Question about blowouts: patch on trail or bail out and hitch to town?

Popped my sidewall on the Timberline Trail near Ramona Falls last weekend, a sharp rock sliced a 2 inch gash and my patch kit was no match. I patched it twice, watched it bubble both times, and ended up hiking 6 miles out on a flat with a busted ankle. My buddy says a sidewall gash means walk out and hitch to a shop, but I keep thinking one more layer of duct tape might have got me another 10 miles. Curious how you all draw the line between field fix and calling it. What's the worst failure you patched on the trail vs just hiked out on?

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garcia.kelly4d ago

My buddy Dave tried the duct tape thing on a rear tire last August on the Loowit, and he made it about 3 miles before the tape wore through and the tube blew out on a rock garden. He walked the last 5 miles to the trailhead in sandals because his cleats were shot. He says now that the extra hour of fiddling bought him nothing but a worse walk. His rule after that trip is two failed patches and he's done, no third attempt. A 2 inch sidewall gash is a big cut, and that's not the kind of thing a patch will ever hold. Sounds like your buddy has the right idea.

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