THE COMPASS
Don’t Fear Your Gear
Regular maintenance is a part of risk management BY LINDSEY SCHULTZ
F
rom a very early age, we learn the truth that the more we take care of our toys, the longer we can play with them. These lessons are still applicable as an adult, except now our toys are even more expensive. Taking care of them should be a part of every outdoor enthusiast’s pre-trip preparations. Our outdoor equipment’s proper performance makes using it more enjoyable and safer. Below is a quick guide for basic gear maintenance and storage to ensure your toys maintain their top-notch performance and assist you in reaching your adventure goals rather than compromising them. Apply these rules (as applicable), and your gear will be set for your next big adventure: • Wash • Re-waterproof • Remove batteries • Store gear clean, dry, and uncompressed in a dark and cool location • Read and follow the manufacturer’s care instructions for the gear’s materials • Contact a professional when maintenance and repair needs are beyond your skillset
Preventative Maintenance Maintenance can be a struggle! As dreaded as it may be, maintaining your gear as soon as possible after each trip will lessen repair needs. 6
Wash Your Outerwear and Down Gear Dirt and oil cause down fill to lose loft (and stink!), reducing warmth, while technical outerwear fabric loses breathability, compromising function. It’s time to do laundry. Follow the laundry instructions on your garment’s label. No label? Close your zippers and wash your technical gear using a cleaning solution like Nikwax with cold water on the gentle cycle or in a washbasin agitating with your hands. Stay far away from traditional laundry detergents. Dry with low heat on gentle to protect the Durable Water Repellent (DWR) finish and add a couple of tennis balls to the dryer to help replenish loft. After several washes, consider reapplying a new DWR treatment using a spray or wash-in product.
Love Your Footwear Water, sweat, and dirt are the enemies of our trail shoes. Wet material grows bacteria and mold, while dirt and mud can cause material to turn rigid, weakening the fiber and making it more susceptible to wear. After each adventure, remove the insoles and let your shoes dry and air out. Avoid too much heat or direct sunlight, which can crack, melt, and compromise the material. Rinse your trail shoes with water from time to time, especially when muddy, and use a soft brush scrub when needed. Treat with spray disinfectant and a waterproofing agent, depending on the material. Always let your trail shoes
TRAIL BLAZER | Summer 2022 | Tahoe Rim Trail Association
completely dry out before reinserting your insoles and hitting the trail. And don’t forget to throw your trail shoes’ insoles in the washing machine from time to time!
The Big One, Two, and Three! Salt from your sweat and oil from your skin collect on the straps and back of your pack, the lining of your sleeping bag, and the floor and flaps of your tents, creating salty grease traps that capture dirt, attract critters, and start to smell less like pine trees and more like a compost pile of sweaty socks. Your sleeping bag, tent, and backpack are known as your Big Three for backpacking because of their importance in backcountry travel and living. They also tend to be the most expensive. Taking care of them is a critical part of gear maintenance! Sleeping bag maintenance is essentially identical to the machine washing of down outerwear. However, backpacks and tents must be hand-washed using a soft sponge and lukewarm water, then hung to dry away from the sun. Be sure to scrub the zipper. Mild soaps like diluted Dawn are okay to use on fabrics. Zipper lubricants like Gear Aid Zip Care are recommended once the fabric has dried.
Water, Water, Water Bacteria and mold are gross, taste terrible, and can make you sick. So why haven’t you cleaned your hydration bladder lately? We’re all guilty of it, but it’s not hard! Some bladder
