The Complete Gear Care Guide

Why Gear Care Matters

Outdoor gear takes a beating. UV exposure degrades fabrics. Dirt grinds into zippers like sandpaper. Sweat and body oils break down waterproof coatings. Salt from dried perspiration corrodes metal hardware. Left unchecked, these forces can cut the useful life of a $400 tent or a $200 pack in half.

The good news is that proper maintenance is straightforward, requires no specialized skills, and takes surprisingly little time. A few hours of care each season can easily double the functional lifespan of your equipment.

This guide covers the four pillars of gear longevity: cleaning, waterproofing, storage, and field repair.

Cleaning Your Gear

Cleaning is the foundation of all gear care. Dirt isn't just unsightly — it actively damages your equipment. Grit embedded in fabric acts as an abrasive, wearing through fibers with every fold and flex.

Backpacks and Bags

Backpacks accumulate more body contact residue than any other piece of gear. Here's the proper cleaning sequence:

1. Empty all pockets and compartments completely. Shake upside down to dislodge debris.
2. Remove the frame sheet and hip belt if detachable.
3. Spot clean high-contact areas with a soft brush and lukewarm water mixed with mild soap.
4. For a deep clean, fill a bathtub with lukewarm water and a capful of technical wash. Submerge and gently agitate for 10–15 minutes.
5. Never machine wash structured packs — the agitator can bend internal frames.
6. Air dry completely in a well-ventilated area out of direct sunlight. Allow 24–48 hours.

Tents and Shelters

1. Set up the tent at home on a clean surface.
2. Rinse the entire tent with a garden hose to remove loose dirt.
3. For stubborn spots, use a tent-specific cleaner and a soft sponge.
4. Pay special attention to zipper tracks — dirt in zippers is the number one cause of zipper failure.
5. Rinse thoroughly and allow to dry completely while pitched.
6. When packing, stuff loosely instead of folding along the same creases.

Technical Fabrics

• Always use sport-specific detergents formulated for technical fabrics.
• Use a front-loading washer only. Top-loading agitators can tear seam tape.
• Never use fabric softener — it coats fibers and completely destroys DWR performance.
• Tumble dry on low heat for 20 minutes after washing. The heat reactivates DWR coatings.

Waterproofing and DWR

DWR (Durable Water Repellent) is a chemical treatment on the outer face of waterproof-breathable fabrics. When working, water beads up and rolls off. When it fails, water soaks in — the membrane still blocks penetration, but breathability drops dramatically.

DWR Reapplication Schedule

Storage Best Practices

1. Clean everything before storage. Dirt and sweat attract mildew and insects.
2. Dry completely — no exceptions. Even slight dampness produces mildew within days.
3. Store tents loosely stuffed, not rolled. Repeated creasing breaks down coatings.
4. Hang sleeping bags or store uncompressed. Long-term compression permanently reduces warmth.
5. Keep gear in a cool, dry, dark location. Avoid garages and car trunks.
6. Use breathable storage bags, never plastic. Sealed plastic traps moisture.

Field Repairs

Gear failures rarely wait for a convenient time. Every backcountry traveler should carry a small repair kit and know these fundamental fixes.

When to Retire Gear

• Delamination — waterproof membranes peeling away from face fabrics.
• Persistent mildew smell that survives thorough washing.
• Fraying at structural seams — shoulder straps, hip belt junctions.
• Elastic that won't recover — irreversible degradation.
• Zipper tracks with missing teeth beyond slider replacement.
• Foam permanently compressed in sleeping pads or hip belts.

Before discarding old gear, check our Lifetime Repair Promise. We can often refurbish equipment that seems beyond help.

"Take care of your tools and they'll take care of you. The mountains taught it to us before we had words for it."