I have seen two types of park kits recommended. One with vulcanized fluid and other with no fluid. It seems that the biggest knock on the one with the fluid is that the glue dries up in the tube after using once.

I only use REMA kits with vulcanizing fluid. The stick on stuff is basically crap. It may work to get you home, but it is only a matter of time until it leaks.

After I patch the tube with the REMA stuff, I test it for air tightness. Then wait 3-4 days and test it again under water.

I tried the stick on patches. I think out of a package, I only had one last more than a day. With the glued on patches, I don't think I have ever had one fail. They hold up like a new tube.

I can also vouch for Rema for a patch kit to carry with you. If you press the air out of the glue tube before capping it, it lasts longer.

I've had the glueless patches fail and don't use them anymore.

Normally I wait until I accumulate many punctured tubes and batch-repair them. For that, I bought a can of vulcanizing rubber cement from an auto parts store and a box of 100 round Rema F1 patches. The can has a brush applicator attached to its cap and seals tight. If the cement thickens too much from age you can supposedly thin it with toluene.

I love talking patches...

The "self stick" patches are designed to be TEMPORARY!! Use them on the road, if you don't have a spare tube, to get you home.

They are NOT PERMANENT!!

(that said, I suppose sometimes they will last and some fred will chime in about a self stick patch that he/she put on last year and it's still holding)

The vulcanizing fluid based patches are (if done properly) permanent and a properly patched tube with one of them is AS GOOD AS A NEW TUBE!

It's true that the seal on the little tube of vulcanizing fluid is not good, so if you use it once and then come back a few months later it may dry up.

So here are my recommendations:

Get TWO patch kits. The self-stick temporary ones go in your saddlebag in case you need on-the-road repairs. Save up your flatted tubes until you have several and then "batch patch" them at home with the vulcanizing fluid.

You might say wtf two kits?? The cost of this is less than that of a new tube.

Do it now and thank me later.

i'd rather spend the $5 new tube insurance, than risk getting killed/badly injured on a fast descent from a failed patch.

just my opinion.

Why bother with glueless temporary patches ? Once you have the tube out, identified the hole, might as well use a good patch. Only takes an extra 30 seconds for the glue to dry. Anyway, I just bring 2 spare tubes with me, and patch them later.

I have never had a glued patch fail. I would trust a properly patch tube as much as a new one. Since I can patch a tube for a few pennies, why replace the tube.

Same here. Even if a patch does fail, it would be a slow leak as air works its way out between the patch & tube.

wait???

You wont buy a new $6 tube but will spend $170 on new clipless road shoes, $100 bucks on a new stem to save a few grams, spend $1,200 on sram red to replace a fully functioning group, spend $30 bucks a month on hammer gels, will pay $20 for "cycling specifc" socks?

yet the $6 dollar tube is where you choose to save money?

Who are you calling Fred?!!

Yep, I put a stick on patch (emergency repair) and it lasted over a year. The Park Tool vulcanizing patch kit I used SUCKED. For real. So you know, I've been patching tubes longer than many of you have been alive.

FWIW, I fully acknowledge that rubber patches with vulcanizing "glue" are the way to go. It's just that the PT kit that I bought was useless. The patches were very hard to deal with and ultimately wouldn't hold.

Stick ons are indeed temporary. They're also pretty fool-proof and fast. That's why I carry them. My default is always to stick the spare tube in first...I hate to slow down the ride. If I have more than one flat I patch. I live in the land of cactus, rednecks throwing beer bottles and sharp rocks. I rarely have more than one flat on a ride. I also carry some good quality duct tape wrapped around a plastic card. I've actually had great luck patching tubes with this and it also makes a great casing cut repair.

You're out there to ride, not fix flats. Flats are just the price of doing business.

+1 except I don't live in the desert and I wrap my duct tape around my tire lever.

I am not pointing fingers but about the temporary patches, there is a Murphy's Law saying, "Make something so simple that even an idiot can use it and only an idiot will use it."

I am just saying.

Another vote for the Rema patch kits. None of the stores near me carry them, however.

I carry a tube as my first resort for a flat, and then patch the tube at home at my convenience. I still carry a patch kit as flats don't always come alone.

**** ..... in a thread about patch kits .... who'da thunk ?

I have a high-end bike with over 8500 miles on it and one of the tubes is still original from when I got the bike. It's got like 6 glue-on patches on it. I don't even want to think about the increase in rotating weight this causes. To be honest though, it hasn't been on the bike the entire 8500 miles as I always carry a spare tube (probably has 4+ patches on it) and it's been rotated with that variously on the front and rear. I also carry a couple of stick-on patches for the rare times I double flat. I replace the stick-on with a glue-on when convenient after I get home. Years ago I used to leave them on but they invariably would start leaking after weeks or months.

I have no preference among different glue-on patch kits as they all seem to be pretty similar and none have ever failed me. I just go for the cheapest I can find.

I use a slime patch hit from wallyworld, 100 piece kit for around 4-5 dollars. I also buy a bigger tube of glue there that properly seals and have been good to go for the last three years. I carry two tubes on rides though, no patching for me. Although when I ride with my wife and we each pull a burley trailer with a 3 year old I do carry a kit since there's three different sized tires I'd have to carry tubes for. But I take along a small toolbox with one tube for each bike, a patch kit, pump, levers, multiwrench, 10mm box end for wifes bike, etc. When pulling a trailer a bit extra doesn't matter much unless you need it and don't have it.

Anyone ever tried the Lezyne glueless patches? I think they make good stuff so I am wondering if their glueless patches might actually work. The glueless patches I bought from Performance six years ago were crap and didn't work at all.

I've tried one so far and it worked. I carried Park before and the one I used worked. The only time I ever had a problem was when I didn't sand the tube enough. I buy a new package of glueless patches every year or so and throw the old ones away.

I only use glueless patches in an emergency after I've used my spare tube(s) and borrowed other people's spares.

For permanent repairs I use a regular patch. The problem I'm having with those is that I'm old and have missed the hole with the patch a couple times so now I have to wear reading glasses when I do the repair.

I've heard other people say the Performance patches were bad.

Ya gotta draw the line somewheres!

That's not true! I put one on last year that is still holding!

Aw, damn!


No, seriously, I use the vulcanizing ones. I JUST bought some lezyne self-stick ones for the first time to try as temporary fixes on the road, but I haven't had the chance to try them yet.

What does your "high-end bike" have to do with patches? Oh wait, did you just want to remind the forum that you have a "high-end bike"...nevermind!

I carry two tubes and patch at home. I too have a problem finding the hole. Is it possible to mark it with a red marker so I know where to sand, glue and then apply the patch?

I use a silver ink sharpie.