READERS COMMENTS

When cleaning a hydration system, pull out the hose from the balader, with a pair of pailers, so you can clean the whole hose,
Posted: Apr 29, 2009 ryan b.

Contemporary fabric softeners tend to be based on quaternary ammonium salts with one or two long alkyl chains, a typical compound being dipalmitoylethyl hydroxyethylmonium methosulfate.[2] Other cationic compounds can be derived from imidazolium, substituted amine salts, or quaternary alkoxy ammonium salts. One of the most common compounds of the early formulations was dihydrogenated tallow dimethyl ammonium chloride (DHTDMAC). I looked it up. see Wikipedia cut n paste. no animal fat here.
Posted: Apr 27, 2009 hoosurdaddy

Under "Pole problems (Online Bonus" it should read "splint the broken pole," not "split the broken pole."
Posted: Mar 03, 2009 Jefferson

no, eric's right - the first posting says mentions washing in a top-loading washer. the second posting specifically says to never do this. (the second is the right one; never wash a sleeping bag in a top-loading washer)
Posted: Feb 04, 2009 sol

A point about dryer sheets, the main ingredient in them is rendered animal fat (look it up people) so you may smell pretty good to a bear. In areas with uber predators, keep smell to a minimum, in camp and on your person.
Posted: Jan 19, 2009 Sean Columbus OH

Uhm, not really Eric. It just says to wash them.. sparingly. And then it tells you how. :B

And no, Anon, I don't think dryer sheets would attract bears. They smell more chemically than delicious or even edible.

Anyway, this article is great! Wow, so many tips. I suppose it's okay to store bags and pads rolled/stuffed if they're clean and dry and in a dry indoor closet, right? Plus my Thermorest doesn't have foam.
Posted: Dec 14, 2008 oki

"Wash Synthetics Sparingly" and "Wash and Dry a Sleeping Bag" on Page 6 have contradictory statements. Any thoughts there?
Posted: Nov 03, 2008 Eric

As a Scout leader I store a lot of gear in a special shed we built for that purpose. For storing the good sleeping bags I've hung a net hammock from the walls and lay the bags out on it. Same for the self-inflating mattresses. It allows air to circulate around them and helps them keep their loft.
Posted: Sep 03, 2008 Graybeard

toe caps can be made a spray can of undercoating for cars , prep with alcohol and mask
Posted: Aug 28, 2008 rusty j

Generally Salami works best fighting back against bears.
Posted: Jul 07, 2008 Anonymous

If you store your Camelbak bladders in the freezer, make sure to leave the bite valves on or defrost the bladders before you want to use them. Trying to cram a bite valve back into a frozen/smaller tube can turn into a wrestling contest when you'd rather be outside.
Posted: May 29, 2008 AJ

A toe cap can be made as described above using Performix Plasti Dip,( Home Depot) which is a liquid plastic type paint that one dips one's tool handles into to create a durable and insulating rubber like coating. It comes in six colors including black.
Just mask the boot toe and paint it on, several layers work best.
Posted: May 11, 2008 Tom McDaniel

Wouldn't this add a scent that might attract bears?
Posted: Apr 23, 2008 Anonymous

I store my tents and sleeping bags with a few plys of dryer fabric sheets, I prefer Bounce, for a fresh smell after storage.
Posted: Apr 06, 2008 Ron Pope

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