Follow these helpful Gear Care tips to keep your backpack in shape and get years of service out of it.
The old adage, "Take care of your equipment and it will take care of you" is an important truth to live by for campers, hikers and backpackers, and one that is very true when it comes to your backpack. Throughout a long day of hiking, you'll want your backpack to be well-fitted, comfortable and able to withstand the constant punishment of scraping tree branches, rubbing against rocks and enduring the elements, whether they be harsh sunlight, torrential rain or blinding snow. Follow the Gear Care suggestions below and you'll have a backpack that will take care of you and give you years of service because you take care of it.
Pack Carefully - Taking the time and effort to properly and carefully place items, especially sharp or hard-edged items such as a stove, cookware or tent stakes, within the pack will benefit you in more ways than just maintaining your backpack. Distributing the load equitably will help your pack stay balanced, making it easier and more comfortable on your back as you are hiking. Making sure you pack those hard-edged and sharp items carefully will avoid having them poke you in the back while wearing the pack, but will also keep them from poking into the backpack material and causing wear spots or, even worse, ripping holes in the backpack.
Carry a Small Repair Kit - When NASA launches a space shuttle they have redundant back-up systems in place, just in case a primary or even secondary system should fail. As we trek out into the wild, it would behoove us to have at least some small ability to make repairs while in the great outdoors. Bring along a couple of extra clevis pins and split rings, a heavy duty sewing needle with upholstery thread, a small can of silicone spray and a roll of universal patching material, otherwise known as duct tape.
Keep the Inside Clean - It can happen to the best of us; no matter how careful we try to be, we find food items spilling into the pack, or something melting and making a sticky mess when it escapes a badly sealed zip-lock bag. As soon as you discover such a problem, clean it immediately and as thoroughly as possible. Food particles or liquid stains can cause the pack fabric to wear prematurely. Almost as bad; if you set the backpack down and take an afternoon nap, you could awake to ants or worse crawling into and through your pack, enjoying the snack you left for them. When returning from a hike, empty the pack completely, shake all the loose items out and, if needed, wipe down the inside with a damp cloth to remove crumbs or stains.
Keep the Outside Clean - On the trail, be careful of tree sap, plants that secrete liquids or even the rare occurrence when your backpack becomes ground zero for bird droppings. At the first sign of any type of stain, use a damp cloth to clean off as much as possible to minimize damage to the pack fabric. Back home use a mild soap to thoroughly clean any stains, but be careful not to ruin the fabric's waterproof coating. Dry completely in a cool, airy place to avoid dampness causing mildew.
Perform Regular Maintenance - Take care of problems while they are small and , preferably, while you're at home. Sew any small rips or tears, patch any worn areas of fabric and tape seams that may be loose. Check high-stress points such as the hip belt, suspension stabilizers and shoulder straps for wear or separation. Keep zippers clean and free of obstructions such as stray threads or items that could damage the teeth, and spray with silicone spray to keep them easy to zip and unzip.
Store The Backpack Properly - Keep your backpack in a cool and dry storage area to keep mildew from forming and to extend the life of the waterproof coating on most packs.
A properly cared for backpack will give you years of service, so take care of your backpack and it will take care of you.
