Used Patagonia Gear: Repair vs Replace? A Smart Guide to Saving Money

High-end technical equipment breaks down. It happens to everyone who owns expensive gear, whether you're dealing with professional cameras, vintage audio systems, or that used Patagonia technical jacket with sophisticated materials. The real question isn't if something will need fixing—it's whether you should fix it or replace it entirely. You face this choice more often than you think, and the wrong decision can cost you hundreds or thousands of dollars. The Real Cost of Professional Restoration Professional restoration isn't cheap, but replacement costs keep climbing. Industry data shows that high-end technical equipment has increased 23% in price over the past three years , making repair services more attractive than ever. Here's what affects restoration costs: The complexity of the damage matters most. Surface scratches on a $2,000 lens might cost $150 to fix, while internal mechanism problems could run $800 or more. You need to know where your item falls on ...