Winter sports patches & badges
Your gear is your story.
Make it visible.
On the slope, in the gondola, after your run in the lodge your outfit tells people who you are.
Patches have been a staple of winter and mountain sports culture for years. On your jacket, board bag or backpack.
Your style, your statement.
Winter sports is a lifestyle.
Your gear shows how you live it.
In the winter and mountain sports world, your gear is more than functional it's a statement. What brand you wear, how your jacket looks, what's hanging off your board bag. Patches are one of the most direct ways to personalise your gear, to show which mountains you've ridden, which crew you're part of and what you stand for.
"Your jacket is your portfolio. Every patch tells where you've been, what you've ridden, who you are."
The patch culture in the mountain sports world has deep roots in skate and streetwear culture. Brands like Supreme, Palace, Stüssy and Burton release limited edition gear with patch detailing. On the slopes you see riders and skiers whose jacket is a living archive of seasons, resorts and adventures.
Go deeper
Patches for your discipline
Winter sports is broad. Click through to the page that fits you best each page dives deeper into the patch culture of that discipline.
🏂
Snowboard patches
The roots of patch culture in winter sports lie in snowboarding. Counter-culture, streetwear, self-expression everything about patches in the snowboard world.
⛷️
Ski patches
From freeskiing to freeride skiers personalise their gear too. Patches on ski jacket, ski bag and backpack. Style on the slope that goes beyond the brand of your skis.
Culture & style
Why patches belong in winter sports
Back in the '90s, snowboarders were already sticking patches onto their gear as a sign of identity and group belonging. That culture spread across the entire winter sports world. Skiers, freeriders, backcountry riders anyone with a passion for the mountain has something hanging on their jacket by now.
With the rise of gorpcore the streetwear aesthetic built around outdoor gear patches are more relevant than ever. You see it on the slopes, but also in the city: a winter sports jacket with patches is far from niche any more. It's style.
- Roots in skate culture and the counter-culture of the '90s
- Gorpcore makes outdoor patches mainstream in streetwear
- Patches as a personal archive a new story every season
- From limited drops to custom crew patches
Where do you wear them?
Patches on all your winter sports gear
Not just on the jacket patches go anywhere your gear goes. Here are the most popular spots and what you can express with each one.
🧥
Ski or snowboard jacket
The most visible spot. Chest, sleeve or back each location has a different feel. The back is a statement, the chest is subtle, the sleeve is bold.
🎒
Board bag & ski bag
Your bag travels everywhere with you. Patches on it tell the story of all the places your gear has already been a travel diary in fabric.
🎽
Backpack & day pack
Your winter sports backpack goes to the city, the train and the resort too. Patches make it stand out at every location on and off the slope.
🧤
Softshell & fleece
The après-ski layer. Your softshell or fleece is what you pull on after the last run and the last thing people see as you walk into the après-ski bar.
Patches on a winter sports jacket: what works and what doesn't?
Ski and snowboard jackets are made from synthetic, water-repellent material Gore-Tex, nylon or polyester. Fantastic for the slope, but that calls for the right attachment method.
Important: iron-on does not work on synthetic material.
High temperatures damage the coating of your jacket. Never use an iron without checking the care label — and even then, most jackets are too delicate for heat attachment.
- Velcro is the best option strong, swappable and gentle on the jacket
- Sewing is the most durable solution for permanent patches
- Never iron-on onto synthetic or waterproof material
- Textile glue as a temporary emergency fix always sew as well
Attachment options
How do you attach a patch to synthetic fabric?
Winter sports jackets are made for extreme conditions the attachment of your patch needs to be too.
🎯
Velcro (hook & loop)
Attach a hook strip to the patch and a loop strip to your jacket. Strong enough for the slope, easy to swap when you want a different look. The most popular system among winter sports enthusiasts.
🧵
Sewing
The most durable option for softshell, fleece or backpack. Stitch along the edge of the patch with a sturdy thread. Works on all fabric types but is permanent.
🔧
Pin attachment
For patches or pins with a metal pin on the back. Ideal for beanies, caps and bags. Less secure on a jacket but great for a quick, removable look.
⚠️
Iron-on
Does not work on waterproof or synthetic material. The heat damages the jacket's coating. Only suitable on cotton such as a hoodie or cotton backpack.
Have your own winter sports patch made
A crew patch, a resort club insignia, a season-end patch after a legendary trip the strongest expression of winter sports identity is something that belongs only to your group.
At Funbadges you can have custom patches made from 25 pieces, with a free design included. Embroidered for the classic feel, woven for fine details, or PVC for extra durability on the slopes.
- Embroidered warm, tactile, streetwear feel
- Woven sharp in detail, for complex logos
- PVC waterproof, indestructible, ideal for outdoors
- Velcro backing available as standard
- Free design with every request
Your gear.
Your statement.
From ready-made in the shop to a fully custom crew patch we make patches that can handle the slope and look great everywhere off it.