Kit Maintenance

Cleaning might not be your favourite job, but keeping the contents of your kit bag in tip top condition is easy when you know how. Follow Jonny’s helpful guide for stress-free kit care

- Jonny Crockett

It’s the end of the season and the weather has definitely taken on a wintry feel. At the time of writing this article, it is heading for -12°C and the fire is lit. The snow outside means that it is time to play, not work in the woods. At the start of the year, there are a few chores that need to be done: not arduous or unpleasant, but relaxing, enjoyable jobs. I’m talking about kit maintenance.

The bag

2017 was particularly hard on my kit so this is not something that I’ll rush through, but rather take one piece of kit at a time. I start with emptying my daysack and hanging it up to air.

There is little point in drying, cleaning and oiling kit just to put it away in a damp bag to fester over the winter months. If there are muddy patches then I’ll clean them with a damp cloth and perhaps use some soap on it if needs be.

Knives

Now I’m not saying I’ve got a fetish about this sort of thing or am in any way a knife geek, but I do have a few knives.

I’ve got a small necker knife for skinning and gutting, a knife for general work, a heavy duty knife that I take to Scotland for the longer, more arduous trips, a ‘Sunday best’ knife and a multi-tool. Add on to those the carving knives, crook knives, draw knives, a Swiss Army knife and a beautiful folding knife I was given last year and it adds up to a few hours’ work.