Rugged Thread Outerwear Repair, Inc.
Rugged Thread is a Bend, Oregon-based technical repair company serving outdoor enthusiasts and brands with specialized clothing and gear repair services, plus Design for Repair consulting for apparel manufacturers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2011
- HeadquartersGreat Bend, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Rugged Thread Outerwear Repair, Inc. does
Rugged Thread Outerwear Repair, Inc. is a Bend, Oregon-based technical repair company founded in 2011 by CEO Kim Kinney, specializing in the restoration of outdoor clothing and gear including jackets, tents, sleeping bags, backpacks, and motorcycle apparel. The company operates a single retail facility at 2525 NE Twin Knolls Dr. and complements it with a nationwide mail-in repair service, executing specialized tasks such as zipper replacement (using YKK parts), seam sealing, patching with technical fabrics, down jacket wash and re-loft, and hardware replacement for buttons, buckles, and webbing. Pricing is unit-based and ranges from approximately $25 for simple slider replacements to $180+ for premium-brand zippers (Descente, Moncler, Canada Goose, Spyder, Arc'teryx), with typical turnaround of two weeks.
Rugged Thread Outerwear Repair, Inc. firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Rugged Thread Outerwear Repair, Inc.
- Legal name
- Rugged Thread
- Website
- https://ruggedthread.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2011
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Rugged Thread is a Bend, Oregon-based technical repair company serving outdoor enthusiasts and brands with specialized clothing and gear repair services, plus Design for Repair consulting for apparel manufacturers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Rugged Thread Outerwear Repair, Inc. industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Outdoor Apparel and Gear Repair Services
- NAICS
- Cut and Sew Apparel Contractors (315210)
- SIC
- Apparel & Other Finishd Prods Of Fabrics & Similar Matl (2300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Seam, Tear & Rip Repair / Reinforcement (HSAJAFAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Button, Snap & Hook Replacement (HSAJAFAF), Fabric Reweaving & Mending (Holes, Snags, Burns) (HSAJAKAG)
Keywords
Where Rugged Thread Outerwear Repair, Inc. is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Great Bend
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Rugged Thread Outerwear Repair, Inc. business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Professional Repair Services: Core revenue stream from repair services including zipper replacement, patching, hardware replacement, seam sealing, and specialty repairs for outdoor apparel and gear. Pricing varies by repair type and complexity, ranging from $25 for simple slider replacements to $180+ for high-end brand repairs.
- Design for Repair Consulting: Consulting services offered to brands including 30-minute Discovery Calls, 3-hour Design Labs, and 2-3 day Deep-Dive Workshops to help brands integrate repairability into product design.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Center Front Jacket Zipper Slider Replacement |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Center Front Zipper Replacement - Retrofits |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Center Front Zipper Replacement - As Manufactured |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | High Tech and Designer Brand Zipper Replacement |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Pocket/Fly Zipper Slider Replacement |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Pocket/Fly Zipper Full Replacement |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Tent Zipper Slider Replacement (One Door) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Full Tent Zipper Replacement |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Sleeping Bag Zipper Slider Replacement |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Full Sleeping Bag Zipper Replacement |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Bag Zipper Slider Replacement |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Main Compartment Bag Zipper Replacement |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Small Pockets Bag Zipper Replacement |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Patching - Up to 25 square inches |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Hardware Replacements |
Go-to-market motion4 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Rugged Thread Outerwear Repair, Inc. product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Rugged Thread is a specialized repair service company that professionally repairs technical outdoor clothing and gear, including jackets, tents, sleeping bags, backpacks, bags, and motorcycle gear. The company operates a walk-in retail location in Bend, Oregon and offers mail-in repair services nationwide. It also provides Design for Repair (DFR) consulting and workshops to outdoor brands and manufacturers to help integrate repairability into product design.
Product overview
Rugged Thread Outerwear Repair, Inc. is a repair service company offering professional outdoor clothing and gear repair. Their core offerings include zipper repair, outerwear repair, backpack and bag repair, tent repair, sleeping bag repair, motorcycle gear repair, and cushion repair services. The company also provides Design for Repair (DFR) consulting workshops for brands and manufacturers. Services are available through walk-in locations in Bend, Oregon or via mail-in repair for customers nationwide. They operate as both a consumer-facing repair service and a B2B warranty repair partner for outdoor industry brands.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Zipper Repair Service Professional zipper repair service including slider replacement and full zipper replacement for jackets, tents, sleeping bags, backpacks, and motorcycle gear. Offers repair for various zipper types including nylon coil, Vislon (molded tooth), and metal zippers.
- Outerwear & Jacket Repair Comprehensive outerwear repair including down jacket repair, nylon jacket repair, skiwear repair, and workwear repair. Services include patching, zipper replacement, seam sealing, and alterations for brands such as Patagonia, The North Face, and Arc'teryx.
- Backpack & Bag Repair Repair services for backpacking bags, bike panniers, messenger bags, ski bags, soft-sided luggage, travel totes, and duffle bags. Includes zipper repair, buckle and hardware replacement, strap repair, webbing and mesh repair, and patching.
- Tent Repair Service Tent repair including zipper repair, screen repair, patching for tent walls and floors, vinyl window replacement, velcro replacement, and webbing and grommet repairs. Works on ultralight tents, canvas wall tents, backpacking tents, dome tents, and screen houses.
- Sleeping Bag Repair Service Sleeping bag repair including zipper repair, draw cord repair, patching, stuff sack rebuild, and snap replacement. Services for down sleeping bags, ultralight quilts, and cotton sleeping bags.
- Motorcycle Clothing & Gear Repair Repair service for motorcycle jackets, pants, panniers, and soft-sided luggage. Includes bag rebuilding, outerwear patching with cordura, webbing and strap repair, buckle replacement, and crotch blowout repairs with seam sealing for waterproofing.
- Cushion Repair & Replacement Indoor and outdoor patio cushion repairs and replacements. Services include cushion zipper repair, patching and darning, and full cushion cover replacement using marine grade and UV resistant outdoor fabrics. Works on patio furniture, RV cushions, pillows, and marine cushions.
- Design for Repair (DFR) Workshops Consulting service for brands and manufacturers to improve product repairability. Includes 30-minute discovery calls, 3-hour design labs, and 2-3 day deep-dive workshops. Helps brands turn repair experience into actionable design improvements that can reduce repair time by 30-70%.
- Mail-in Repair Service Mail-in repair service allowing customers nationwide to get online quotes and ship items for repair. Includes shipping form, inspection, repair options, quality check, and return shipping via USPS Priority Mail.
- Warranty Repair Services for Brands Warranty and non-warranty repair services for outdoor brands and manufacturers. Includes inspection, warranty determination, and repair to industry standards. Partners with brands such as Burton, KUIU, Trew Gear, Descente, Mission Workshop, Cotopaxi, Gossamer Gear, Scott Sports, Mountainsmith, Enlightened Equipment, Picture Organic Clothing, and Giant Loop.
Quantifiable outcome
- 30-70% reduction in repair time through Design for Repair practices
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Rugged Thread Outerwear Repair, Inc.
Customer profileNamed customers13 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Rugged Thread Outerwear Repair, Inc. technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Rugged Thread Outerwear Repair, Inc. partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
24 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Burton SnowboardscoreBurton Snowboards committed to upholding lifetime warranty on all soft goods, repairing rather than simply replacing. Rugged Thread provides warranty repair services.
- KUIUcoreHigh-performance hunting gear company. Rugged Thread provides warranty repairs for their products.
- Trew GearcorePNW-based manufacturer of high-quality snow gear. Rugged Thread is their repair facility of choice, completing all warranty repairs.
- Gossamer GearcoreUltralight backpacking gear manufacturer. Recently committed to repairing rather than replacing warranty issues to keep gear in use longer.
- CotopaxicoreSustainability-focused brand committed to non-virgin materials, human rights, and repairing damaged products when possible.
- Mission WorkshopcoreTechnical bag manufacturer offering lifetime warranty and promoting repairs rather than replacement. Rugged Thread provides warranty repairs.
- DescentecoreHigh-end ski wear manufacturer. Rugged Thread is their national repair facility for warranty claims in the United States.
- Picture Organic ClothingcoreB Corp from France committed to eliminating fossil fuel use. Rugged Thread is their United States repair facility for lifetime repair warranty.
- Enlightened EquipmentcoreUltralight gear designed and manufactured in the USA. Rugged Thread handles their warranty and non-warranty repair needs.
- Scott SportscoreOutdoor sports company since 1958 specializing in mountain biking, running, motorsports, and skiing. Rugged Thread repairs warranty and non-warranty issues on soft goods.
- MountainsmithcoreBackpacking and travel gear with lifetime repair warranty. Rugged Thread is their national repair facility.
- Six Moon DesignsminorLightweight, high quality, affordable backpacking equipment. Oregon-based company like Rugged Thread.
- REI of BendcoreLocal REI partnership for warranty item repairs of all brands. Rugged Thread attends quarterly garage sales for free repairs to members.
- Giant LoopcoreFellow Bend-based motorcycle gear manufacturer with limited lifetime warranty. Rugged Thread is their repair facility.
- ExtendminorExtended warranty provider for outdoor products. Extended warranty includes repair by Rugged Thread if damaged during coverage period.
- YKKcoreYKK is a sponsor of ISPO Munich 2025 where Rugged Thread participated. YKK manufactures zippers used in repairs and supports repair as climate infrastructure.
- Oregon Outdoor AllianceminorSponsor of ISPO Munich 2025 where Rugged Thread participated.
- Business OregonminorSponsor of ISPO Munich 2025 where Rugged Thread participated.
- TrovecoreRecommerce platform partnering with leading brands (Nordstrom, Patagonia, REI, Eileen Fisher, Arc'teryx, Taylor Stitch) to repair used clothing for resale in circular economy model.
- KavisominorCurated platform for outdoor clothing and gear committed to keeping returned products out of landfill by repairing.
- Candide Co.minorDesigned by Candide Thovex focusing on quality and timeless style. Works with recycled fabrics and prioritizes repair over replacement.
- Sync PerformanceminorAthletes-focused brand for quality and durability. Rugged Thread handles warranty and non-warranty repairs.
- Mt. BachelorminorLocal home ski resort. Rugged Thread repairs uniforms for ski patrol, lift operations, and ski school.
- HoodoominorLocal home ski resort. Rugged Thread repairs uniforms for ski patrol, lift operations and ski school.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Rugged Thread Outerwear Repair, Inc. competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Patagonia Worn Wear: Patagonia's in-house repair, resale, and recycling program covering its own branded gear. Operates at much larger scale than Rugged Thread but only serves Patagonia products, making Rugged Thread the natural outsourced alternative for non-Patagonia brands seeking the same circular capabilities.
- Arc'teryx ReBird: Arc'teryx's owned recommerce and repair program covering its technical outerwear. Operates inside a major premium brand; relevant as both a current Rugged Thread customer-adjacent partner and as a model of in-house repair that could compete with Rugged Thread's service business over time.
- Eileen Fisher Renew: Eileen Fisher's take-back, repair, and resale program for its own branded women's apparel. Relevant comparable as a brand-owned circular program, and a current Rugged Thread-adjacent partner via Trove's recommerce pipeline.
- REI Co-op Used Gear & Repair Services: Operates both a used-gear recommerce channel and in-store repair services across the US. While REI is itself a Rugged Thread partner for warranty overflow, its owned repair program is the dominant scaled alternative in the outdoor consumer market.
Direct peers
- The Renewal Workshop: Textile renewal and resale company that cleans, repairs, and resells returned and unsellable apparel for partner brands. Closest comparable to Rugged Thread in B2B circular-apparel services, though focused on cleaning/renewal rather than technical-outerwear-specific repair.
- Trove (now Trove Recommerce): Recommerce platform that partners with Nordstrom, Patagonia, REI, Eileen Fisher, Arc'teryx, and Taylor Stitch to take back, repair, and resell used apparel. Rugged Thread is already a service provider inside Trove's pipeline, so the two are simultaneously partners and structural peers in the circular-apparel repair infrastructure layer.
- Rainy Pass Repair (Fox's Seattle-based outdoor repair shops): Long-running Pacific Northwest outdoor apparel and gear repair specialist serving consumers and brands. Operates a similar technical-outerwear repair service model to Rugged Thread, including zipper, patch, and seam work, with comparable retail + mail-in distribution.
- Outdoor Gear Exchange: Vermont-based outdoor gear consignment and resale shop that also offers in-house repair services for technical gear. Comparable to Rugged Thread in combining used-gear resale with technical repair in a single retail location, though operating in a different geography.
Regional players
- Stitch It / Tailor alterations chains: National alterations and tailoring chain offering garment repairs. Lacks Rugged Thread's technical-outerwear specialization but competes for general consumer garment repair spend and is a relevant comparable for the underlying alterations/tailoring market structure.
Others
- Extend (extended warranty platform): Extended-warranty provider whose outdoor product contracts use Rugged Thread as the repair executor. Comparable as a downstream channel partner and ecosystem participant in the outdoor circular-economy stack rather than as a direct repair competitor.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Rugged Thread Outerwear Repair, Inc. social profiles
Digital presenceRugged Thread Outerwear Repair, Inc. financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Rugged Thread Outerwear Repair, Inc. leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Rugged Thread Outerwear Repair, Inc. funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Rugged Thread Outerwear Repair, Inc. M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Rugged Thread Outerwear Repair, Inc.
What does Rugged Thread Outerwear Repair, Inc. do?
Rugged Thread is a specialized repair service company that professionally repairs technical outdoor clothing and gear, including jackets, tents, sleeping bags, backpacks, bags, and motorcycle gear. The company operates a walk-in retail location in Bend, Oregon and offers mail-in repair services nationwide. It also provides Design for Repair (DFR) consulting and workshops to outdoor brands and manufacturers to help integrate repairability into product design.
Is Rugged Thread Outerwear Repair, Inc. a public or private company?
Rugged Thread Outerwear Repair, Inc. is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Rugged Thread Outerwear Repair, Inc. founded?
Rugged Thread Outerwear Repair, Inc. was founded in 2011. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Rugged Thread Outerwear Repair, Inc. based?
Rugged Thread Outerwear Repair, Inc. is headquartered in Great Bend, United States, in the North America region.
How does Rugged Thread Outerwear Repair, Inc. make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Professional Repair Services are the primary driver. The others are design for Repair Consulting.
Who are Rugged Thread Outerwear Repair, Inc.'s main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Patagonia Worn Wear, Arc'teryx ReBird, Eileen Fisher Renew and REI Co-op Used Gear & Repair Services. Direct peers are The Renewal Workshop, Trove (now Trove Recommerce), Rainy Pass Repair (Fox's Seattle-based outdoor repair shops) and Outdoor Gear Exchange. Stitch It / Tailor alterations chains is listed as a regional player. Extend (extended warranty platform) is listed as an others.
Does Rugged Thread Outerwear Repair, Inc. have an API?
No public API is recorded for Rugged Thread Outerwear Repair, Inc..
What industry is Rugged Thread Outerwear Repair, Inc. in?
Rugged Thread Outerwear Repair, Inc.'s product category is Outdoor Apparel and Gear Repair Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HSAJAFAG, Seam, Tear & Rip Repair / Reinforcement, with a secondary code of HSAJAFAF, Button, Snap & Hook Replacement. Its NAICS code is 315210 and its SIC code is 2300.