So I went to Repair Lair today hoping to find a nice messenger bag to replace the backpack I've been using on my motorcycle. They had a pretty large selection as always; in varying states of condition. I wasn't struck by anything much but then there it was - a sweet, almost new,Timbuk2 bag. I took it to the counter and made an offer of about 20% less than then we're asking. They accepted as I guessed they would. They're always quite generous. The woman who usually does the excellent work on the repairs that I bring in approached the counter. She started searching my new bag looking for the sternum strap that she knew should go with it. She couldn't find it so guess what she did? She went to the sewing machine and made one for me. It was perfect; useful the first time out. I asked how much she wanted for the strap she had just made me from scratch. "Nothing" she said. "It goes with the bag." This is so typical of my experiences at the Lair. They do great work. They're friendly and generous. I recommend them highly and I tell all my friends about them. Thanks for the the great service Repair Lair! read more

Repair Lair - My "bangin' deal" new Timbuk2 Messenger Bag. - Used, Vintage & Consignment Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

My favorite backpack had a broken zipper. My local tailor couldn't fix it, but Repair Lair did in just over a week with a matching new YKK zipper. The price I ended up paying was slightly lower than the price quoted, in part because of a cash discount. I might have gotten a new backpack for the price of the repair, but then I would have been stuck with a useless backpack. Also, there's a good chance that a new backpack would be poorer quality. I'm so glad my spouse spotted this little shop while we were driving down Minnehaha! read more

They repaired my tent, restrung the poles and it works great! I also have bought quality used gear from them a decent prices. read more

I have brought coats for new zippers, and they fix the zippers quickly and well. Love the Repair Lair!

Repair lair is a refuge from the vapid consumerism of modern life. Nice used outerwear and shoes. Fair prices on repairs to clothing, outdoor gear etc. Shop is tidy and well organized. Nancy is committed to sensible solutions to problems, not just making a buck. This store is a gem. read more

I wish there were a business like this in every city. All that pricey outdoor gear that just has one hole in it? That one kid who never met a zipper she couldn't manage to break? They'll fix it right up for less than half the price of a new item, and they'll keep stuff out of the landfill. Plus they've got a pretty good selection of used outdoor gear. We bring them something every few months and we'll keep doing so as long as they're still open. read more

A personable and sociable browsing & shopping experience with the neighborhood 'feel'. The store always seems to have a great selection of used gear & clothing to choose from. Love just walking into this store because it has a 'feel' to it! read more

I've purchased many items over the years, some brand new and some gently used. There have been many 'winners' and a few 'non-winners' in my purchases--but because these items are never full price, I have certainly come out ahead while being able to have some really nice pieces of clothing, bags, sunglasses and foot wear. **On a side note, I appreciate that Nancy did a deal with me for outfitting our boys' soccer team at school with (pre-owned) warm hats and gloves for late (COLD/snowy) sections games. Love, love, love this place! read more

I had a screen shelter that needed repairing. They did a great job, the price was good. As my deadline neared they took additional time to see that the job was on-time. I'll definitely use them again. read more

I needed a little heavy duty sewing done (sewing velcro to both sides of a 2" nylon strap, and then sew that to a heavy brassard). They did a fantastic job at a fantastic price. They were able to repair it while I waited. I'll definitely be going back. p.s. They also have all kinds of used gear and clothes. read more

Nothing pushes my stubborn adventurer buttons like cheap af airlines charging exorbitant prices for checking bags. The part of me that's still a cheap-ass 18-year-old pipes up: "Screw me, you say? Ohhhh no, screw YOU, buddy. I'm gonna be wicked uncomfortable in three layers of clothes for 18 hours and carry all of my shit on now, JUST TO SPITE YOU." Only problem was I didn't have a bag that could hack that kind of thing- needed to be waterproof (rainy season!), light (I am Le Small), easy on m'back and shoulders (aka hip belt), small (carry-on/day-hike-size) but also big (with lots of pockets, space for water, expandable for when the third layer becomes too much), and not super ugly because I am thrifty but also a little vain. Repair Lair hooked me up. They recently hired floor help which made the whole experience heavenly. The guy working overheard what I was looking for, and immediately pulled The Perfect Backpack off the rack. It was 30L, it had a light back frame with breathable mesh, it had a rain fly, it had a collapsible net to attach to the outside to carry sweaters, it was light as a feather, it didn't make me look like a fourth grader, it had a hip belt, and it was almost new. And it was $30. And he threw in a carabiner for free. SOLD. This place is solid gold for all of you thrifty, stubborn adventurers. Make it your first stop, every time. read more

Wonderful place to fix your clothing. I took my purse and my down jacket (both had some zipper issues) there after an other store wanted to overcharge me. The two young men working there were very nice and they took a look my down jacket and was abled fixed the zipper in 5 mistunes. As my purse, I left it there about a week and they called me when it was ready to pick up. I was very happy with the result and the fee were very reasonable. I recommend repair lair. Good job and Thank you. read more

Repair Lair is fantastic. I love that it is an eco-friendly shop that focuses on reusing second hand gear. I have both both items here and consigned some of my own gear, all in a really stress-free way. Prices are reasonable. The gear, clothes, etc. are all high quality and in fantastic shape. The staff and owner are very friendly, approachable, and helpful. I love this store and will be back again soon! read more

Such a cool place. My friend got his jacket zipper fixed here, and told me about how reasonable their pricing is and about all the awesome gear they have for sale. I looked them up on Instagram and was like "yep, heading there tomorrow". I brought in an 80s L.L. Bean bag with a couple seam splits that needed to be sewn up and I had a few patches I wanted stitched on. Well, I just picked up my bag and it looks great. I will definitely be back for future repairs, and to see what goodies they have in on consignment. read more

I've gone to the Repair Lair a handful of times and have always found what I've been looking for. It's a cool place where all the gear and clothing is consignment and second hand. They also repair (hence the name) all types of outdoor equipment. It's always the same woman working who I assume owns the store. She is friendly and often offers a discount. Prices and selection are surprisingly good and we highly recommend supporting this business. read more

The other day I was trying to get my favorite Helly Hansen raincoat off the hanger but failed when the zipper pull came off in my hand. No problem--Repair Lair put a new pull on while I waited and my coat was good as new. While waiting for my repair, I browsed the well-curated selection of consignment items. There's the expected outdoor gear (clothing, yes, but also tents, boots, packs and even an awesome tiny Stanley thermos) but also non-outdoor clothing as well--I scored a killer wool cardigan and two pairs of socks at an incredible price. Quality repair services done fast (and right) for a fair price. Great used clothing and gear. Highly recommended. read more

If you are selling or consigning, stay away. They already have more inventory than they can sell in one hundred years. And, ten dollars to replace a slider on a zipper? The web site looks good though. read more

Brought in a pack, was expecting to leave it for a couple days and pay some 20-30 bucks. They repaired it while I waited for cheaper than expected. Lots of cool lightly used gear. Staff was super friendly and seemed plugged in to the community. Good vibes all around. Will definitely be back. read more

I absolutely love Repair Lair!!! I've had canvas tent zipper repair and replacement!!! They Rule on the reuse, renew, or replace!!! If you need outdoor gear please check them first!!! Incredible concept in outfitting!!! Killer vintage and new consignment clothing, equipment and gear. Hard to leave the place without a new setup; and the feeling you need to go back because you hesitated. read more

They sell you products and don't stand behind the integrity. I paid an exorbitant amount for pants and the pockets fell out and they refused to help fix or return money. Never again. This is why companies go out of business, not because of companies like Costco where there are actually no questions asked and they do whatever they can for the customer. read more

I would highly recommend Repair Lair! I had a backpack that I absolutely loved but one of the straps started ripping and the whole back started falling apart. I went here and they fixed it up in two days for $30. I didn't care what the inside looked like but they made both the inside and outside look brand new. They also reinforced the side that started ripping first. Seriously cannot say enough good things about this place! read more

Wow!! Fast, friendly, perfect work! First, the shop was closed when I came to drop off my torn coat. The owner opened up and took the coat anyway (interrupting her supper to do so), and had it back to me NEXT DAY! There's also a consignment shop attached to the store, so fun to browse. read more

I brought in a favorite old wool sweater with a few holes in the arms to be patched up. Nancy, the proprietor, called me a few days later to let me know it was done. She did an fantastic job reknitting the holes for a very reasonable charge. She also had taken time to seek out an answer to a repair question I had about another piece I had brought in with the sweater. Adam W.'s review of 11/17/2014, says it well; Equipment and clothing repairs done with care and pride for a fair price. Outdoor equipment and clothing for sale. Additionally, it's rare here in the Cities that I've feel genuine interpersonal care or appreciation for being a customer as I did at the Repair Lair. It's great to have this unique business with fantastic service in the Longfellow neighborhood and the Twin Cities. read more

Seriously awesome. This is a "can-do" group. I came here to get a project done when I simply had an idea, but no way of knowing whether it could be done. Nancy and her team looked it over and said "yes." This is one of those rare gems that before you know it -- everyone will have heard about it. I needed to have grommets put on to something for kids on our Y swim team. This was not a big deal. The turn-around time was fast. The price was fair. I will look for a reason to come back. Way to go and thank you. Sally read more

Nancy at Repair Lair is the best outdoor gear repair person in Minneapolis and most likely in the upper Midwest. I don't say this lightly. I've written hundreds of gear reviews for magazines like BACKPACKER, OUTSIDE, and various law enforcement and travel journals. I've been a guest to major manufacturer repair facilities and as a long time outdoorsman and professional user of outdoor gear, I've sent (and spent) more than my share on repair of hard-used items. I have an Old Skool Patagonia hard shell I bought back in the 80s that's been all over the world with me and taken some very hard knocks. Despite that, the only failure other than a few holes has been the seam tape coming off. Patagonia told me that I should just buy a new jacket; so did Midwest Mountaineer. I don't want a new jacket. I want my old jacket repaired. So on the recommendation of Mike Lanning from REI, I visited Repair Lair, Nancy's digs on East Lake. She fussed over me and my jacket, and then said, "Well, let me see what I can do." I got back (at a fraction of the cost of a replacement jacket of similar quality) my old jacket perfectly rebuilt and seam taped. Nancy is a stone pro in repair, and from now on, I will never use any other service to work on my much battered outdoor gear. She also runs a great consignment service there so if you're looking for an alternative to Thrifty Outfitter, make the trek out to East Lake and browse her stuff -- she makes drastic reductions to reduce cost -- I got a $100 shirt/jacket for $4 there!! Very highly recommended by this very critical (but very satisfied) professional customer. read more

I had a very large repair job - I had to repair the canvas cover for my boat. A 47 foot sailboat. Two of the three covers for the boat needed a new zipper that was about 6 ft long. Nancy Ford, the owner of repairlair, took this job on and in two weeks I had a brand new zipper installed on both covers and the cover was fixed! Almost as importantly she did the whole job for $125. That was an insanely good deal for anything on a boat. Thank you so much Nancy!! read more

Great selection here and the consignment system is efficient. I haven't had anything repaired yet but will be bringing some clothing in soon. The staff is very friendly. Bring a treat for the dog. read more

Needed a zipper repair on a nearly new, favorite jacket... after some online research, Repair Lair seemed to be my best bet .... AMAZING, fast service! Nancy found a pull that would fit and fixed it while I waited. She stocks a wide selection of pulls, so she probably has a fix for you. This place is a gem! If I ever need some outdoor apparel, warm socks, rain gear, etc., I'll stop here first, too! Well-stocked consignment shop with excellent prices. read more

Best gear shop in the cities. Period. Best gear shop in world? Maybe? Everybody who is anybody, and even those who aren't, knows that the 90s gear was WAY better than the ultralight, uber-cheapo crap ground out of Guangzho these days by pretty much all the major companies. Give me MSR, North Face or OR from the 90s and I guarantee it is of higher quality than the most expensive, lighter, thinner and newer version of it made by the same companies today. The lady who runs the shop, Nancy (I think?), is an OG wildwoods woman and knows her stuff. Let the millennials pretend they are hiking the Appalachian trail with their ultralight jazz, their $300 electro-filters and whatnots while they are actually spending 3 days in the BWCA and 3 times too much for their gear at Midwest Ripoff Mountaineering. I got 2 vintage 90s metal tagged made in Japan Snow Peak stoves, A Katadyn Combi and an Expedition 25 from her last week for less than half of what eBay was asking and I have been looking for this stuff for YEARS! Literally. Years. Who knew it was lurking in my city? And run by such solid folks! Will be checking back in monthly to see what awesome VTG stuff pops up in Le Repaire Laire! THX! And... btw... that Bry Guy with the 1 star seems pretty suspect as I saw these folks literally sewing stuff while I was in the shop. Pretty sure they would fix a pocket for someone. That is, of course, if they weren't a total jerkface. read more

Friendly, happy shop with nice people and a dog. They fixed my beloved vintage down jacket for 15.00 while I waited. Definitely will return if I need repairs. read more

Quick repair for a zipper issue on my snow pants. Fast service. Really great deals on name brand consignment. I saw a bunch of Patagonia, Columbia, Marmot, new wool socks, boots, etc... browsing as I waited for Nancy to complete my repair. Check it out, great location too! read more