How to Patch a Fabric Tear in a Sleeping Bag

Introduction

The lightweight performance fabrics on sleeping bags can easily snag or tear a hole during use. If not fixed, the insulation can leak out, and slowly reduce the product's performance.

This guide will show how to use a self-adhesive patch to repair a tear in the middle of the sleeping bag. Sewing the hole is not recommended.

What you need

Step 1 Identify the torn area

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Lay the sleeping bag on a flat and clean space.
Locate the torn area, and clean away any lose pieces of stuffing or down.
Prepare the sleeping bag for repair, by putting the broken area in the middle of your work space.

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Step 2 Prepare the Replacement Patch

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Prepare the self-adhesive patch.
Ensure that the repair patch is large enough to cover the hole. As an approximate guide, the patch should be 10mm wider than the hole on all sides, but the bigger the patch, the better. It may be tempting to cut the patch into a small size, but this is normally not recommended.
Start to peel away on the corner of the patch to be prepared for the next step.

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Step 3 Stick the patch over the hole

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Note: this step is much easier with two people!
Flatten the area around the hole by pulling the material to each side, and pushing down on the stuffing. The goal is to make this area as flat and smooth as possible, and with the tear hole as closed as possible.
Tip: when flattening, down/stuffing may come out. Make sure to remove this from the repair area before attaching the patch.
While one person keeps the area flat, the other person places the first side of the patch onto the sleeping bag. Keeping even pressure and with a slow and careful movement, peel off the backing paper at the same time as pressing the patch onto the product. This is very similar to applying a first-aid plaster.
When the patch is fully applied, smooth out any wrinkles or bubbles with the back of your nail. The goal is to have a fully flat patch, with no creases or spaces for dust to get in, or down/stuffing to leak out.