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My ancient backpack zipper gave out in a Prague hostel lobby
It happened yesterday morning right as I was trying to check out. The main compartment just split open, spilling socks and a guidebook everywhere. I had a 12 euro budget for the whole day, so a new bag was out. I used a carabiner and some old shoelaces to rig it shut. Has anyone else had to do a field repair on their gear with zero cash?
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david1346mo ago
That "zero cash" repair takes me back. I once had a boot sole start peeling off on a trail, miles from anywhere. Ended up using a whole roll of duct tape I found in my trunk, wrapped it around and around like a mummy's foot. It got me home, but man, did it leave a sticky mess.
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spencerross6mo ago
Oh man, glue is great until you're actually out there. Tape is about survival, not a perfect fix. You use what you have when you're stuck. That sticky mess is a small price to pay for not having to walk out barefoot. Sometimes the janky fix is the right fix because it's the only one you've got.
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cora8134mo ago
Is it really about which fix is technically better though, or just what you happen to have on hand? Cause I've been in situations where that five dollar tube of glue was sitting at home in a drawer, not in my pack. Duct tape is something people usually already have in their car or bag without planning ahead for a boot blowout. So yeah, glue is the better option in a perfect world, but tape is the one that actually gets used when things go sideways.
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william_craig76mo ago
Duct tape is a terrible fix for boots. It doesn't stick to wet or dirty surfaces, and the adhesive fails in cold weather. That sticky residue you mentioned ruins the material, making a proper repair harder later. A small tube of shoe glue in your kit costs five bucks and actually bonds the sole back on. Relying on tape is just asking for another failure.
2
jennybailey4mo ago
Yeah but shoe glue won't help you on a wet trail at midnight.
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