How to Store Your Gear for the Winter

Here in most latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere, Autumn has well and truly arrived. Depending on where you live, and the type of outdoor activities you pursue, this probably means that you will be packing away much of your gear until next Spring. Those of you in the Southern Hemisphere can bookmark this article and come back to it in April…

We saw an article recently about how outdoor gear gets ‘used hard and put away dirty’, as if this were somehow the sign of a hardcore enthusiast.

Well, we would agree with using gear hard – many of us in the company are pretty serious about our outdoor pursuits. But we’re equally serious about not putting equipment away dirty, or wet, or packed inappropriately. After all, we want it to work perfectly the next time out.

Here are some tips for long term storage of your gear:

Dry Bags / Stuff Sacks

Hand wash your dry sacks and stuff sacks using a non-detergent soap (such as Wilderness Wash). Air dry them thoroughly (turn them inside out, allow to dry then turn them right-side-out and allow to dry). Fold large bags loosely and pack them in a container which allows air circulation. Store in a cool, dry place.

Sleeping Bags

If your sleeping bag requires washing (which, if you have been using a liner, may not be the case), carefully follow the instructions here. Even if the entire bag is not washed, sleeping bag zippers will benefit from being cleaned (a canister vacuum cleaner works well for this) and lubricated with silicone spray.

Sleeping bags should be stored uncompressed (the zippered storage pouch provided with Sea to Summit down sleeping bags is ideal) in a cool, dry place.

Sleeping Mats

It’s easy to forget that a sleeping mat can be damp after a night in a tent – condensation can form between the mat and the cold tent floor. If your mat is even slightly damp, it should be dried thoroughly before storage – otherwise, mold can form on the outer surface of the mat. You can find comprehensive tips on looking after your mat here. The most important point is to not store your mat tightly rolled in its stuff sack. Fold it loosely, open the valve and keep it somewhere dry (Pro-Tip: folding it over on a hanger and storing it in your closet works great).

Liners

Liners are easy to take care of: they can be washed in a washing machine with normal laundry detergent. Avoid fabric softeners, as they will reduce the wicking capabilities of the fabric. Air-dry the liner (silk liners, in particular, should not be put in a dryer). Once the liner is thoroughly aired it can be packed back into its stuff sack and stored somewhere dry.

Pillows

If you would like to clean your pillow before storage, you’ll find detailed instructions here. When you are sure that the pillow is completely dry, store it laid flat with the valve open in a dry place.

Cookware/Tableware

Please remember that X-Pots, Alpha Pots, Sigma Pots and Alpha cutlery cannot be washed in a dishwasher – the caustic cleanser used in a dishwasher will damage the anodized surface. Storage of X, Delta, Sigma and Alpha products is simple – there are no special requirements.

Tarps/Shelters

Make sure your shelter is thoroughly dry. If the shelter has zippers, cleaning and lubricating them is a good idea (see Sleeping Bags above). Do not store them rolled/stuffed into their stuff sacks: this can cause damage to urethane-coated fabrics. Fold shelters loosely and store them in a dry place

When you are choosing containers in which to keep your gear, remember that some storage containers seal effectively airtight. Avoid this kind of container for any type of coated or laminated fabric – it can lead to humidity being trapped along with the gear which may cause damage to those fabrics. A container which allows air to circulate is preferred.

While you have that can of silicone spray in your hand, now would be a great time to spray the bindings on your skis and snowshoes and the pivots on your ski boots (for squeak-free perfect performance)

Then – wax your skis, treat your ski jackets, pants and gaiters with water-repellent products like Grangers Clothing Repel or Down Repel and get ready for winter!

See you out in the backcountry!