How to look after and repair a trekking backpack

The answer is NO!
You must never ever put your backpack in the washing machine. Assuming first of all you could get it in, machine washing your backpack is the best way to ruin your bag's coating and foam.

You've dragged your backpack along hiking trails, through mud, dust, grass, stowed it in a bus luggage compartment and it's lost its sparkle. Then it’s high time to clean it!

Here's the equipment you'll need to fully maintain your backpack:
- A basin of warm water
- Special soap paste
- A soft brush
- A clean cloth or microfibre towel
- An old tooth brush (optional)
- A water repellent re-activator spray
- A deodorising spray

Steps involved in cleaning your hiking backpack:
- Completely empty the bag
- Remove the foam and frame (if your backpack allows you to do so and you're sure you know how to put them back)
- Brush or hoover the bag to remove any dust
- Start by dampening your bag using a brush
- Lather the bag and gently rub any stains
- You can use an old toothbrush for areas that are difficult to reach and leave the soap to work for a few minutes on engrained stains
- If your bag has foam shoulder pads, rinse them well and squeeze them to help the water penetrate, removing any salt from sweat, and dust
- Sponge the foam and bag thoroughly using a microfibre towel

Now you just need to air dry your bag, in a dry spot, ideally away from direct sunlight as UV rays cause the fabric to degrade prematurely.

If you don't want to get the foam straps wet, you can also use an odour neutraliser.
If you ever want to re-instate the water-repellent properties of your backpack, you don't need any sophisticated equipment, you can just use a re-activator aerosol once the bag is completely dry. This will help keep your belongings dry a little longer, giving you a little extra time while you take out and put on your rain cover!

Does your backpack have an isothermal cooling compartment? The most efficient way of washing your bag's isothermal compartment is to use a sponge and soapy water then leave it to air dry.

What to do with your bag when you get home? Trekking season is over, it's the end of summer and you're not planning on using your bag for some time...

First of all, follow the instructions below and check that your bag is nice and clean.
Then attach all the backpack straps making sure nothing drags on the floor - it would, after all, be a shame for it to get dusty en route to the cupboard!

To store it, choose a dry, shady space so the sun's rays don't speed up your bag's ageing.
If you only have room in the cellar, and it's damp, try to store your bag on a shelf, avoiding contact with the walls. Then it will be protected from the damp until the fine days return!

The fabric used to make rucksacks is normally reinforced, particularly the bottom panel which is very prone to abrasion. Despite this, however, wear and tear, or a sharp object can create holes.

Here are our solutions:
For a small hole in the fabric of the bag: if you want a quick fix that doesn't require any particular skill, opt for a self-adhesive repair patch: make patches by cutting out two rectangular pieces with rounded edges, each two or three centimetres bigger than the tear. Then, stick one patch on the inside of the bag and the other on the outside, keeping the fabric nice and flat.
You can also go for a more personalized, sew-on patch, as a reminder of your adventures.

For a tear: Contact a professional stitching repair service. Repairing a large tear requires a certain level of sewing competence and, of course, appropriate equipment as the fabric is much tougher and thicker than that used for ordinary clothes. If the incident occurs mid-adventure, you can use safety pins or a self-adhesive patch from your repair kit until you can repair it properly.

For a hole at the bottom of your bag:
if the hole isn't too big you can also apply a self-adhesive repair patch. Otherwise, we recommend taking it to a cobbler who'll be able to offer a better solution to make it last longer.

But to prevent this from happening, make sure that you don't overload your bag - it's not good for your bag or your back!