Hiking

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. . . Look After Your Hiking Gear And It Will Look After You

Hiking gear is very well designed for the job, but once you’ve got your hands on the latest equipment to make your hiking experiences more enjoyable, convenient and comfortable, it’s up to you to make sure that it stays that way. Hiking is a dirty business (hiking trails are generally either dry and dusty, or wet and squelchy . . . both of which can make your hiking gear extremely grubby indeed).  Hiking equipment needs to be cleaned and it needs to be well maintained, maybe even waterproofed from time to time. Fortunately, along with all of your backpacking and hiking needs, outdoor equipment stores also have the stuff you’ll need to keep it well maintained, clean and functional.

Washing Your Hiking Gear and Hiking Clothes

Hiking gear needs a good wash from time to time, and wouldn’t it be great if . . . at the same time as your gear is getting it’s annual wash and brush up (at the very least for some of your equipment, although your socks really do need more attention than that), it could also be re-waterproofed. Well, it can. There’s a great range of sports washing stuff which is tough enough to tackle even the most stubborn stains you’ve picked up along the hike (sounds like a commercial doesn’t it) and many of these washes are a great water repellent too. If you’re the type of hiker who likes extra insurance against the weather then there are some great water repellent sprays too . . . why not spray your back pack, your hiking coat, your hiking gloves, your hiking hat, even your hiking boots . . . although I can’t guarantee that it’ll keep your feet dry and cozy if you wade through a raging torrent of water.

Some hikers get caught out in the rain . . . others go straight at it on purpose!

Spray Treatments & Seam Sealers for Your Hiking Gear

As I’ve just mentioned, some people (generally the wise ones) don’t like to leave anything to chance when it comes to getting wet on a hiking trip . . . I mean, it’s okay to get wet on the outside, that can be rather fun, just so long as you’re dry on your inner layers of clothes and you’ve got somewhere nice and dry to sleep. A leaky tent can ruin a camping trip, so don’t forget to re-seal the seams from time to time to ensure that your sleeping bag is kept dry, warm and toasty for a good nights kip.

Soggy sleeping bags are obviously not something he enjoys . . . good thinking dude!

Travel Wash for Your Hiking Gear

Doing the laundry is not something which comes very highly on the list of many hikers, it certainly ain’t on the “to do” list when I set off on a hiking trip, that’s for sure, but it can still be handy to have some travel wash detergent with you just in case. Hiking socks can become extremely unpleasant critters after even one days hike, so if you’re the type of hiker who likes to travel light then maybe you ought to consider washing them through from time to time, instead of carrying fresh ones (and therefore dirty ones) all the way home.  Fortunately, there is some travel wash detergents which are perfect for the job. Small, lightweight plastic containers, phosphate free and biodegradable for minimum impact on the environment . . . all in all it’s not a bad idea to throw some in your backpack before your hiking adventure.

She’s fast isn’t she?