Can anyone recommend a great shop for customizing gear?

[Ethan A.]

I used a place called Rainy Pass Repair, I think they’re very good, but I found them very high priced. However, they stuck GIANT metal pit zips in a light nylon covered reversable Patagonia fleece shell – I couldn’t believe they used these. They are heavy, they are freezing cold and they let wind in. They should have used waterproof zips or thin plastic zippers.

I have a few pieces I want to modify (pit zips, etc.), looking for a shop that won’t do the above.

[John Penca]

Google it. Talk to Penny.

[Ethan A.]

Thanks John, appreciate it very much. What experience have you had with them? What have you sent them?

[Christopher Chupka]

You could try Tactical Tailor. They do lots of mods to the Army Alice Pack. I have one of their modded packs, definitely not lightweight but very durable. They will do custom work, just ask. Very good warranty with their work.

[Sarah Kirkconnell]

Did you ask if they’d do them with the newer zippers?
Penny does good work, and I would recomend her. She is a mod on The Light Backpacker, and lives in Wa state. She is not cheap though-and good seamstress is not cheap I hate to say it ;-)
Doing mods is not that hard usually, if you have some sewing skills. Thing is, it is wether or not you want to risk wrecking an item. I mod my stuff often, many times it would have been cheaper to have just paid someone to do it (after getting the materials, figuring out patterns on paper, and taking the time to do it!).
So talk to Penny!

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