With the first rain of the season upon us and the first frost not far behind, we are reluctant to admit that for us, camping season is coming to an end. This means it’s time to pick the heap of fabric off your floor that is your tent and pack it away for the winter.

By putting away your camping equipment clean and tidy, it will make camping season next year that much easier.  So, what do you need to do to pack up for the winter?

Unpack

Go through all the pockets and zippers on your tents, backpacks, PFDs, and coats. There’s nothing more surprising than putting on your life jacket next spring and finding that half eaten protein bar from your August trip on the river. While you’re at it, check for any wear and tear on your gear.

Inspect your gear

If you’re like us, you subject  your gear to some serious wear and tear. Now’s the time to give everything a good once-over. Look for burn holes in your rain fly, tears in your sleeping bag, and leaking seams on your tent. Take note of especially dirty things like your rain coat with its lovely eau de campfire scented perfume and your crusty camp stove.

Wash and Repair

Wash any of your dirty gear with Revivex Pro Cleaner. Hit it with Revivex Durable Water Repellent afterwards to make sure your DWR is alive and well when the first spring storm hits.

Leaky seams or peeling seam tape?  Grab a tube of Seam Grip WP and go for it. Seal the seams on your tent now so you won’t have to do it later.

Holes or tears? Tenacious Tape will patch them right up.

No time to repair?

In a rush to put away your gear and don’t have time to fix things? No worries.  The most important part of storing gear is to store it clean and dry.  Over time, dirt can eat away at the fabric causing it to fail, and moisture can cause mold to form. Be sure to give everything a good scrub and allow it to dry for an ample amount of time before you put it away for the winter.