Tips to make your outdoor gear last
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Terra Nova tent
I’ve had my Terra Nova Trisar for over 25 years now. It was my first tent and I can still remember the excitement as I checked it out in the shop (👋 Outside in Hathersage) and took it home. We’ve shared lots of adventures over the years, on campsite and wild camping trips. I even waved it off for a holiday to New Zealand once, when a friend borrowed it for a few weeks. All these years later, it’s still holding up. The groundsheet is starting to delaminate, but it’s still good enough for the odd overnight. I think it’s lasted so well because a) I bought the best I could afford, and b) I took care of it. Keeping your kit clean, dry, and stored properly really does make a difference. And that’s exactly what this post is all about - welcome to gear maintenance 101.
Why looking after your outdoor gear matters - and can save you money
Outdoor kit isn’t cheap - especially if you’re buying things made to last. I thought my waterproof jacket was expensive 20 years ago. But it would cost more than double to replace today, and I’m not so sure salaries have increased proportionally.
So, if you’re investing in good gear, it makes sense to look after it and make it last as long as possible.
Saving money is a great reason to nurture and love your outdoor gear, but there are lots of other good reasons too:
Environmental impact - one of the easiest ways to reduce your impact on the planet is to buy less gear and make the thing you have last longer.
Sentimental value - your outdoor kit becomes part of your life story, like the Patagonia top I bought at a climbing show the year Mr ODG and I met. Using the same piece of kit years later reminds you of the memories.
Safety - looking after your kit means it will work as expected - a leaky tent in a storm, or a worn out boot on a wet scramble can turn a fun trip into an epic saga.
Peace of mind - when your kit is stored in good condition, you can pack and go without needing to look for replacement parts or faffing before heading out. You’ll also know you can trust it to perform when you need it to.
Repairs and donations - poorly maintained gear often ends up needing to go into landfill - but look after it well and you can usually repair or donate to someone else.
Less emergency purchases - we’ve all heard stories of someone arriving at a campsite to pitch up, only to find their tent has disintegrated or they forgot to replace that broken pole. If that happens, the choice is usually to abandon your trip, or visit the nearest outdoor shop and buy whatever they have in stock, at whatever price they want to charge.
Tips for cleaning your outdoor gear (after each trip)
I know what it’s like to end a camping weekend with wet, muddy gear.
When you get home, hanging tents, waterproofs and sleeping bags around the house is the last thing you feel like doing. But I promise, it's worth the effort and will make your kit last much longer.
Read on for my top tips of what to do with tents, rucksacks, technical clothing, boots, and bikes:
Tents
Shake the inner and outer to get rid of water, dirt, and debris (ideally at the campsite as you take it down).
Wipe any muddy bits with a damp cloth (use just water, not detergents).
Wipe the poles with a dry cloth.
Remove the mud from tent pegs and wipe with a dry cloth.
Check and reproof seams and zips if needed.
Dry everything completely before packing to prevent mould.
Rucksacks
Empty all the pockets (I usually find forgotten tissues and food wrappers).
Air dry with pockets open.
Brush off dry mud.
Repack with essential items so you can grab and go on your next adventure.
Technical clothing
Air dry waterproof jackets and trousers (wipe off mud with a damp cloth if needed).
Wash base layers using mild detergent on a low temperature cycle.
Wash technical waterproof kit using tech wash or specialist cleaners.
Avoid using fabric softeners, especially on waterproof kit as they break down the waterproofing.
Reproof waterproof layers every few washes.
Boots and shoes
Remove insoles and laces.
Brush off dirt and mud.
Dry away from direct heat.
Treat leather boots with a wax to restore natural oils, re-waterproof, and condition the leather.
Treat fabric shoes with a reproofing spray.
Bikes
Use a hosepipe (not pressure washer) or sponge and bucket of water to rinse off mud and dirt from the frame, wheels, and drivetrain.
Wipe the chain, cassette, and derailleur with a cloth - use a specialist degreaser if extra grimy.
Use a clean cloth to dry everything and help prevent rust.
Add a small amount of chain lube to the chain while turning the pedals backwards, wiping off any excess.
Check the brake pads and tyres
Store in a dry location, hung up or off damp floors, before your next ride.
How to store your outdoor kit properly
The boot of your car is one of the worst places to store your outdoor kit! Find a cool, dry place and it will thank you for it. Also read (and follow) the care instructions that come with your purchase.
We don’t have a garage, so our outdoor kit is stored around the house. That said, we live in an old cottage and things can react to damp if they’re stored for a long time without enough air circulation.
That’s where silica gel packs or moisture absorbers come into their own - so if you plan to store kit in an unheated garage, they might be worth a look.
Tents - store loosely, in a breathable bag and dry place. I tend to use the bag it came in - the main thing for me is to make sure every part of the tent (including zips and guy ropes) is super dry before storing.
Sleeping bags - air them out before storing, then hang up or put in a bigger mesh back to keep their loft. Storing a sleeping bag compressed can damage the insulation, making it less effective.
Technical clothing - hang waterproofs in dry, dark cupboard.
Walking boots - leave in a dry place, and add silica gel packs inside if you’re not planning to use for a while
Fix or donate kit, don’t bin it
I usually check through my kit before storing so I can make any repairs. That way, I know it’s good to go the next time I head out on an adventure.
Good items for a repair kit include:
Gas canister refill (make sure you follow instructions for safety!)
Specialist repairs
I’m happy to make minor repairs to things, but know my limits! Anything more technical like seam sealing waterproofs and boot resoling goes to a specialist.
Here are a few places I’ve used or know about:
Sheffield Clothing Repair - to re-tape the seams on my waterproof jacket (I can hopefully wear it for another 20 years now), and a rip on my technical gilet.
Alpkit - to repair a rip on a wind shell jacket, and mend scuffed sleeves on a waterproof down jacket (handy tip, don’t wear your down jacket to balance logs when collecting firewood).
Rab - for washing and re-proofing my waterproof and down jackets.
Altberg - for resoling my leather walking boots.
Patagonia - I’ve not used them but know they offer a repair service.
Llanberis Resoles - to resole climbing shoes - I’ve not personally used them but know of their service.
Always check with the manufacturer too - some offer repairs as part of a lifetime guarantee.
If you’re planning to use a repair service, plan well ahead as they’re often busy. Think about getting your down jacket washed in summer, or your tent repaired in December!
Donating kit
When you’ve outgrown your kit, either literally or figuratively, there are lots of ways you can give it a second life. The obvious one is your local charity shop, but have a look at these other ideas too:
Alpkit Continuum - drop it off in store or post it to Alpkit HQ and they’ll pass it on through their network of charitable partners.
Outside Re-Action - donate in store or post, and they’ll either resell at a discounted rate (giving half to social causes and half to environmental projects), donate to homeless and refugee charities, or recycle via La Sportiva.
Scavenger - donate old climbing ropes at a collection point or post directly to them for recycling into new products.
Kitsquad - this UK charity helps people on low-income get into the great outdoors.
You’ll find that most outdoor clothing and kit manufacturers have some kind of donation or recycling scheme now. But also look at local initiatives like scouts and brownies, or organisations working with young people.
There are also options to get paid, either by selling online or part-exchanging for a new product. Rohan, for example, offers a discount on full-price items in-store when donating qualifying gear.
You can get more ideas on where to donate outdoor gear from the British Mountaineering Council.
Look after your kit and it’ll look after you
Like most people, I enjoy updating and buying new outdoor kit. But some of my favourite things are far from new. They’re patched up, a bit faded, and full of memories.
Heck, I once bought a jacket at the iconic Outdoor Hathersage Bank Holiday tent sale. It was a Mountain Equipment waterproof jacket for the grand sum of £10 and it went everywhere with me. I stuffed it in the bottom of my climbing pack, used it for gardening, and had it as an extra jacket in the van.
It even made an appearance in the OWGP’s Outdoor Focus magazine as part of an article about cherished items of outdoor equipment.
The jacket was nothing special, but it lasted for years despite being thrown about because every so often I’d wash and reproof it.
I don’t always get it right though! More often than not, my walking boots are dried and stored with mud on them. I leave my waterproof trousers folded in the bottom of my rucksack. Or I forget about something else.
The point is, looking after your outdoor kit even a little bit can make a real difference.
Clean it, dry it, fix it when needed - and you’ll have gear that lasts for years and sticks with you through years of adventures.
You may also be interested in reading:
What you can do to make outdoor adventure more sustainable
How to make outdoor adventure more sustainable
Litter picking for a greener countryside
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Outdoor-Girl is run by Jacquie Budd, an outdoor adventure writer, and marketing content writer for brands that care about their impact on people and the planet.
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Links with an * by them are affiliated which means if you get a product via this link, a contribution may be made to the Outdoor Girl website, helping it stay free to use.
You shouldn’t notice any difference in the product or cost. Importantly, the content I write is NEVER impacted by these links. For more details, please read my policy on affiliate links, including Amazon Affiliate links.
As I believe transparency is important, I’m sharing the un-affiliated links too, but note this version does not help the Outdoor Girl website.
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Tenacious tape
Waterproof seam sealant
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Nikwax tech wash and TX direct
Grangers down wash
