From drying your socks using the heat of your body to handling spots made by mildew, we’ll show you how to make sure your clothing protects you from the elements

Being in the elements requires protection from them, and as any hiker knows an outdoor trip usually involves sweating dusty and/or wet. It’s part the excitement, when dirt, sweat and dampness persist, it could reduce the lifespan of outdoor gear; turning an enjoyable pastime to a costly one.

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“Consistent laundering of gear really helps prolong the life of a product,” says Corey Simpson of Patagonia, because technological fabrics “all perform better when they’re not clogged or covered with dirt and oils”.

It is a good idea to wash your hands during hikes.

If you are forced to wash your gear during a camping excursion, Simpson says to “find a creek, stream or river to rinse the garments”. While washing your clothes is fine, the use of soap when you are in a river isn’t. If your camp does not have laundry facilities on site clothing should be hand washed in a tub or bucket with soap that is biodegradable, and the resulting grey water is to be poured out of the way away from running water

Lastly, hang the garments to dry in the sun or breeze.

What to do if it rains

Making sure your gear stays dry is one of the most crucial aspects of maintaining it. However, this can be challenging when you’re stuck in the rain while halfway up a mountain on the trail for a long time.

The first thing you need to do first is to wash off the excess water Then, find a dry area to place it. General manager of product at Kathmandu, Robert Fry, suggests inside “your tent’s vestibule” as an ideal drying location, “so there’s no chance it’ll drip and wet your dry gear, like your sleeping bag”.

Use your body to heat your body

  • If your down jacket has become saturated, Simpson suggests you “shake the jacket to get the moisture off … and get the down to loft up again”. Additionally, you can use your body heat to help get the coat dry. Cover the jacket with wicking layers you have before rubbing your hands across the jacket for friction and heat into the garment from the outside. Then, put the outer layer over the jacket, and move making sure that your body heat flows into through the interior too.
  • This also works for drying your socks. If your socks and shoes are soaked, Simpson suggests wringing out the excess moisture from your socks and hanging them up to dry. However, 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

When you get home from hiking, begin by shaking or rinse off any dirt and debris from your equipment, and afterward wash your items according to the care instructions. Fry suggests that waterproof and breathable materials should be washed “using a cleaning agent made specifically for [them] on a cold, gentle cycle”.

Inspect and repair

  • If your equipment is getting older and starting to show indications of wear and tear, Fry says it’s important to recognize this, as it can affect “your overall experience and safety when spending time ‘out there.”
  • But, often, the damage isn’t that severe and will not affect the gear’s performance. Simpson adds, “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 checking the gear every time you go on a trip, and if you spot any serious problems – for example, zips that are broken – make sure to get it taken to a specialist repair center. So you don’t have time to overlook the issue prior to the next adventure.