Backpacker

46 10.2017Down``````GEAR AID REVIVEXDOWN CLEANERDown loses its loft when dirtyor oily, which compromiseswarmth. This wash was thebest at returning down to itsoriginal spring, restoring onetester’s 6-year-old puffy andallowing him to head into NewHampshire’s White Mountainswith peace of mind. It’s safe forwaterproof shells as well. (Tore-DWR hydrophobic down,use Nikwax’s Down Proof.) $9;12 oz.; gearaid.com``````DEFUNKIFY ACTIVEODOR EXPEDITIONSTRENGTHThis down-safe wash coatsfibers with deodorizingmolecules that resist stink,making it ideal for long trips orparticularly smelly layers. Aftera few sweaty summer hikes,our tester’s synthetic tee hadnone of its usual funk despiteno washes in between. $20;7 oz.; defunkify.com``````1 – 2TIMES PER SEASON``````WA SH``````COLDTUMBLE DRY LOWround upgearMaintain your layersGetting out too much is a good problem to have. Stinky clothes from all the mileage? Not soo good. We tested 16cleaning products to find the best treatments to prolong the life of your favorite layers. BY RYAN WICHELNS``````GEAR AID REVIVEXPRO CLEANERThis treatment is a one-stopshop for synthetics, andour tester used it to cleaneverything from underwear tosleeping bags to puffies. It beatother washes at de-funking aload of base- and midlayersthat reeked after a long tripin Washington’s Alpine LakesWilderness. Revivex Pro canalso clean waterproof shells(but didn’t do that as well asother washes in the test). $9;12 oz.; gearaid.com``````DEFUNKIFY ACTIVEODOR EXPEDITIONSTRENGTH``````Synthetic``````OUTERWEAREVERY``````10 – 12WEARS``````WA SH``````COLDTUMBLE DRY LOW``````Wool``````GRANGER’SMERINO WASHMerino is delicate—normaldetergents with softeners orenzymes damage its fibers.Granger’s was the best out ofthe wool-specific washes wetested at neutralizing the smelland removing the dirt from aheap of socks that had eachbeen worn for a week straight.(It’s great for wool/syntheticblends, too.) $9;10 oz.; grangers-usa.com``````EVERY``````1 – 2WEARS``````WA SH``````WA R MTUMBLE DRY LOW``````Waterproof/Breathable``````NIKWAX TECH WASHDirty shells don’t breathe aswell as clean ones, but normaldetergent gums up their pores.Tech Wash got top marksfor erasing dirt and body oilswithout blocking the pipes.Our tester’s shell—cloggedand clammy after a season ofski touring—was much morebreathable after one cycle. $10;10 oz.; nikwax.com``````NIKWAX TX.DIRECTWA SH - INTX.Direct restored waterrepellency to nearly off-the-rack levels better than anyother product we tried. “Afterone wash, my wet out-pronejacket was back to sheddingprecip,” one tester says. Ecobonus: No harmful PFCs. $13;10 oz.; nikwax.com``````DEFUNKIFY ACTIVEODOR EXPEDITIONSTRENGTH``````ONCEPER SEASON``````WA SH``````COLDTUMBLE DRY LOWGEAR UPKEEPHead to backpacker.com/gearrepair towatch videos on howto clean, fix, andmaintain your gear.``````BASELAYEREVERY``````1 – 2WEARS--+x =Dirty Grime Smell Wash Frequency Clean