewing and gluing
• Garments you wash often — sewing gives a more wash-resistant result than glue

Back to Repair → · Sewing holes and tears → · Tears and holes in tent fabric and hammock →

---

Text: Lars Peters and Snuitide (2022), revised 2026.