We are excited to share another post in our Circular Allies series. See our last post here.
Today we are introducing Basecamp Repairs, an exciting start-up in Victoria offering repair services for camping equipment and technical apparel.
Introducing Basecamp Repairs
Victoria-based Basecamp Repairs was born when Alex and Nic met working for a national outdoor equipment retailer and realized many products were being returned or thrown away when they could be easily repaired. They had already been repairing their own gear for years, so why couldn’t they help others as well? The Basecamp mission is to reduce waste by extending the lifespan of outdoor equipment through repairs and maintenance.
Alex and Nic have capitalized on an important tenet of the circular economy; the tighter you keep your loops the more you conserve. Repair uses fewer resources and less energy than other options such as refurbishing and recycling.
In considering a circular economy, the goal is to keep the "resource loops" as tight as possible, so repair and extending a product's first useful life is the highest priority. Image from https://circulartayside.co.uk/what-is-the-circular-economy/
Making Gear Repair Accessible
Repair for a simple t-shirt can be tricky if you’re not trained, let alone technical outdoor gear. Alex admits that items like tents, sleeping bags, rain jackets and backpacks each have their own set of nuances meaning almost no repair is the same, and at their current scale, some repairs are still out of reach. Still, Basecamp’s services make this lofty task an accessible option for the everyday outdoor enthusiast.
In addition to reducing consumer waste through repair, Basecamp is also committed to reducing their own waste from the repair process. Where possible, they use materials harvested from “unfixable” items in their repairs. This reduces waste while recapturing the value and functionality of technical materials such as Gore-Tex. Basecamp stands behind the quality of their repairs, offering a 6 month guarantee on all services.
What’s Next for Basecamp?
Basecamp has built the bulk of their business so far through referrals from local outdoor retailers. In the future they hope to solidify these relationships by becoming warranty providers for these retailers. This could streamline the process for the consumer and reduce the impact of shipping back and forth.
How to Support
Interested in learning more, or supporting Basecamp Repair’s work?
Get your gear repaired! Check out their list of services here
Contact info@basecamprepairs.com with your gear repair questions or collaboration ideas
Join the movement! Learn how to take proper care of your gear, to make it last longer. (For example, Arc’teryx has some great videos for care and repair of Gore-Tex!)
Written by Megan Bourassa