Follow these tips to extend the life of your backpack.
By Marcus Woolf
As I get older, staying in good shape is definitely tougher. Whether I'm hiking or exercising at the gym, I have to focus more on preventing the aches and pains that come with age. It's the same with hiking gear. As you rack up miles on your backpack you have to show it some TLC to avoid torn fabrics, broken buckles, and frozen zippers. Sure, the rigors of outdoor adventure can overwhelm even the best-made packs. But you can extend the life of most gear through proper care and maintenance. When it comes to your backpack, there are a few steps you can take that will make a real difference. Here are some tips on keeping your pack in good condition.
Wash Off the Sweat and Grime
Salt ranks high on the list of things that can damage a pack, as it can corrode metal and break down nylon fabrics. So, use a mild soap such as Woolite (don’t use detergent) and a soft nylon brush to scrub areas soaked with sweat, such as nylon webbing and surfaces that touch your torso. Also, use the soft soap and brush to clean the inside of the pack and remove food, dirt and grime, as well as spilled materials, such as insect repellent and stove fuel. If mildew appears, it often cannot be removed completely, but Woolite can reduce odors.
Don't Wash or Dry the Pack in a Machine
Washing machines and dryers are harmful to packs. The agitation from a machine can break down fabrics as well as foams in hip belts, shoulder straps and back panels. Also, straps can get twisted in the components of a top-loading washer. With many clothes dryers, the heat levels are too intense and can break down fabrics and foams.
Store it Properly
The car trunk isn’t a great storage space, especially during summer, when a filthy pack can become a Petri dish of nasty things. It’s best to put your pack in a cool, dry place, and hang it if possible. If you leave your pack on the garage floor, standing water or other liquids like engine oil could invade the pack. Also, if your pack is on the floor, mice in search of crumbs can chew through the fabric.
Examine Your Zippers
Salt and dirt not only damage pack fabrics but also cause zippers to fail. Between hiking trips use mild soap and a soft nylon brush to scrub zippers and the surrounding fabric. Also, when you put gear in a pack, don’t overfill it to the point that you must force a zipper to close. This can cause the zipper closure mechanism to splay apart so that it will no longer hold the zipper together. Try to readjust your load or remove something so that it will close without force. Also, if a zipper is open partway, don’t pull on the two sides of the zipper to open it more, because this can damage the zipper teeth.
Car Doors and Buckles—A Bad Combination
Most of the time, pack buckles don’t fail in the field. Instead, they’re damaged before people even leave their driveway. When you put your pack in your vehicle, look for any protruding buckles before you slam the door or hatch. A car door—not Mother Nature—is most often the culprit when a buckle is cracked.
If you've purchased a high-quality backpack, you likely forked over a decent amount of money. It makes sense to protect your investment and do what's necessary to extend the life of your gear. Just like our bodies, our gear will eventually weaken, but preventative care will help you buy some time.
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