Four easy ways to make outdoor gear last longer
It can often seem like choosing the eco-friendly route in life can involve higher costs - from the basics like ethically-sourced food and household refills, all the way to the latest tech in solar panels and electric cars. But with outdoor gear, it can be the exact opposite if you know how!
It can often seem like choosing the eco-friendly route in life can involve higher costs - from the basics like ethically-sourced food and household refills, all the way to the latest tech in solar panels and electric cars. But with outdoor gear, it can be the exact opposite if you know how! Keeping the same climbing, hiking or mountaineering kit going for generations is great both for the environment AND your wallet. So, here are our top four tips for how to make your outdoor kit last even longer, from the highly skilled staff at Cotswold Outdoor, the BMC’s premium partner (remember to use your membership 15% discount) and in conjunction with Grangers cleaning and reproofing products, now on sale in the BMC Shop, also with a discount for members.
1 Buy quality kit
It’s better to invest in quality kit that lasts. It may be a more expensive outlay initially, but the adage, ‘buy cheap, buy twice’ is even more true when it comes to outdoor gear. Buy high quality kit and it will look after you in the most extreme conditions, year after year, and you can even hand it down from generation to generation. How many of you have still got an old Karrimor rucksack from the 1970’s in perfect working order? Exactly.
2 Buy the right kit
Quality kit is only worth having if you’re actually using it. If it’s not right for the activities you need it for, you’ll end up not wearing it and having to buy something else instead. The staff at Cotswold Outdoor will help you get exactly what you need, first time around. So you’ll have less of what you don’t need hanging around in your wardrobe or ending up in landfill.
3 Make it last
Even quality kit doesn’t remain perfect forever. It needs care and attention to keep it performing at its best. Make sure you extend the life of your kit by cleaning it regularly and using the right aftercare treatments so it spends more time adventuring with you and less time in landfill. Read the care instructions on the labels and use Grangers cleaning and reproofing products to revitalise and prolong the life of your hiking boots, baselayers, waterproof outer layers and key equipment like tents and sleeping bags.
4 Repair it
Accidents happen, wear points wear out; it’s tough out there after all. But damaged or worn out kit doesn’t necessarily spell the end. If you’re not handy with a needle and thread yourself or know a willing friend or relative to give you a hand, get your jacket or sleeping bag professionally mended and washed and restored it to its old self using Cotswold Outdoor’s Repair & Care service. This saves you forking out for replacements, so you can spend the spare cash on making more memories on more adventures.
Quick gear care guides
Clean & reproof jackets
Clean the washing machine detergent draw, pour in 100ml (2 x 50ml capfuls) of Grangers Wash + Repel Clothing 2 in 1 liquid per item. For best results wash each jacket separately, on 30 degrees or according to the care label instructions. You can also wash by hand instead. Air dry in an airing cupboard or tumble dry if care label allows.
Clean down jackets and sleeping bags
Grangers Down Care Kit includes Wash + Repel Down 2 in 1 and three dryer balls to keep the feathers fluffy (tennis balls can leach colour and crush the down). It’s also suitable for synthetic down too. Pour 100ml (2 x 50ml capfuls) of Grangers Wash + Repel Down 2 in 1 into the detergent drawer. Add 50ml per additional item. Wash at 30 degrees C or according to the care label instructions. Once washed, check the down is evenly distributed, then add the dryer balls and keep checking it throughout the tumble drying cycle.
Eliminate odours
Quickly eliminate the source of odours that linger on non-washable items with Grangers spray-on, easy-to-use Odour Eliminator. Whether you commute, want to refresh your kit or sleeping bag between washes, are fed up of smelly trainers or need to freshen up your climbing shoes, this is for you. Simply spray directly onto the fabric you wish to refresh and allow to dry before use.
Clean & reproof boots
Scrub excess mud off with a bristly brush, then spray on Grangers Footwear + Gear Cleaner, then wipe off the excess with a clean, wet cloth. If reproofing, spray with Grangers Footwear Repel Plus and wipe off the excess in the same way. Always allow to dry naturally. Apply a second coat once dry if needed.
Related Content
Hill Walking Articles
For many hill walkers, the call of the wild is a lifelong passion. However, the demands placed on our bodies by these activities require thoughtful care, especially as we age.
Mend Our Mountains Articles
The BMC volunteers have been super busy this summer, with the latest Get Stuck In project seeing 12 of them create a 50m length of stepping stone path to make a more sustainable way through the bog below Tryfan, Eryri (Snowdonia), North Wales.
Cerdded Bryniau Newyddion
Hill walking offers a wonderful way to connect with nature, challenge your body, and clear your mind. However, the physical demands of walking up and down steep terrain mean that optimal nutrition is essential to ensure you stay energised, strong, and focused. Whether you're setting off on a gentle stroll or tackling a more challenging route, here are the top nutrients you need to consider, along with some nutritious snack ideas to keep you fuelled on your adventure.
Cerdded Bryniau Newyddion
This August, 14 BMC volunteers spent two days on The Band in Langdale, Lake District, making repairs to a 100m stretch of footpath in the latest Get Stuck In event, funded by the Mend Our Mountains campaign from the BMC's Access & Conservation Trust.
Dringo Creigiau Dysgwch Ger
With an ever increasing choice from manufacturers, the hardest part about buying a dynamic climbing rope can be deciphering what’s on offer, and understanding how it relates to your chosen activity. The days of simply choosing 9mm or 11mm are long gone, and from a light single to a heavy half, things can get very confusing.
Dringo Creigiau Dysgwch Sgiliau
Lowering off from a sport climb isn't always as easy as it is at the climbing wall. Knowing a few techniques can make the difference between an enjoyable day's climbing and a trip to A&E.
Cerdded Bryniau Dysgwch Sgiliau
How to choose an ice axe for your next winter adventure
Dringo Creigiau Dysgwch Ger
Everything you need to know about the various types of rope for climbing and mountaineering can be found in our handy, free guide.
Dringo Creigiau Dysgwch Ger
How often do you check your trad gear for damage or wear and tear? Here's the 'how' and 'why' of keeping your cams in check.
Cerdded Bryniau Dysgwch Sgiliau
When should you use crampons? Our guide explains the 'when', 'where' and 'how' of deploying your spiky winter gear.
Hill Walking Articles
Having a duvet day or a quiet night in? We've got you covered. There's nothing better than a day in the hills - but we think planning a day in the hills comes in pretty close second. If you're looking for inspiration for your next on-foot adventure, check out our lineup of ten of the best mountaineering, hiking and hillwalking films from the BMC TV YouTube channel.
Dringo Creigiau Dysgwch Ger
If you’ve never climbed before or have only climbed indoors, the equipment used for tackling real rock can seem mysterious, exciting and expensive. We've put together a list of the essentials...
Dringo Creigiau Dysgwch Ger
Climbers use quickdraws to attach their rope to pieces of protection when lead climbing. A quickdraw consists of two karabiners connected by a textile sling. Find out about the different types and some of the key issues in this article.
Dringo Dan Do Dysgwch Ger
We take a look at the culture of tight climbing shoes. Just how tight is too tight - and are we creating problems for the future?
Hill Walking Articles
Each year there are reports of people who have been attacked, or even trampled to death, by cows whilst out walking or approaching crags. BMC member Simon Coldrick was badly injured after a cow attacked him as he led a fell race on the edge of Sheffield.
Mountaineering Destinations
If you’re looking for an unforgettable, high altitude trekking holiday this year we’ve got some great ideas for you here in Nepal, Bhutan, Pakistan and India from climbing mountaineering expedition operator Jagged Globe.
Hill Walking Articles
Cerdded Bryniau Dysgwch Ger
This article helps inform whether you need crampons or micro spikes when walking in winter, and how crampons are fitted with walking boots.
Cerdded Bryniau Dysgwch Sgiliau
A look at some of the benefits of poles and how to use them for hill walking.
Cerdded Bryniau Dysgwch Ger
Walking boots can be expensive and should last a long time, so this article looks at factors to consider before you buy.
Cerdded Bryniau Dysgwch Ger
A look at types of small, lightweight stoves suitable for hill walking and backpacking trips.
Article
What should you look for when choosing down products? Some factors to consider when investing in new down gear.
Hill Walking Articles
Clean out your kit cupboard and put a spring in your step knowing that you’re making greener choices throughout the lifecycle of your outdoor products.
Cerdded Bryniau Dysgwch Ger
Hill walking doesn’t require as much specialist equipment as many other outdoor activities, but is important to have the appropriate equipment for the route and activity you have chosen and the weather forecasted. In this article we outline the basic equipment every hill walker needs:
Cerdded Bryniau Dysgwch Ger
In this article we’ve listed the ideal range of hill walking items so you can head out with everything you might need.
Cerdded Bryniau Dysgwch Ger
We take a look at what clothing to wear when hill walking, and how to layer it to stay warm, dry and comfortable in cold and wet conditions.
Cerdded Bryniau Dysgwch Ger
A list of retailers and organisations who can help you re-use, repair or recycle your old or unwanted clothing and outdoor kit.
Article
Boots are a big investment, look after them and they will look after your feet for years to come. Here are our tips to keep your boots in top condition.
Cerdded Bryniau Dysgwch Ger
Whilst emergencies are a rare occurrence in the hills, there are a few pieces of equipment that can make a massive difference if they do happen.
News
As the world’s garment manufacturing industry moves to a more sustainable business model, what we’re wearing in the hills in three years time will be very different to today’s unsustainable, un-recyclable, polluting garments, predicts Mike Parsons from the Outdoor Gear Coach. But why is change needed? And what is going to happen? Mike explains in this article.
Article
In National Walking month this May we’ve teamed up with BMC Official Retail Partner Cotswold Outdoor to bring you all the info and advice you need to care for and repair your favourite pair of walking boots. Not only does this save you money, it also saves the environment - the less we consume and throw away, the better.
News
BMC member Madalin Cristea, known as Cris, from Romania, has become the first person to summit both Aconcagua and Kilimanjaro from sea level and back again. He is currently attempting to be the first person ever to climb up and down each of the world’s seven summits (the highest mountain on each continent) from sea level - climbing every metre of the mountains up and down.
News
BMC member Wayne Andrews from Bettws, South Wales has started a hill walking group for people who suffer with their mental health or an addiction, called Forever In The Hills.
News
This May is National Walking month, so to celebrate the power of a good old stomp around the UK’s countryside, nine of the BMC staff have shared their favourite hike. From fossil-hunting in the Peak District and airy Scottish scrambling to the Via Alpina in Switzerland, one of these is bound to tickle your fancy this spring or summer. Better still, with the BMC collaborations with Komoot and HotelPlanner, you can plan and navigate your route and find your accommodation for your trip for less!
Hill Walking Skills
Outdoor writer and photographer Chris Townsend presents this series of hill walking how-to films. In this episode Chris shows you how to use walking poles.
We interview one of the most popular takeovers of the BMC's Instagram, Amira the Wanderlust.
Why do we need groups like Black Girls Hike? London regional leader of the group Oge Ejizu explains her love of the outdoors and why she joined. Article from Summit Magazine Autumn 2020.
Dringo Creigiau Dysgwch Ger
Read on to discover more about slings, and what you can do with them to help you climb more safely.