From drying your socks using your body heat, to dealing with spots of mold, here’s how you can safeguard the clothes that will protect your from the elements
Being exposed to the elements needs protection from the elements, and as every hiker is aware that an outdoor excursion usually involves sweating, dusty, and/or wet. While it’s part of the enjoyment, if dirt, sweat, and moisture remain for too long, it can shorten the life of outdoor gear; turning an inexpensive hobby to one that costs a lot.
“Consistent laundering of gear really helps prolong the life of a product,” says Corey Simpson of Patagonia, because technical fabrics “all perform better when they’re not clogged or covered with dirt and oils”.
Washing while you hike
If you are forced to clean your shell jackets in the middle of a camping excursion, Simpson says to “find a creek, stream or river to rinse the garments”. Although washing is acceptable, applying soap to a stream is not. If your campsite does not have dedicated laundry facilities clothing should be hand washed in a tub or bucket with soap that is biodegradable, and the resulting grey water must be tipped out far enough away from the running water.
Finally, hang the clothes and dry them in sun or in the breeze.
What to do if it rains?
Keeping gear dry is one of the most vital aspects of maintaining it. However, this isn’t always easy in the event of being caught in the rain, half way up a hill on a multi-day hike.
The first thing you need to do to shake out any excess water and then locate a dry place that you could hang it. General manager of products at Kathmandu, Robert Fry, suggests using “your tent’s vestibule” as the perfect drying space, “so there’s no chance it’ll drip and wet your dry gear, like your sleeping bag“.
Applying your body heating
If your down jacket appears to be saturated, Simpson suggests you “shake the jacket to get the moisture off … and get the down to loft up again”. You could also apply your body heat to help remove the moisture from the clothes. Put the jacket on over any layers of wicking that you have and then rub your hands along the jacket to create friction and heat entering the jacket from the outside. Finally, put your outer layer over the jacket and continue moving so your body heat enters it from the inside too.
This is also a great way to dry your socks. If your socks and shoes are wet, Simpson suggests wringing out any moisture that remains from your socks before hanging them up to dry. But if they’re still damp when you take off, “put them in the inside pocket of a jacket to get your body heat to dry them out”.
Post-hike clean up
After returning from hiking, begin by shaking or rinsing off the dirt and debris that has accumulated on your shell jackets. Then, clean each item in accordance with the care instructions. Fry states that waterproof items and breathable clothing should be washed “using a cleaning agent made specifically for [them] on a cold, gentle cycle”.
Inspect and make repairs
- If your equipment is getting old and showing evidence of wear Fry advises you to be aware of this as it can affect “your overall experience and safety when spending time ‘out there.”
- Of course, there are times when the damage is not as severe which won’t hinder the performance of your equipment. Simpson states, “If your favorite hiking shirt has a few holes in it, no worries, you can continue to use it and earn some more rips and tears.”
- Fry suggests inspecting gear at the end of every trip and, if you notice any issues that are serious – such as broken zips – be sure to take it straight to an expert repair service. This way, you won’t have time to forget about the issue before your next adventure.