Outdoor Gear Care Protect your investment

Keeping it clean... Regular care can extend the life of your high performance apparel and gear. Here are some tips to help keep your outdoor gear at peak performance. Always be sure to read and follow the care instructions on the manufacturer's label. Proper care will vary depending on the fiber content, finishes and linings and also drying requirements.

With that said, we will give you sound advice for cleaning fabric & leather products. We have found these to be sensible methods for caring for your outdoor gear.

Technical fabrics::

DWR, laminated, encapsulated and coated :: Technical fabric manufacturers agree that is best to wash their products with a non-detergent soap. Never use detergents with fabric softeners, perfumes or any additive type product. Many detergents with additives leave "surfactants" behind on a fabric's fibers that inhibit the technical performance. Clean garments and gear regularly, or when it's needed. Built-up dirt can get ground deep into the fabric, making stains difficult to remove and can even damage the fabric.

Note:: The use of fabric softener and dryer sheets; is not recommended for use in just about every category of technical fabrics. Dryer sheets are a form of fabric softener that is commonly found in the United States. Fabric softeners can actually impede the fabrics ability to shed water. We recommend X-Static silver lined, re-usable dryer sheets. They will reduce the static build-up during the drying process.

Use mesh washing bags (we offer several brands of bags in our store) for small items such as slings, belts & socks to keep them from tangling and getting lost. On finer fabrics, use a "Gentle" cycle. Close all zippers and attach "hook and loop" closures on gloves, jackets, and pants.

Sort and launder items made of natural and manufactured fibers separately. Natural fibers can release oils which can be attracted to and stain manufactured fibers like polyester and nylon.

Drying :: Always check the garments tag for their recommended advice on drying. If you're going to dry your gear in a heated dryer, be sure to use the low heat setting. Fabrics, linings, or insulations could shrink or be otherwise damaged from using too high of a temperature or from leaving garments in the dryer too long. Take items out of the dryer when they're slightly damp. If they are hot to the touch, you've waited too long.

Fibers such as acrylic, nylon, polyester, and polyolefin dry very quickly, and should be watched closely. Polyolefin can actually melt if the dryer temperature gets too high.

Note:: If you're ever in doubt of how to dry a garment, hang the clothing to dry.

Reference the Glossary