Follow Simple Product Care Tips To Maintain Your Pack.

Isn't it reassuring to know your valuables are protected from damage, whether you’re starting your week as an urban commuter or ending it with outdoor photography in the breath-taking splendor of nature?

Since you have already invested time in researching and selecting the right pack to support your daily lifestyle and carry items, make sure to take care of it. Like most well-made tools and instruments, a bit of maintenance goes a long way in helping your bag do its job. For example, an occasional complete brush down with a clean, soft brush can reveal any spots that need attention.

By following simple product care tips like brushing off dirt, treating stains before they set, and following cleaning guidelines, you can keep your gear in great shape, ready for years of service.

Brushes, these simple tools, really help get the grit and grime off your pack, whether it's a common paintbrush, a boar’s hairbrush, or a toothbrush. Gently brushing away surface dirt helps prevent it from embedding in the fibers, which can otherwise lead to premature wear on the fabric and materials.

Keep your pack free from abrasive dirt and debris to help prolong its life! A quick tip: avoid metal or wire brushes, and instead choose brushes with soft nylon, plastic, or natural hair bristles. 

Alternatively, you can use an air compressor and an air nozzle (or compressed air) to blow off the dirt, then follow up with a vacuum inside and out. This works well for the small nooks and crannies in a hiking pack like the MARKHOR-45 backpack that are easy to miss with a brush.

Spilled coffee on your ENVOY-17 messenger bag? No worries, spot-cleaning is just part of maintaining your trusty bag. Knowing each Vanquest product has protective fabric coatings to keep moisture out gives you peace of mind. These coatings help shield against the elements, but a quick spot clean will take care of that coffee splash before it stains.

When it comes to dealing with stains, we've noticed that many people take very different, and sometimes excessive, approaches to keeping their gear clean. For most cases, spot cleaning is all you need. Rather than cleaning the entire bag for a single spot, we recommend using mild detergent like castile soap or 10:1 diluted Simple Green and a soft-bristled toothbrush. Focus only on the dirty area, then rinse off any detergent with clean water and let the bag air dry in a well-ventilated space, outside of direct sunlight.

The worst thing you can do is to machine wash and tumble dry your pack in high heat! We don’t recommend these practices for many reasons: Machine washing and tumble drying can cause too much friction and damage your bag’s hardware, webbing plus other components and wear down fabric coatings. Trapped moisture between fabric layers can also lead to mildew and unpleasant odors.

Take the TRIDENT-21 backpack for example, many enjoy the structural shape and protection this foam padded bag provides. By example: the main flap opening is a layer of Hypalon, Cordura, closed-cell foam, ripstop nylon, and ToughMesh before you even reach the main compartment. Most of our packs are at least three layers of material thick. Drying them thoroughly after machine washing would be challenging, and mildew could form between those layers.

We also coat our packs with a Durable Water Repellent (DWR). Using a washing machine or aggressive cleaning methods with heavy solvents can quickly break down this coating, making its weatherproofing ineffective.

Zippers are a crucial component of a pack, designed for long-term performance, and often the most expensive item to repair on any bag. Zipper performance can degrade if the zipper is not properly cared for or used incorrectly.

Keep in mind that zippers are not load-bearing and should not be used to lift a heavy bag by the zipper pulls alone. No pouch, bag, or pack should be opened or closed with most of the weight supported by the zipper or zipper pull during use.

Forcing a zipper closed will cause it to wear out prematurely. Instead, align the zipper teeth (coils) parallel before closing the metal slider, allowing it to glide shut with only light pressure from one or two fingers. Additionally avoiding sharp or abrasive items contacting the zipper, inside or out, prolongs its life. You can skip the zipper grease or lubricants as they are not needed by design for the self-lubricating YKK zippers and often attract dirt and debris.

Check out these Product Care tips on our site to keep your gear in optimal condition for lasting performance.

All bags and packs from Vanquest are made with carefully selected materials and hardware, to help you stay organized and prepared now and in the future.

Treat your pack like the well-made instrument and carry system it is and inspect before and after use all zippers, buckles, and webbing for signs of wear or damage. Routinely brush off dirt, tackle stains with spot-cleaning, and avoid machine-washing and tumble-drying. Also, remember that zippers are not meant for bearing heavy loads. Treat the zippers gently, align the tracks, and avoid abrasive items from contacting them.

Gear maintenance starts with you, and by following some simple guidelines, your backpack will continue to protect your valuables and serve you faithfully through all your adventures. Taking care of your backpack is essential for ensuring longevity and your peace of mind. Your choice of a reliable pack is an investment, and with some simple maintenance, your pack can serve you faithfully for years to come.