Tips and tricks to get ready for spring and summer
Spring is in the air which means its time to start getting you and your gear ready for your spring and summer adventures. Here are a few tips to think about trying out this season.
- Store your winter gear properly.
After you get that last spring day in, its time to store your skis/snowboard. The way we recomend is to get a storage wax. This is where the ski tech puts on a thick layer of wax and then jsut leaves it. This protects the meatle edge from rusting, and seals the base and keeps it properly. You can think of it like putting lotion on your skin.
Now for your ski boots and your snowboard boots , Make sure to buckle them up. Don't go to tight or to loose, just keep it snug. If you leave your boots undone they will warp and end up fitting weird next season.
Make sure your ski jackets and ski pants have some room to "breath". Packing your jackets and pants in a bag might save some space in the gear closet, but over time it can damage the waterproofing properties. So just put them on hangers and call it good.
2. check your gear.
Electronics – This is the perfect time of year to make sure your gear actually works. I would recommend checking the batteries in all of your electronics—headlamps, GPS devices, power banks, anything that uses batteries.
Sleeping- One of the most common issues people run into is discovering that their sleeping pad has a hole—after they’re already out on their trip. Don’t get caught off guard. Blow it up at home and let it sit overnight to make sure it holds air.
Now on to tents: go out in the yard and set yours up. Check for any holes, make sure all the zippers work, and confirm that you’ve got all your stakes.
Finally, your sleeping bag! Take it out of storage and let it "fluff up." This is also a great time to give it a smell check—and give it a wash if needed.
Check your rope for soft spots (look out for next week's blog for a more in-depth tutorial on how to do this). It's also a good time to inspect the rest of your gear. Take a look at the manufacturing dates on your soft goods—the general rule of thumb is 5–10 years depending on usage.
And don’t forget your hard goods like quickdraws, cams, etc. If anything looks questionable, just retire it. It’s not worth the risk.
4. Training & Stretching
Spring often brings rainy or chilly weeks that make it tough to get outside. That’s the perfect opportunity to sneak in some strength training. Whether you’re a hiker or not, we recommend doing some kind of weighted leg exercises—think lunges and squats. These muscles are key for almost every outdoor sport.
Don’t skip core work either. Your core is involved in everything from climbing to paddling to skiing. Crunches, planks, and leg lifts will go a long way.
And of course—always stretch! Stretching helps prevent injury and speeds up recovery.
Final Thoughts
Hopefully you’ll try out a few of these tips this spring and see how they help your adventures go a little smoother. As always, we hope you get out there and do something awesome—and if you post it on social media, make sure to tag us on Instagram and Facebook!