A few weeks ago, on a bitterly cold day, a friend gave me some advice on how to cope with winter. He made a convincing case that the best way to avoid seasonal depression was to get into nature and be in awe of its beauty, no matter the temperature outside. “Go out and meet it head on,” he said.
It’s a sound theory and one that resonates particularly with people who love to ski and snowboard. It’s hard not to be completely awestruck by the beauty of ice-capped mountains.
Generally speaking, skiing and snowboarding require technical gear to make embracing the cold, well, less cold. Like most things, technical gear will last longer if you take care of it properly. Here, experts explain exactly how to do that.
At the snow
First things first: when you get off the snow, put your jacket and pants somewhere to dry. Andrew Pattison, national sales manager for The North Face, says that “stashing your products while they’re still wet will damage the waterproof membrane” – a synthetic layer that prevents water from passing through.
Dry your ski clothes by turning them inside out and hanging them somewhere well ventilated, or as long as the care label permits, giving them a quick spin in a clothes dryer.
At home: wash your gear
According to Salomon’s VP of apparel, Ben Ryan, “knowing how to wash your ski clothing is essential for preserving its functionality and extending its lifespan”. This is because dirt, sweat and oils will break down the waterproof membrane over time.
To make sure you’re washing properly, pay close attention to the garment’s care labels. Instructions will differ depending on whether or not your gear has synthetic or down insulation, is made from natural fibres or has a specific type of membrane.
How to wash
As a rule of thumb, when washing snow gear, you want to ensure you are preserving the item’s membrane or water-repellent coating. To do this, Pattison says to avoid harsh detergents and instead opt for one specific to technical ski clothing, like this one from Grangers. If you don’t have one of these at hand, you can opt for liquid detergent over powder and avoid fabric softener.
According to Ryan, before you put your snow gear in the machine, make sure your pockets are empty, and close all zippers, snaps and Velcro. If your gear doesn’t have a waterproof membrane, turn it inside out to protect the water repellent coating. If it does have a membrane, you don’t need to do this as the membrane is inside the jacket so turning it inside out would be counterproductive. Be sure not to overfill the washing machine, set it to a wash cycle at 30C, and a spin cycle of between 600 and 800 rpm.
How to dry
Using a dryer is generally preferable as the heat in a dryer will reactivate the water-repellent coating. If you’re drying a down jacket, a dryer is even more important as it will help restore the down’s loft. Ryan recommends placing a couple of tennis balls inside the dryer with the jacket to break up the clumps of down and fluff up the feathers. Use a synthetic cycle on a low temperature like 60C and a single drying cycle of 40 to 50 minutes.
If you’re drying non-down garments, you can do so by air drying them. Hang them on a hanger outside in the shade or in a room with good airflow. Make sure the sleeves and legs of each garment are not bunched up and smooth to ensure they dry evenly.
Restoring garments
Pattinsons says, “If you’re having issues with water repellency or breathability, properly cleaning the garment and applying some heat [an iron on low temperature or a cycle in the dryer] can do the trick.”
If you’re using an iron to reactivate the water-repellent coating after air drying, Ryan says to place it on an ironing board and lay a towel over the top. Set your iron to 110C and run it over the top a few times, making sure you distribute the heat evenly.
You can also restore the water-repellent coating with a detergent like the one mentioned above, or a spray like this one from Nikwax. Either will “give it new life”, Pattinson says.
Repairing garments
Pattison says to look out for small tears or seams breaking down on your snow jacket or pants. To deal with these, he says, “It’s worth having a stash of repair patches or tape from Gear Aid. If they’re applied properly, these will be a permanent fix.” For anything more serious, he recommends going to a professional repairer.
Footwear
When caring for ski boots, Pattison says to pull out the liners and footbed so they can air out and dry, then store them with the buckles loosely done up to help them retain their shape. He says snowboard boots also need to be aired out and “if they’re made of leather, you can use leather conditioner to revive them after a big season of shredding.”
Skis and snowboards
Pattinson says, “Be careful when carrying skis and snowboards as the sharp edges will cut through your jacket.” To keep your skis or snowboard in good condition you need to wax them. “The more regularly you wax them, the better they will glide,” says a Salomon advice page. Pattison recommends doing this at the end of the season before storing them in a cool, dry place.
