Before laundering any items, you should always start by checking the instructions on the care label or tags. Those tags will give you the most accurate care information that is specific to your garment.
As a general rule of thumb, we advise only washing your gear when it really needs it. Machine washing leads to wear and tear on your gear, and places extra strain on zippers, Velcro, and other trim pieces. It also uses lots of water and energy, and excessive machine washing has a negative impact on nature.
Instead, we recommend hand washing dirty areas with warm water, mild soap or detergent and a sponge, or even just hanging your clothing or sleeping bags up for airing.
If you do choose to machine wash, washing at 85°F uses less energy than washing at 100°F. Make sure you use a detergent suited to the garment(s) you’re washing. We advise that you don’t use a fabric softener, since it can leave a waxy residue on your clothing. This residue can impair the functionality of your gear by affecting its ability to wick away moisture or effectively repel water.
Tumble drying also places stress on your garments. So whenever possible, hang up your clothing to air dry. Down is the exception, and should be tumble-dried to help keep the down from clumping.