You Buy It, You Break It: These Brands Offer the Gear Repair You Need
Brands like Orvis, Patagonia, and Benchmade Knife Company offer free or inexpensive gear repair programs that will keep your favorite gear in the field for years to come.
One of the biggest worries when spending an ample amount of money on a high-ticket item is its ability to last for the foreseeable future. So, it can relieve potential wallet anxiety to know that many brands do offer repair programs to bolster the longevity of the gear you’ve worked so hard to invest in.
For some companies, you’ll just have to pay shipping to get your gear renewed. With others, modest repair fees undercut the need to buy a new item.
But all the way around, it’s more sustainable and planet-friendly to invest in one item and prolong its future for as long as possible. And although these companies might not be selling more gear due to broken gear, it’s a heck of a commitment to bettering the outdoors to run programs like these that benefit us all.
Each of the following companies offers repair programs outside of typical time-sensitive warranty issues. To us, that sets them apart as sustainable leaders in keeping folks geared up and ready to roll.
Companies That Repair Gear
Benchmade Knife Company
One of the bigger bonuses to buying from Benchmade is that your knife can be resharpened professionally for as long as you manage not to lose it. Through its free Lifetime LifeSharp program, you can simply pay shipping and it’ll send you back your well-used blade, good as new.
Chaco
Called the ReChaco program, Chaco has been repairing sandals for a long time. And it’s repaired a lot of them. In 2020 alone, it got 21,000 pairs back in working condition for their owners. For a small fee, you can get your fave sandals resoled, restrapped, and revamped for future adventures.
Danner Boots
Danner’s Boot Recrafting program offers a simple solution for well-loved boots. Resoling, reconditioning the leather, and more are offered through its boot repairs department. And for a small fee, you’ll have your fave boots back in no time.
Deuter
Repair any Deuter pack, free of charge, no questions asked, no matter how old the pack is. If Deuter can’t repair it, it’ll offer a replacement of the pack nearest to yours. That. Is. Service. Y’all.
Filson
Filson has an extensive repairs program that spells out what it can and can’t do in detail. But, it offers a ton of different options, and should your gear fall outside of warranty, it does ask for a repair fee. Fair deal.
Fjallraven
Although it doesn’t have a shipping program for repairs, Fjallraven does offer a full suite of how-to’s on repairing gear as well as in-store options for having gear repaired on the spot.
L.L.Bean
This iconic brand offers a few services that are seriously kickass. Both fly rod and wader plans offer upgrade options that begin at $60. And it’ll resole its boots for $39-43.
Metolius
Climbers can rejoice with Metolius’ repair options. Cams are repaired at no cost other than shipping. And if you have another repair, just give the brand a call and someone will help you figure out the next steps.
Mystery Ranch Backpacks
An investment up front, but a pack for a lifetime. That’s how I think of my own Mystery Ranch Packs, and that’s a double down for its awesome repair program. If packs are in need of repair due to use, expect a reasonable fee to get your pack back up and running.
Norrona
Norrona offers a full suite of repairs on its website. And once you ship the brand a clean item, it can repair a whole heckuva lot. And it does it within a 14-day window. Pretty impressive.
Orvis
Orvis recently announced it will repair waders in addition to a slew of other gear. Currently, it offers repairs for luggage, rods, reels, leather items, and watches.
Osprey Packs
No matter how old your Osprey is, the brand will repair it. And it does this at no cost other than shipping. It’s an impressive addition to its impressive line of packs, and it’s got a slew of info on how this all works. But essentially, once you’ve bought Osprey, you’ve got a pack for life. Epic deal.
Patagonia
Most folks are familiar with Patagonia’s Worn Wear program, where you can buy worn and repaired gear at a great price. But Patagonia also offers a slew of options for gear repair. Have your gear repaired in-store or mail it in if you can’t repair it yourself.
Red Wing
The folks at Red Wing offer a deep dive repair system that can renew your Red Wings for a super reasonable price. The brand even offers a premier repair package that covers a heckuva lot for just $115. But you can repair lesser problems for less cash as well.
Redington
If your rod tip gets stuck in the car door (yes, I’ve done this), Redington will fix it. And thankfully, it will repair a bevy of items for a small repair fee.
Simms Fishing
Leaky waders are the gosh-durned worst. Thankfully, Simms has a great option for repairing its items. Simply grab a Simms repair number, send in your item, and the brand will let you know the deal.
Gear that has been used extensively will require a bit of a repair fee, but it’s certainly worth it to keep your gear in primetime condition.
Sitka Gear
Sitka’s hunting gear can be a big investment. And it will match that investment with a solid repair program. Like many other brands, gear with simple wear and tear can be repaired for a reasonable price.
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