Richard Gear's Latest Answers
Our Q&A man answers questions on tent washing, tent buying and lightweight pack durability.
Posted: 25 July 2007
by Jon
Our man Gear, Richard Gear, has been hard at work answering
your questions and throwing sticks at sea gulls, just because he
can....
So far Richard has answered over 500 of your questions and you can
find all his past answers together with a search mechanism at the
Ask
Richard Gear section of the site.
Browse through his past answers or ask
a question of your own...
This week is quite tenty and Richard answers questions about
whether you can wash a tent inner and if so, how and with what,
suggests a tent for a group of guides - girl guides that is, not
mountain guides - and finally ponders whether lightweight packs are
significantly more fragile than traditional, heavier versions.
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Q: Can you wash inner tents?
A: The name is Gear, Richard Gear and I'm a
stickler for a clean tent, not because I'm a tragic
obsessive, but because clean, well-maintained equipment
simply works better. In the case of an inner tent, clean
fabric will improve moisture transmission - according to
Grangers an inactive body can produce 1.5 litres of moisture
just sitting in a tent for eight hours.
That moisture needs to escape and a build-up of dirt can
hinder the process. So yes, you absolutely can and should
clean your tent and here's how....
Full
Answer
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Q: I'm currently looking for a new day pack and I
am leaning towards going lightweight (the Ospray Talon 33in
particular). My main concern is durability. Lightweight
packs are always proclaiming their durability but how do
they match up to normal packs? For example would one be ill
advised to put on in the hold of a plane?
A: The name is Gear, Richard 'Durably Light'
Gear and I'm very glad you asked this question. Over the
past three or four years, both outdoor clothing and
equipment have got lighter both generally and thanks to
hardcore lightweight brands like GoLite, Montane and
OMM.
That's all well and good, but inevitably, lighter,
thinner materials have a tendency to be more vulnerable and
less durable than their heavier predecessors. I say a
'tendency' because up to a point, some of that has been
off-set by improvements in fabric technology and
construction techniques that mean a modern lightweight
fabric is generally tougher than an older fabric of the same
weight.
Full
Answer
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Q: Hi, I run a guide unit and need new tents which
tents are really strong durable but realistically
priced.
A: The name is Gear, Richard 'Traditional Tentage'
Gear, mad old camping buffer and nostalgic canvas fan.
Anyway, as I was saying before I so rudely insulted
myself, there's one very obvious answer when it comes to
tents for youth groups and it's a tent that's introduced
many thousands of young people to overnighting in the
outdoors over the years, it's a classic, it's tough,
effective and readily repairable and while it's not exactly
cheap, it's still probably your best bet...
Full
Answer
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Check out the full Ask
Richard Gear section of the site for a searchable archive of
all Richard's past answers, some of which make sense, or ask a
question of your own...
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