Repairing cuben fiber tear

What is the width of your cuben fiber repair tape? Is it wide enough to cover the tear on both sides?

–B.G.–

Hi Bob,

This is why I'm here, I don't know much about cuben and was wondering if the tape was the route to go to repair this.

I saw cuben tape for sale on zpacks website and it gave me the idea to repair this and use it, instead of using my heavy (and chewed up from mice) Catalyst.

If the tear was one inch long and "just sliced," then I would cover it with a 1.5-inch strip of cuben repair tape and then seal it down firmly.

If you are out in the field and you don't have any cuben repair tape, then duct tape will have to do.

While you are at it, Zpacks also sells some big patches of heavier stuff for cuben fiber. You might want some of the patches to carry for a future repair.

I used some of the standard thin cuben fiber repair tape to add some features to a shaped tarp, and it worked well, assuming that I sealed it down firmly. Don't get your fingerprints on the sticky side.

–B.G.–

IIRC it's a slice, the pack is at my folks' house but I'll be down there soon. I'm going to be using it all summer long so I'll carry some patches and spare tape.

Thank you Bob!

how did your cuben tent rip from just putting it your pack? Cuben must be very fragile.

The repair tape works pretty good as long as the cuben fiber surfaces are completely clean and dry. OTOH, if you had duct tape on there as a temporary repair and then removed it, you would leave some adhesive residue, and that is not good for the proper cuben fiber repair tape.

When I used my cuben fiber repair tape, I rubbed it with a wooden stick to make sure that all of the air bubbles were pushed out and it was 100% in contact. It worked so perfectly that I have now forgotten about where it was applied, and it might be difficult to find the tape again.

–B.G.–

"Cuben must be very fragile."

Jerry, it depends on which thickness of cuben fiber you have. For the seriously thin stuff, you can just drag it across a sharp point and it might tear. For the seriously thick stuff (hybrid), I would have to use my knife blade to slice it.

That's why, if you have any sort of metal hardware around your pack or shelter, you want to make sure that there are no sharp edges left exposed. You know how a metal wristwatch is pretty tough? Well, if you smack it against granite just right, you will leave one little pointy flake of metal sticking up, and that is all it takes to tear the seriously thin stuff. Don't ask me how I know this.

–B.G.–

Unless ULA Has changed the Circuit, I don't think that the pack has any Cuben fiber on it at all. According to the ULA web-site, the fabric used is ULA 210 Robic ripstop. Check with ULA to be sure but I don't think you have a Cuben pack. ULA may be able to recommend how to repair the cut.. Good luck!

Charles, ULA offers an upgrade to Cuben for all but their Epic packs. ULA Custom Cuben Packs

Hi Charles,

I custom ordered this from ULA in 2013. It is in fact cuben, what's weird is I was under the impression they updated their online store to show they have cuben options.

If you follow them on Facebook you'll see they have posted many pictures of their cuben Circuits.

http://i.imgur.com/YM97JA7.jpg

View post on imgur.com

It was from the metal struts on the Contrail. I didn't feel like I was really pushing it in the pack either, I was bummed.

"I'm going to be using it all summer long so I'll carry some patches and spare tape."

If it was mine, I would use a stripe of clear repair tape on the outside so that it doesn't show. Then I would use a patch of the strong stuff on the inside for maximum durability and strength.

Unfortunately, it might add a gram to your base weight.

–B.G.–

"If you follow them on Facebook you'll see they have posted many pictures of their cuben Circuits." Well, I learned something new today!

Sadly, I would prefer having hemorrhoids to having to follow Facebook but that is just cause I'm a misanthropic old fart.

It's usually the old farts that love Facebook, but fair enough.

There was duct tape there, so I'll have to clean that off.

Where can I find different tape to repair cuben? I believe zpacks only has one option.

A few months ago Zpacks sold cuben fiber repair patches besides the tape. You might inquire. They might have some patches hidden in the back. Or, they might be able to refer you to a source.

Still, if you can't find any heavy repair patches, you ought to be able to get it done with the simple cuben fiber repair tape.

I have a couple of the big repair patches, but I am hoarding them for some future mishap.

–B.G.–

As far as cleaning the off the residue from the duct tape… would Goo Gone work?

I've never used Goo Gone.

If it was mine, I would just rub it with a cloth with a few drops of Coleman fuel on it. Or, maybe denatured alcohol. That ought to remove the adhesive residue. Then just rub it extra to make sure that there are no hydrocarbons left on the surface.

–B.G.–

http://www.zpacks.com/accessories/tape.shtml

The Zpacks hybrid cuben repair patches is what I would use since they're so cheap & will work perfectly. You could also use insignia cloth or clear Gorilla tape(stronger adhesive than Duct tape IMO)

Tearing hybrid cuben an inch is a pretty nice feat. Well done sir!

Ryan

"Tearing hybrid cuben an inch is a pretty nice feat. Well done sir!"

Thanks it didn't take much though