Backpacker – September 2019

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2019

BACKPACKER.COM 37

CHEAT SHEET

WHEN THE STORM BROKE, I welcomed the rain. I’d spent all day exploring

backcountry lakes in California’s Trinity Alps under a cloudy October sky, but

tha nkfully the ra in held off until nightfa ll. Per fect.

I love riding out a storm inside a tent, dry and warm, listening to the hypnotic

pattering of raindrops hitting the fly. This particular tent had served me well all

over the world. So when the rain changed from a rhythmic drip to a deafening

thunder, I didn’t worry—I dozed off.

An hour later, I was awake. My head had slipped off my sleeping pad and into 2

inches of water. I sat up with a shock, feeling around in the dark. I was surrounded

by a pool—only my pad kept me from swimming.

The tent floor wa s lea king. This yea r a lone, I’d used it on more tha n a dozen fa ir-

weather trips prior to this weekend, and hadn’t checked for holes or damage to the

waterproof coating. Now it was too late. I spent the night huddled on an island I

made with my pack on top of my pad.

I still look forward to rain in the backcountry, but now I always thoroughly dry

and inspect my tent after every trip.

IT HAPPENED TO ME

Night Swimming

Failing to inspect gear leads to an unwelcome

surprise in camp. By Dennis Lewon

CLEAN YOUR STOVE

Liquid-fuel stoves are fast and efficient, but unlike canister

s t oves t hey need reg u la r ma i nt en a nce. You’ l l k now you rs needs a

cleaning when there’s soot buildup around the jet and burner, or a weak or

erratic flame, which often indicates blockages in the fuel line or burner.

Repair vs. Retire

Extending the life of your gear is better for

the environment and saves money, but some

damage can’t be fixed. Here’s how to know

when it’s time to let go.

Hiking Boots

Sole separation As long as the outsole hasn’t

completely peeled away from the boot, a

lit tle Shoe Goo will seal it right back up.

Large leaks Small leaks can be remedied with

leather wax or waterproofing treatment, but

blown seams and large tears mean it’s time

for an upgrade.

Waterproof Shell

Wetting out Revive your raingear with proper

cleaning and re-waterproofing (see left).

Delaminating membrane With enough use,

the membrane can eventually peel away

from the fabric, leaving you without reliable

waterproofing or any way to bring it back.

Sleeping Bag

Lost loft Unless you really mistreat your

sleeping bag—especially a down bag—most

fill issues can be fixed with a good wash.

Expired synthetic fill While down fill can

usually be revived by a good cleaning,

clumped or thinning synthetic fill is much

more difficult to fix.

Trekking Poles

Broken locking mechanism If the twist lock

adjustment is loose, disassemble the pole

and clean the screw and plastic expander

plug with a rag or toothbrush.

Major dents or cracks Many manufacturers

will sell or send you replacement segments,

but for snapped or heavily damaged shafts,

new poles may be in order.

Sleeping Pad

Leaky inflatable pad To find the source of a

leak , inflate your pad, submerge it in water,

and look for bubbles. Air dry and clean

around the puncture with an alcohol prep

pad. Apply Seam Grip to the hole, then patch

with repair tape.

Burst seams Major leaks, damaged internal

baffles, or broken valves warrant a splurge.

For more tips on maintaining and fixing

your equipment, join our on line course at

backpacker.com/gearcare.

Fuel line

Use the small wrench included with your

stove or the pliers on your multitool to pull

the cable out of the fuel line. Wipe it clean

with sandpaper and reinsert it. If it’s still

clogged, slide the cable in and out of the

fuel line to scour any blockages.

Pump

Rubber components in your fuel

pump may crack or dry out over

time. Carefully disassemble the

pump to inspect the pump cup

and o-rings, and replace

damaged parts with new ones

from your service kit. Apply

pump cup oil to dry o-rings.

Jet

In some stoves, a pin inside the jet

should clear blockages when shaken. If

it doesn’t, unscrew the priming cup,

remove the generator loop, and

unscrew the jet. Pull out the pin (make

sure it ’s not bent or broken) and clean

the jet by wiping it off or clearing

blockages with a sewing needle.

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Generator

loop

Pump cup oil

and rings

Priming

cup

Burner

For a clean shine, remove the stove’s legs so you’re left with

the burner. Pour a little white gas on a rag and clean off as

much soot as possible. Do this especially after burning

dirtier fuels to keep soot from griming up your other gear.