Many outdoor enthusiasts will care: how long can a high-quality hardshell jacket last? In fact, the service life of a hardshell jacket depends not only on the fabric and craftsmanship but also on daily wearing, cleaning and maintenance methods. Hikeshell has seen people wear hardshell jackets for 5 years and still maintain good performance, while others have waterproof failure after wearing for 1 year. Today, we will share 5 practical tips to help you extend the "service life" of your hardshell jacket.
Tip 1: Avoid unnecessary wear and tear. Although the outer fabric of the hardshell jacket is wear-resistant, long-term contact with sharp objects (such as branches, rocks) or frequent friction (such as the backpack shoulder strap rubbing against the shoulder repeatedly) can easily cause the fabric to pill and the waterproof coating to wear. When hiking, try to avoid dense bushes. Choose a backpack with high fit to reduce friction between the shoulder strap and the hardshell jacket; when not wearing it daily, hang it on a hanger to avoid folding and squeezing leading to coating cracking.
Tip 2: Clean "moderately" and refuse over-cleaning. Many people think that the hardshell jacket should be scrubbed hard when it is dirty, but over-cleaning will damage the waterproof coating on the fabric surface and the breathable film on the inner layer. The correct way is: wipe slight stains with a wet rag; for more serious stains, use neutral detergent (such as special outdoor clothing detergent), control the water temperature below 30℃, wash gently by hand or use the "gentle mode" of the washing machine. Avoid using bleach and softener - the former will corrode the fabric, and the latter will block the air holes.
Tip 3: Pay attention to drying. The cleaned hardshell jacket cannot be directly exposed to the sun, as ultraviolet rays will accelerate the aging of the waterproof coating; nor can it be dried at high temperature, which will cause the breathable film to shrink and deform. The correct way is: dry naturally, hang in a well-ventilated cool place; if you need to wear it in a hurry, you can use low-temperature drying (temperature not exceeding 40℃). During drying, you can gently pull the clothes to help restore the version.
Tip 4: Regularly "activate" waterproof performance. With the increase of wearing and cleaning times, the waterproof performance of the hardshell jacket will gradually decrease. At this time, there is no need to rush to replace it, and it can be activated by "waterproof agent maintenance". Choose a special outdoor waterproof agent matching the fabric (divided into spray type and washing type), and the waterproof performance will be significantly improved after operating according to the instructions. Hikeshell recommends waterproof agent maintenance every 3-5 washes.
Tip 5: Wear different clothes for different scenarios to avoid excessive consumption of "one jacket for multiple purposes". If you have both high-intensity mountain hiking and urban commuting needs, it is recommended to prepare two hardshell jackets: a professional model for high-intensity outdoor scenarios and a lightweight model for commuting. This can prevent the professional hardshell jacket from accelerating wear due to frequent daily wearing and make wearing in different scenarios more comfortable.
In fact, a good hardshell jacket is like a "partner". Only with careful maintenance can it accompany you to explore the outdoors for a longer time. If your hardshell jacket has small problems, you can also contact Hikeshell customer service, and we will provide professional maintenance suggestions. Do you have any tips to extend the life of your hardshell jacket? Welcome to share in the comment area!
