Richard Gear's Latest Answers

Q: Does tear strength in tent outers mean anything in the real world apart from increased weight? Are they considerably more robust and worth it compared to lighter weight but just as waterproof others?

A: Gear here, Richard 'High Tensile Ripstop Fabric' Gear - a catchy name if ever there was one, and curiously apt. Does tear strength matter? The bottom line is yes, it does, and here's why...

Under normal circumstances your tent should be fine, however in a situation where your tent is damaged...
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Q: My sandals stink! Whats the best way of washing them?

A: Gear here, Richard 'Fragrant' Gear. Sandals, as you've discovered, are prone to ponging, particularly if you wear them barefoot. Small fragments of dead skin become lodged in the footbed of the sandal and are broken down by microbes, creating by products, which are what causes the pong. This is why many sandal footbeds now have a built-in anti-microbial treatment, though it doesn't always work...

You don't say whether your sandals are washable fabric rafting sandals or leather, but I'm assuming the former. I suggest that...
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Q: Dear Mr Gear, I have recently purchased a CamelBak hydration reservoir and in my wisdom failed to dry it after cleaning. There are now green "algae" patches inside the reservoir and would be grateful if you could advise how to get rid of these deposits!!

A: Gear here, Richard 'You Should Have Been More Careful' Gear... It's shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted, but I'd advise everyone to rinse out their hydration system after use and dry it thoroughly. That's particularly the case if you use some sort of energy drink, which is nectar to nasties.

If it all goes horribly wrong and colonies of living things establish themselves in your hydration system however, it's not the end of the world
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