Anyone ever put patches on a Gore-Tex jacket?

CD Fleischer

CD Fleischer

Joined
Oct 12, 1998
Messages
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I want to put a patch on my North Face Mountain Light jacket, but I am not sure how to do it with out damaging the fabric. Would sewing it on be better or using the adhesie that activates when the patch is ironed?

Thanks for any help you can offer!

Clay
 
CD, if you sew it on, you have to use a sealant (seam seal is what I used) to make the jacket water resistant. I have done both to my M/C jacket, a Tourmaster.
 
Clay I tore the upper arm panel on my Mountain Light last year in Keystone, CO. The upper arm panel is yellow and I didn't want a big patch there, so I sent it back to them and they returned it within a month with the entire panel replaced. Cost me $7.00 plus shipping.
 
Thanks, Fish.

Thanks, SouthNarc, but this patch is a decorative one. I don't have a hole in my jacket -- yet. ;)
 
Isn't the actual gore-tex a lining inside the jacket? That's how it is with my duty jacket. The shell of the jacket (the part you see) isn't gore-tex, only the (non-removable and usually unseen, lining)so as long as the tailor only stitches through the shell, there's no trouble. Mine actually has zippers on the undersides of the sleeves (from armpit to elbow) so the tailor can open the sleeve up and be sure not to stitch through the lining. This way I've got the patches on the shoulders an hash marks on the sleeve and no leaks.
 
I don't know that you can safely stich through the face fabric without also perforating the goretex or PTFE Laminate. And seam sealing is not a permanent solution. You are best advised not to poke any holes unless you have to. Use the adhesive and iron-on alternative. But for any repair, returning it to the manufacturer is the best idea. I had no idea that was so cheap. Was it a warranty issue? If not, that's amazing.
 
I have to wonder whether iron-on adhesive is safe for the jacket nylon or G-t membrane. Guess it depends on how hot the adhesive needs the iron to be. Any experience with that?
 
Patching Gore tex is usually done with iron on adhesive. Exactly which one is used I don't know and presumably using the wrong one is a potential problem. But the ones I've used have been fine. You're absolutely right about the iron temperature. Tooo hot and the face fabric will melt. First it turns shiny, which is your only warning. Most irons are adjustable and I use the lower nylon setings. In the field, the bottom of a warm pan has worked for me provided there is something thin between the pan and the fabric for protection.
 
We often wanted 'group' patches for our kit when we were on fieldtrips.
Messing with your jacket is not something we dared to consider since when it goes wrong, you can be wet, cold or both.

Instead we put the patches on our backpack straps (facing forwards) at about the position the tube clips to it or actually stitched them to the pack some place obvious. Most packs aren't waterproof so it's not vital although my was sprayed.
(I have a canoe dry bag inside my pack which means I can float [face down] but my kit stays dry)

Why not call North Face and ask about how to attach a patch?

Al
 
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