Shells are among the most important pieces of equipment for staying warm and comfortable on the slopes. They keep you dry, keep out the wind, usually feature plenty of pockets for snacks, and tend to look pretty sweet. As such, properly caring for your shell is vital to ensuring that it continues to work as needed. This guide from Patagonia does a great job at explaining how you should be cleaning your technical shell.
The first step to cleaning your shell is simply inspecting the jacket. Look for any large dirt spots or stains and do what you can do remove them before washing. Then zip up all the main zippers and ensure all pockets and secret compartments are emptied.
Use a front-loading washing machine, preferably without an agitator, and add a technical wash like this one from Nikwax. Follow the product instructions for detergent dosage and settings. Usually the recommended cycle includes a small load size, warm water temperature, and a regular wash cycle.
The best why to dry technical gear is usually to tumble dry on low heat. If you don’t have a dryer, air dry the jacket completely first, the set an iron to low heat and place a thin, dry cloth or towel between the iron and jacket. Then gently iron the shell to restore the durable water repellency. That’s all you need to do to make sure your gear is working as intended!
