Repair kits and gear tape to patch up your sleeping pad

It happens to the best of us. If you’re camping with an inflatable sleeping pad or a self-inflating sleeping pad, sometimes you’re going to spring a leak. The last thing you want is to spend the rest of your trip sleeping on cold, hard ground, so keeping a repair kit or gear tape for sleeping pads on hand is a great way to be prepared.

There are two types of repair kits you’ll find for sleeping pad leaks, and it’s an important distinction. Field repair kits are designed to be quick and easy. When you need to sleep on your pad that night without worrying about the leak, a field repair kit allows you to quickly patch the hole so your pad will hold air again. These fixes aren’t meant to be permanent, but they’ll get you through in a pinch.

A more permanent repair usually involves a glue that needs time to set – often 24 hours or longer. While they aren’t convenient for field repair, they’re a great option to use at home when you’ve got a leak in your pad. Because of the setting time, it creates a stronger, longer-lasting seal that can properly extend the life of your pad.