so my pack has a hole in the bottom and i'm wondering how to patch it up. do those gortex patches work on pack fabric? any other (easy) ideas?

The most permanent patch is a sewn on patch. Either get your martha stewart on or take it to a tailor, who'll stitch it on for around 10 bucks.

If you aren't all thumbs, its pretty easy to sew.

I like those iron-on patches you can get at the fabric store. You can get them made from a heavy cotton-duck, and if you iron one on the inside and the outside of the hole you'll be golden. Those things stick surprisingly well.

thanks guys! hmmm both solutions seem pretty easy. now, which one is easier? *ponders easyness over lunch*

i tend to beat the hell out of packs. to fix the bottom of my pack, i bought a good sized piece of heavy cordura fabric, similar to what the bottoms of older packs are made of. 12 inches by 12 inches should probably be pretty good, then i bought some uphohlstery thread, which is really tough, and a fairly big sewing needle. i put about 4 strands of the thread through the needle (then, when it is doubled over it is 8 strands of thread that is sewing your patch on). hand sew the patch on, using approximately 1/4" stitches. then, after you are done cover the stitching with shoo goo or similar. this has worked really well for me. it isn't pretty, but neither am i...

If you can't Duck it...

Every gearhead knows that to fix a pack - all you have to do is buy a new one...problem fixed.

Duct tape - multiple layers.