Repairing neoprene yourself: Patagonia offers help and carries out repairs on its free Wetsuit Repair Tour

• Patagonia’s Wetsuit Repair Tour is coming to the Bavarian capital. On 25 and 26 September 2026, the Bahnwärter Thiel at Tumblingerstraße 45 will be transformed into a hotspot for surfers and water sports enthusiasts. The concept: repair rather than throw away. Professional technicians will be on hand to mend leaky seams, tears and holes in wetsuits and surfwear – free of charge and regardless of brand. Repair sessions will take place on Friday from 10 am to 4 pm and on Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm. One freshly washed item of clothing or one clean wetsuit per person will be accepted. Shoes, hardware and leashes are excluded. The service operates on a first-come, first-served basis. As well as Munich, the tour will stop at other venues in the UK, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Spain, Portugal, Germany and Switzerland. The supporting programme in Munich goes beyond mere repairs and offers practical skills for the surfing community.

Further dates in Germany for the Patagonia Wetsuit Repair Tour

• 15–16 September: Lübeck, Germany
• 18–19 September: Münster, Germany
• 25–26 September: Munich, Germany

Learn a craft in an upcycling workshop

A wetsuit upcycling workshop is taking place in Munich on Friday from 5 pm to 7 pm. Participants will learn how to use simple hand-sewing techniques to turn old neoprene material into a sunglasses case or a water bottle holder. The workshop teaches basic skills for extending the lifespan of wetsuits that have already seen too many waves. The event is open to anyone who’d like to learn a new craft. Participation is free or donation-based. Phoebe Strachan, one of Patagonia’s ambassadors, will be on hand during the event to lead talks and workshops. The six-time Scottish surfing champion runs the local surf club in Scotland and acts as assistant coach for the Scottish junior surf team. As a trained carpenter and outdoor enthusiast, she embodies a lifestyle that combines adventure, community and nature.

Surfboard repairs for beginners and advanced surfers

On Saturday, there will be two surfboard repair workshops in Munich. The Basic Repairs Workshop runs from 2 pm to 3 pm and shows how to repair minor damage and dings on surfboards yourself. The Advanced Repairs Workshop, from 4 pm to 5 pm, goes into greater detail. Here, participants will learn how to carry out more extensive repairs – such as when a fin box has broken off. The workshops teach professional techniques for maintaining your own board. Both courses are free or available on a donation basis. Places are limited, so registration is recommended. The workshops are aimed at surfers of all ability levels who wish to maintain their own equipment.

Film screening and panel discussion on Saturday evening

Saturday evening is all about the cinema. Doors open at 6.30 pm, and Movie Night kicks off at 7 pm with two films. “Sensing Home” takes the audience on a journey along the Australian coast – a mix of surfing, inspiring people and ecosystems. “Bamb’Amaza” tells the story of Othandwayo from the Cape Town neighbourhood of Imizamo Yethy. The film shows the lessons to be learnt from the water beyond the waves. Following the screenings, there will be a panel discussion on the topic of inclusion in surfing. Phoebe Strachan will join representatives from Provide The Slide and Open Ocean to discuss how surfers can combine their passion with creating added value for society. The event in Munich ends at around 9.30 pm.

Protecting the seas through repair

All events are free of charge or accessible on a donation basis. All proceeds go to Deutsche Umwelthilfe and other NGOs working to protect the oceans. For many years, Deutsche Umwelthilfe has been campaigning against destructive fishing methods such as bottom trawling in marine protected areas. Under the guise of tradition, politicians permit shrimp fishing with bottom trawls in the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Wadden Sea, which is also a national park and a European Natura 2000 protected area. Less than three per cent of the world’s oceans are fully protected from man-made damage. The Wetsuit Repair Tour is based on the principle that repairing your clothing rather than buying new reduces consumption. This is good for both your wallet and the planet.

Programme:

Friday, 25 September 2026:

• 10.00–16.00: Free repairs for wetsuits and clothing
• 5.00–7.00 pm: Wetsuit Upcycling Workshop

Saturday, 26 September 2026:

• 10.00–17.00: Free repairs for wetsuits and clothing
• 2.00–3.00 pm: Surfboard Repair Workshop – Basic Repairs
• 4.00–5.00 pm: Surfboard Repair Workshop – Advanced Repairs
• 6.30 pm: Doors open for Movie Night
• 7.00 pm–9.30 pm: Film screening of “Sensing Home” & “Bamb’Amaza”, followed by a panel discussion

Practical information:

Location:

• Venue: Bahnwärter Thiel
• Address: Tumblingerstraße 45, 80337 Munich

Participation:

• Repairs: Free of charge – one clean item of clothing per person
• Workshops: Free or by donation
• Film screening: Free or by donation
• Registration: Recommended for workshops

Important information:

• First-come, first-served basis for repairs
• Only freshly washed items of clothing
• No shoes, hardware or leashes
• We recommend arriving early to avoid waiting times