Maintaining gear before small faults become problems is less about finding the one right piece of equipment than setting up a reliable routine. This article explains how to clean, dry, inspect, keep track of repairs, and store gear on a seasonal basis. All gear should be able to be checked, explained, and maintained in a straightforward manner. Read range rules, follow local laws, and seek the help of qualified service providers for repairs and adjustments that affect safety.
Start with the real use case
When choosing a product to help with maintaining gear before small faults grow, look at the conditions you expect the gear to be used in. Even a product that looks great in a shop may be very impractical after an hour in the field. Create a list of the expected length of the trip, expected weather, expected distance, expected method of transport, and expected user. Cleaning, drying, inspecting, writing repair notes, and storing gear for the seasons can then be referred to as needed.
Inspect before every outing
Inspecting before using gear for real is as simple as looking at the clean, dry, inspected, repaired-for before storage gear for real wear and any possible contamination or poor adjustment before storing it for the season. Note any wear or loose parts and write down any repairs and the date of any parts that need to be replaced before storing it for the season. A simple 5-minute check before storing for the season is far easier to repeat than setting up some elaborate annual check.
Make fit part of the safety check
It’s vital that your outdoor gear is not only to fit but to be comfortable too. Pinching, shifting or placing excessive pressure on any part of your body for extended periods is to be avoided at all costs. Insist on taking your gear for a test spin round your garden and test the garments you intend to wear for your outdoor activities as well. If it only feels any good standing still in a warm room then it’s not quite ready for the great outdoors yet.
Adjust in a controlled order
Change only one thing at a time and test it out as you go. Record what changes you have made and test them out in a short controlled test. It’s very easy to introduce new problems when you have made lots of changes and it’s not easy to work out which change has caused the problem.
Spend where reliability matters
Spend your money on maintaining your gear first, and accessorize based on the useful equipment you have found. This means you would buy a basic piece of gear (i.e. moderately priced) that fits well and is easily repairable and replaceable, over buying some flashy or so-called “top of the line” piece that you would have no idea how to fix or even where to start.
Plan for weather and transport
Influenced by the weather: All your outdoor gear is subject to the elements, so think about protecting your important items from heat, rain, dust and cold. Carrying a dry bag or have a means to quickly dry off your gear is not the same as having it covered though. Check your gear after your trip and make sure it is fully dry before storing it away in a closed space.
Use clear range and field habits
Ensure others are aware of what you are checking and maintain the same standard of behavior as in a lesson. Refer to posted rules and seek advice of staff if unsure of correct procedure. Local commands take precedence over advice given on Internet.
Clean without causing damage
Clean your equipment and keep it in dry, closed storage just as you would like others to do for you. Also, just as you wouldn’t want someone to use more oil than recommended, or use excessive force when cleaning, don’t use more than the manufacturer recommends. And, if you do accidentally cause some damage, do not attempt to repair it, call a qualified service person.
Review the kit after the trip
After each use of your equipment, have a quick debrief and compare what you had set out to do with what actually happened. Note what didn’t get used and any parts that would have been useful in the event of an unexpected delay. Store redundant weight and consumables safely and bin them before the next outing to make sure your ever-evolving range of gear continues to improve without piling up.
A simple checklist
- Confirm the purpose, conditions and local rules before selecting equipment.
- Check fit, condition and working order of all components in controlled environment prior to use.
- Only bring the protective and support items you really need for the trip.
- Record maintenance that was carried out instead of allowing equipment to develop problems. Replace damaged parts as opposed to trying to repair them.
- Clean, dry and secure everything in time after returning home from your activities.
Final perspective
The best way to maintain your sports equipment is in a controlled and systematic way to reveal small faults before they cause problems. Sound basic ideas, test them out in training and then make small changes to improve the system. This type of maintenance is so much better than turning up to practice or a trip out with lots of excess equipment, making last minute changes and suffering damage to your sports equipment through neglect.
Practical note 1
So online reviews might lead you to consider a number of points, but it is rarely possible to get a true sense of whether something will fit or of the condition of individual products online. Where possible, try to see things in the shop and get a professional’s take on the pros and cons of a particular item.
Practical note 2
Don’t test it on a single trip – test it out on a short practice session first. Keep it at a leisurely pace and quit when you start to tire. Write down any one useful correction to implement on your next trip. Repeating that session out instead of trying to sort out every issue on that one trip is far more valuable.
Practical note 3
Most importantly, select a location for the storage to be located, as the container is only half the story. Avoid places that fluctuate in temperature, damp basements, or floors that are subject to high levels of moisture. And, for heavens sake, avoid storing gear in areas that can be accessed by young children and other unauthorized persons.
Practical note 4
When searching online for equipment, reviews can give you a great amount of information to ask more questions about specific products. However, it is better to try before you buy and have a personal fitting to check for correct fit. Also, it is better to try to look at the actual item before purchasing and have a sales person go through the benefits and limitations to help you make the correct purchase.
Practical note 5
Test it out during a short practice session. Keep the pace slow and exit the session before you start to tire. Note down one improvement to incorporate into future practice sessions.