Repair, don't replace: making outdoor gear last

The greenest jacket is the one you already own. Making new outdoor gear uses a lot of energy and water, and most of it is thrown away because of a broken zip, a torn seam or a worn-out sole, not because it no longer works. In our stores we repaired over 6,000 items last year. Many of the repairs you can do yourself.

Repairs you can do at home

• Small tears in jackets and tents: clean the area with alcohol, round the corners of a repair patch and press it on firmly.
• Loose seams and straps: a curved needle and strong polyester thread fix most of them in ten minutes.
• Sticky zips: clean them with an old toothbrush and rub a candle along the teeth.
• Tired waterproofs: wash them with a technical cleaner, then tumble dry on low to restore the water repellency.

Repairs to leave to us

Resoling boots, replacing zips in waterproof jackets and fixing broken tent poles need special tools. Bring any Northwilds item into a store and we will fix it, at no charge for the first repair.

Look after it first

Most damage can be avoided. Dry tents fully before storing them, clean and wax leather boots, and store down jackets loose rather than compressed. Ten minutes after a trip saves a lot of money later.

Pass it on

When you do upgrade, give the old kit a second life. Our stores take back clean, working gear and pass it on to youth groups and outdoor charities.