Add Tenacious Tape to your in-field gear repair kit for all of your fabric repair needs.

If I were to ask you what you carry in your gear repair kit, what would you say? 

Some folks may not carry a full repair kit and resort to just a few bare essentials like a multi-tool and some duct tape. Honestly, those two things alone can go a long way if you know how to use them. Still, regardless of what is already in your gear repair kit, the one item I think everyone should have on hand in their repair kit is Tenacious Tape. 

Tenacious Tape is a GEAR AID repair tape designed to fix holes and rips in outdoor gear materials and fabrics. You may think, “I can just use duct tape for that.” Well, the benefit of Tenacious Tape is that it utilizes an ultra-aggressive adhesive that stays on even after you wash the fabric and can easily be repositioned without leaving residue. The materials are designed to bond to synthetic fabrics, allowing it to bond easier and create a more effective repair. 

Even if you take the tape off and then apply a permanent patch, Tenacious Tape doesn’t leave behind the same sticky residue that duct tape does. Still, it provides equal if not stronger adhesive holds to synthetic fabrics. 

Tenacious Tape has a more robust overall structure and adhesive than duct tape and many other comparable tapes. It is intended to create a strong bond to fabrics, including polyester, vinyl, nylon, neoprene, canvas, rubber, polyurethane leather, and even some plastic surfaces. 

The various patch types work best with certain materials and fabrics, and Tenacious Tape alone is designed as a quick fix, making it ideal for in-field repairs. It can still be utilized as a longer-term fix when paired with the Gear Aid Aquaseal adhesive. Apply Aquaseal FD to the area you are repairing and then the Tenacious Tape on top. 

We recommend using Aquaseal and Tenacious Tape together for fabrics that need to be waterproof as well. So, if you are fixing Gore-Tex or a tent, having both on hand can help your gear last longer and perform better in the field with minimal repair time. 

Applying Tenacious Tape is fast and easy if you have the right items with you in the field. We recommend always having a packed gear repair kit and a first aid kit to help you perform a wide range of in-field repairs. 

Here’s how to apply Tenacious Tape according to the Gear Aid instructions: 

We recommend patching both sides of the material for large in-field repairs for best results. 

Tenacious Tape is suitable for in-field fabric repairs on outdoor gear. It can seal seams and repair rips, tears, and holes in most synthetic fabrics. It works well to repair gear, including air pads/mattresses, tarps, jackets, tents, bivvy bags, awnings, sleeping bags, and more. 

Standard nylon Tenacious Tape has been known to last at least 2-3 years on simple repairs but can last longer when paired with Aquasel adhesive. For longer-term repairs, the Flex Patches are a more reliable option. Tenacious Tape is meant for temporary repairs but can be used as a permanent patch in some circumstances. 

Packing Tenacious Tape is easy, especially if you purchase the patches. Patches are great for building a repair kit. If you have a roll of Tenacious Tape, you can pack it around a pen or roll a small section of tape on itself to fit in your repair or first aid kit. You don’t need to carry much, but bring enough to be valuable and effective in case it is needed.

Author of the Outdoor Minimalist and host of the Outdoor Minimalist podcast, Meg Carney, has been an outdoor and environmental writer for over six years. After studying communication arts and literature in Duluth, Minnesota, she pursued various outdoor-industry jobs that eventually led her to her current career in freelance writing.

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