Great Walks’ resident gear expert Robin Boustead answers your technical queries about your outdoor kit.
Q: If I spray a DWR finish on clothing, will that also increase its wind resistance? Specifically I'm thinking of a pair of light gloves and a headband that I use to meet an early morning chill, but which are not much help in a cold wind.
Phil Maloney
Alawoona, SA
A: Hi Phil, in the past fabric wind resistance came from the tightness of the weave of a fabric or some sort of polymer coating or laminate rather than a chemical treatment (Durable Water Repellent (DWR) treatment). So normally, fabric breathability and wind resistance were mutually exclusive; that is, you couldn’t have high levels of both features. There is a new range of polymer and Teflon-based treatments that coat each fabric fibre to create different characteristics, however such treatments are best applied during fabric manufacture. So I’m afraid to say that it is unlikely that any DWR treatment would increase wind resistance if applied to your gloves or headband, although they will become more water-resistant.
Q: I want to start going ultralight. I've looked at tarps and bivy sacks but what do you think about hammocks? They look nice, but do they really work?
Shane Harvey
Broome, WA
A: Hi Shane, I love hammocks! The only problem is sometimes finding two trees to anchor them. There are a number of designs on the market depending on the sort of weather you are likely to be in, and they are especially good for tropical or rough bush areas when you want to avoid sleeping on the ground.
Q: What are the pros and cons of a single-wall tent to a double-wall?
Mike Smith
Avon, SA
A: Taking into account the claims made by tent manufacturers, I think this is a pretty simple issue. Single-wall tents are suited to drier climates (high alpine and desert) that have relatively low levels of precipitation, whereas double-wall tents can cope with humid climates and higher levels of precipitation (temperate and tropical). The reason is simple: ventilation is much better in double-wall tents. So, if you take a single-wall tent into a humid environment, you will suffer from higher levels of condensation and lower comfort.
Q: I love my sleeping bag/mat combo, except for one thing. I can't stop sliding off the pad! Is there anything that I can do to my pad to cut down on the sliding?
Susan Hooton
Burwood, Vic
A: Hi Susan, this is a problem you share with many campers including myself! The only remedy I have found is to stop the pad from moving rather than trying to control both you and the pad. You will continue to move around at night, so the theory is to keep the pad stationary rather than letting it moving around beneath you. Try putting a 1 to 1.5 metre length of thin foam mat (the rougher the surface the better) under your pad. It will be cheap, a handy day-time seat and a potential splint for your first aid kit.
Q: What is the best way to repair a tear in my fleece?
Karen Graham
Margaret River, WA
A: Hi Karen, this is a little bit complicated as it will depend on the sort of fleece fabric you have. If it is a normal knitted fabric then it won’t fray too much and you should be able to sew the opposing seams using a darn stitch. If the fabric is fraying then take a patch from the inside hem or pocket lining and patch behind the tear. Some fleece fabrics have a laminate inside or on them; if so, do the same as above and then apply a sealant treatment (seam-sealer or similar) over the tear.
Q: What's the best way to re-attach seam seal tape that is pulling away from waterproof fabric items such as a waterproof stuff sack or tent fly?
Melinda Snell
Prospect, NSW
A: Unfortunately there is no fail-safe way to fix peeling seam-seal tape at home. Garments are seam-sealed on special machines that apply the tape under temperature and pressure, so ideally you need to use one of these machines to re-apply tape. Some garment repair centres, for example Remote Equipment Repairs in Melbourne (www.remoterepairs.com.au) can do a professional job but costs might mean it’s time to invest in a replacement product.