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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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david13412d 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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spencerross12d 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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william_craig712d 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.
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