Introduction
A cord lock is a small mechanism, often made of plastic, that is attached to a drawcord to secure it in place, allowing for easy adjustment of tightness and looseness. When the cord lock is damaged or missing, the drawcord becomes non-adjustable.
This guide will demonstrate how to replace a cord lock without the need for sewing. To ensure this solution is applicable, confirm that at least one end of the drawcord is not sewn into the item, allowing for the cord lock to be removed without undoing any stitches.
Read through the entire guide before starting the repair, and gather the necessary tools and materials. While Patagonia-specific materials are ideal, they are not required. Patagonia replacement parts can be obtained by calling or messaging Patagonia Customer Service.
Alternatively, Patagonia products can be taken to a local retail store for repair evaluation or sent in to Patagonia through their mail-in repair service.
Let's get fixing!
WARNING! Small Parts. Patagonia does not recommend conducting these repairs on garments intended for children age 3 or under. Instead, we recommend return of the product for professional repair services.
Related tutorial: Elastic Drawcord Replacement
Parts
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Locate the damaged cord lock and take note of:
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Type - The style of of cord lock and how many holes it has
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Drawcord - How the drawcord threads through the cord lock and how the drawcord ends (end cap, knot, stitching)
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Other Pieces - If the cord lock and drawcord are used in conjunction with any other pieces such as a rubber pull tab or plastic disc
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If the cord lock is missing and it isn't clear how it was originally placed, see Step 7 for tips.
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On the end of the drawcord closest to the damaged cord lock, use flush cutters to pry out the tip of the end cap.
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Pull the drawcord end out of the end cap and untie the knot.
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Remove the base of the end cap and any plastic discs (if present).
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Unthread the drawcord until it passes entirely through the damaged cord lock.
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Responsibly discard the damaged cord lock.
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Thread the drawcord through a new cord lock by pushing the cord lock mechanism (reference image #2) and inserting the drawcord through the opening.
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Double check that the positioning of the new cord lock on the drawcord matches the original.
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Thread the end cap base back on to the drawcord.
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Tie a knot at the end of the drawcord, then pull it tight and snip or singe any excess.
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Pull the drawcord so the knot rests inside the end cap base.
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Replace the end cap tip by snapping it into place.
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Pull on the exposed drawcord to make sure it's secure.
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Tighten and loosen the drawcord using the new cord lock to ensure it's functioning correctly.
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VARIATONS: There are many varieties of cord locks on the vast array of Patagonia items. The techniques and steps outlined in this tutorial can be rearranged or modified to fit the circumstances.
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MISSING CORD LOCK: If the cord lock is missing entirely, use the remaining cord locks and grosgrain loops as context clues. Alternatively, try to find photos of the item on Patagonia.com, WornWear.com, or Google image search.
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