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Upon returning home from a big adventure, it can be tempting to plop your gear down and not deal with it for a while. But taking the time to unpack and put items away properly will help ensure you get years of faithful service out of your equipment.
This is especially true for your tent: Improper storage can quickly lead to mildew growth and material breakdown. To help prevent issues like these, simply follow two key steps for storing your tent:
Make sure your tent is completely dry.
Store it loosely in a cool, dry place.
Step 1: Dry Your Tent
If you do nothing else, make sure that your tent is dry before you store it. A tent that is put away damp will develop mildew, which will give your tent a funky odor. The moisture can also potentially damage the polyurethane waterproof coatings beyond repair. If you’ve ever had a tent that became flaky, tacky or smelly, that’s likely because it was not dry before you stored it. To keep this from happening, dry your tent out by setting it up indoors or in a shaded outdoor spot. If you don’t have enough space to pitch it, drape it or hang it until dry. Keep it clean: If you returned home from your outing with a dirty tent, taking the time to clean it can help improve longevity, especially if it was exposed to sand, fine dust, bird droppings and tree sap. Use cold water and mild, non-detergent soap to spot clean dirty fabric. To get sap off, let the sap dry and then try gently spot cleaning with mineral oil or other alcohol-based products, like hand sanitizer or wet wipes. Be sure to rinse well with water afterward. To keep your zippers running smooth, use an old toothbrush to remove grit.
Step 2: Store Your Tent Loosely in a Cool, Dry Place
Keep it loose: Though nicely compact for backpacking, the stuff sack that came with your tent is a poor choice for long-term storage. You want tent fabrics to relax and breathe. An old pillowcase or similarly sized mesh bag will work well. You can neatly fold your tent up and place it in the bag or simply stuff it in.
Reduce tension: For tent poles, you can extend the life of the shockcord by storing the poles partially assembled to take tension off the cord. But not everyone has space to do this, so another option is to break the poles down by starting in the middle and working toward the ends. Collapsing poles down like this evenly distributes tension along the cord.
Keep it cool: When looking for a place to keep your tent, try to find a dry, cool spot in your home. This means avoid storing it in damp or hot locations like a basement, attic or car trunk. A gear closet or garage are both good options.
Written by Chris Pottinger for REI Expert Advice.N.A.C. News
(January 10, 2021)
Hello everyone,
It's time for Adventure Weekly, Volume 32. A few things this week; 1. A new member benefit has been worked out for Outdoors Oriented. Members will recieve 1 coupon a year for $20 off in-store purchases over $100. Coupons are in the process of being printed up, and will be sent out to everyone as soon as I receive them. 2. I have begun work on a new web page. So far I think it looks really good. Much more contemporary, better colour scheme, and just over all far more modern. So far, just a base has been built, so it will be quite a while longer before the new page will be published, plus, I am teaching myself quite a few new systems as I go. But I hope to have it up and running by June or July. Feel free to take a peak at what I have completed so far and offer any suggestions you may have. 3. Take a look at this awesome video from the Bruce Trail Organization! With the donations they received this year, they were able to purchase land and permanently protect a large portion of the Bruce Trail and the Niagara Escarpment!
Memberships are still available! If you are planning on joining us in 2021, purchasing a membership is by far your best value! 2021 Niagara Adventure Club Membership! The membership fees are what keep this club operating, so please consider purchasing one! Your $35 membership comes with a years worth of free day hikes, discounted events, plus coupons and discounts at various vendors valued at over $50. See all the Member Benefits.
That's all the news for this week. As always, stay safe, and happy hiking! Lenny Burch Niagara Adventure Club