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Waterproofing & Repair
DWR sprays and wash-ins, technical washes, seam sealer, repair tape and patches, and boot treatments: the consumables that keep a jacket beading and a tent dry. Picks are matched to the fabric and to what the gear maker's own care instructions allow.
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GORE-TEX's rules: liquid detergent, no softener, rinse twice, then heat.
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Spray-on for lined shells, wash-in for unlined ones.
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Silicone sealer for silnylon, urethane for PU, and cure times.
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Leather, nubuck or fabric, and whether your boot maker allows wax.
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Which patch sticks to which fabric, per GEAR AID.
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Mildew starts fast on a wet tent; wash, deodorize, store it loose.
ReadHead to head
GEAR AID Revivex vs Nikwax on the makers' own directions: DWR sprays, technical washes, down washes, leather proofers, heat or no heat, and how far each bottle goes.
Store a sleeping bag or down jacket loose, not stuffed, and wash it as often as the makers say: Therm-a-Rest, GEAR AID and Nikwax on sacks, washes and drying.
Fix a broken or bent tent pole: which repair splint fits your pole's diameter, how to restring shock cord, and when to order a new segment, per MSR, Big Agnes and NEMO.
Which UV protectant suits which surface, per the makers: 303 Aerospace for vinyl and kayaks, Nikwax SolarProof for tent fabric, GEAR AID, and when to reapply.
Fix a stuck or split zipper on a tent, jacket or pack, per GEAR AID, YKK and Big Agnes: clean and lube, swap the slider, and know when the whole zipper needs a shop.
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