How to store your winter gear properly during summer ?
The time has come to swap your ski goggles for your swim goggles and your winter woolies for your swimmers. With a tear in your eye, you ready yourself to put your skis away in the garage, before the winter season kicks off again in November in Val Thorens. And we know exactly how you feel! But before you put your ski gear away, there are a few things you should bear in mind to make sure your equipment is ready for the slopes the moment the season begins!
Whats the best way to store your ski clothing?
The end of the season is the perfect time to take care of your ski clothing before packing it away for the summer! Here are a few of our top tips on how to ensure it stays clean and waterproof:
- Always follow the instructions on the garment’s care label.
- Close all zips and velcro fastenings, including those found under the arms and in between the thighs!
- Don’t use fabric softener or washing powder when you wash your ski clothing.
- Special detergents are available for waterproof clothing. They penetrate deep inside the fabric, whilst helping to maintain the water repellant finish! Magic! ;)
- Every now and then, you can use re-proofing sprays to maintain the sensitive areas of your clothing, such as seams, shoulders, sleeves etc.
- If your jacket (or trousers, gloves...) isn’t totally waterproof, you can use a re-proofing spray to restore surface water repellency.
- Re-proofing always works better on clean garments! Make sure you follow the care label instructions.
- GoreTex clothing can also be machine washed, according to the care label instructions.
- Unless stated otherwise, do not tumble dry!
- Dry cleaning is not recommended: the solvents used may decrease the fabric’s water repellency.
- If you wash your down ski jacket, put two clean tennis balls in the machine to stop the feathers clumping together, helping to ‘re-fluff’ the down.
- Our top drying tip: put the item of clothing flat between two towels, turning it over regularly. It may take several days to dry, but it will maintain its shape better as the fibres won’t get waterlogged !
Ski clothing takes longer to dry, and if you use a re-proofing treatment you’ll need to wait several days before you can where the item again. The end of the season is the perfect time to take care of your ski gear, making sure it’s all clean and ready when the snow starts to fall!
A few things to bear in mind before you put your ski boots away for the summer
At the end of your last day on the slopes, remove the ski boot liners. Leave them to dry for 24 to 48 hrs before putting them back inside the boot. To make sure they don’t lose their shape during the summer, close the buckles of each boot, making sure that the tongue is flat and not bent at all. Try to store them in a boot bag if possible, or in their original box, and store them in a dry place at room temperature.
It’s also a good time to check that your insoles are in good condition (not too worn...), and that the outer shells aren’t cracked at all. If they are, head to a specialist shop to get them fixed.
Look after your skis before putting them away for the summer
One of the most important pieces of skiing equipment, your skis need looking after the most. Often overlooked, regular maintainance ensures your skis will stay in good condition for longer.
Follow our top tips to ensure your skis will be in perfect condition when you get them out next winter:
Repairing the base :
Check the base of your skis: it’s important to repair any damage to avoid mositure reaching the core. This is quite easy to do, just head to the following article to find out how to make your ski base as good as new!
Wax your skis before you store them away :
This step will nourish the base of your skis, keeping them in good condition for longer. Wax them as you usually would, following our advice in this article, but don’t scrape the base at the end. Leave the layer of wax in place to protect and nourish the base while your skis are stored away.
Bindings
So, you’ve repaired and waxed the base of your skis, but before they take up their summer residence (in the cupboard, garage, loft...), loosen the bindings to their lowest setting so that they stay in their best working order. Don’t forget to turn them back to their original settings before your first descent!
Low Tech ski touring bindings also require particular care before being stored away – check the manufacturer’s recommendations ;)
And if you don’t feel up to doing all of that at home, head to a specialist shop and let an expert carry out a full service on them without breaking the bank.
One last ski storage top tip: keep them in a dry place, away from direct sunlight and dust. Put them in a ski bag if you can, but only when they are completely dry, otherwise the edges may go rusty.
Just as your skis are going into hibernation for the summer, we’re already looking forward to seeing you on the slopes of Val Thorens again! Enjoy your summer, whether you go to the beach or the mountains, whilst we prepare another fabulous season for you in your favourite ski resort!
