How to Care for Your Backpack
June 2000
1. Pack hard-edged items, such as stoves or cookware, carefully
so they don't poke your back or rub holes in packed gear.
2. Remove any food bags from your pack, and don't leave pieces
of crumbled snacks inside. The odors and tasty tidbits draw hungry
varmints.
3. Clean out your pack after every trip. Unzip all pockets and
compartments to shake out crumbs, dirt, sand and hazardous waste
like crusty trail socks. If the pack is really grungy, sponge
it off with mild soap and water. Air dry out of the sun, since
ultraviolet rays can damage the nylon fabric in a surprisingly
short time.
4. Perform basic maintenance. Stitch up any rips with a heavy
metal needle and upholstery thread. If nylon straps are frayed,
melt the edges with a match.
5. Check for annoying squeaks on external frames; try silicone
spray anyplace the bag touches the frame. Replace any worn clevis
pins or split rings.
6. Carry a spare clevis pin and a couple of split rings if you've
got an external frame pack. These little units love to disappear
at the most inopportune moments, and unless you have a spare,
you'll have to live with a floppy packbag or shoulder strap.
7. Inspect your pack for loose seams or deteriorating hardware
at major stress points around the hipbelt, shoulder straps, and
suspension stabilizers. A blown shoulder strap could mean big
transport troubles deep in the woods. Repair worn zippers before
they pop, otherwise you might end up with belongings strewn along
miles of trail.
8. Store your pack in a cool, dry, airy place to keep it from
collecting mildew, which can delaminate the fabric's waterproof
coating.