Keep your Gear in Tip Top Shape with Nikwax

As someone who is constantly abusing their gear, I am a big advocate of keeping your gear in good condition.  After all, you are spending a little extra $ for a good piece of gear, so I feel it is important to make your gear last as long as possible.

As Spring and Summer approach, some of our cold weather gear heads to the winter gear bin and other gear comes out of alternation.   For the winter gear, I like to wash and clean that gear so when I go to use it the first time next season, it is in optimal condition.  I recommend using the Nikwax Basewash to clean your synthetic gear such as a base-layer or other layers you use under your jackets or ski pants.  The Basewash is also good for cleaning Spring and Summer tech shirts in case you haven’t done that in a while.  For application, all you have to do is empty a cup full into your regular wash.  I suggest washing all your tech pieces in a load or two depending on how much you have.

For the tents and gear with seams where you want to make sure water doesn’t seep through, it is important to treat these seams from time to time.  Over time, the sun, wind, snow, and water will take it’s toll on any piece of gear.  I like to use the concentrated tent and gear solarproof product for this.  All you need to do is take a sponge or spray bottle and apply this solution to the seams.  Keep in mind, this is not one of those products that you throw in the wash with your gear.  If possible, try to apply this in an open air location, as it can get pretty smelly before drying.

Down can often have a number of benefits relating to your activities and performance in the outdoors.  The down side, no pun intended, is that the down can collect dirt which can add a small amount of weight and it also reduces the effectiveness of the loft.  By cleaning this dirt off, it allows the down to return to it’s natural state where it is most effective.