Protecting your investment in gear to make it last and function for as long as possible is prudent behavior. \u00a0At Livesoutside, we take this type of thinking seriously as we love the outdoors and want to have as many good times as possible there. \u00a0Safety is also a concern, gear that isn’t clean or cared for will fail on a long enough timeline. \u00a0To have a great time we hold safety up as the primary concern for all that we do. \u00a0There are several manufacturer guidelines and best practices you can utilize in addition to general maintenance.<\/p>\n
Aside from extending the longevity of your gear’s life, you can make sure that you are using safe and solid equipment. \u00a0When you return from a trip on the water, cleaning, inspecting and maintaining gives you insight into the durability and quality of your hardware. \u00a0By seeing how your gear holds up you can see when it is worn out or if it needs replacement\/repair. \u00a0To preserve the quality, washing and drying is beneficial. \u00a0Since this is water gear, reducing the transmission of micro organisms to foreign environments is a priority.<\/p>\n
Packrafts can be cleaned by washing with mild soap and water followed up with drying. \u00a0Keeping your raft out of direct sunlight, avoid using chemical treatments and, if applicable, cleaning plus lubricating a cargo zipper. \u00a0Wiping out the threads to the air valve every once in a while is good too.<\/p>\n
With PDF’s you can use a small brush to spot clean and mild soap to loosen up any loose dirt or debris before drying. \u00a0Paddles can usually be taken apart, washed, dried and stored correctly after storage. \u00a0Doing this with both your PDF and paddle gives you a chance to check for any unsafe wear or damage.<\/p>\n
Although post trip cleaning and inspection is great, checking everything before heading out is another best practice. \u00a0The goal here is ensure that your gear is top notch and working before a potential fail. \u00a0Anything you return from a trip and head out on another one you need to check your gear. \u00a0If something happened or if your gear was damaged due to improper storage or cleaning you will know ahead of time. \u00a0For no other reason, you at least know your kit and how it works in detail by doing pre trip tests.<\/p>\n
At this point you have a chance to do something about your gear while you can. \u00a0Cleaning, repair or replacement are always important to consider (in that order) when you come across issues minor issues. \u00a0For larger and more complex problems with gear you may want to consult a professional or expert for repair\/replacement advice.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"