Maintenance schedule for gear and emergency kits

Four things wear gear out most: moisture, UV light, heat and time. Moisture lets mould grow, metal rust and coatings turn sticky. UV light, the invisible part of sunlight, makes plastics and fabrics brittle over time. Heat damages batteries, gas canisters and medication. And time alone makes food and first-aid supplies expire.

The trick of the plan is to sort items by these enemies. What is wet or dirty after use you check straight after the trip. What ages slowly with time, like batteries and supplies, you look at every six months. What wears only very slowly, like reproofing or seals, needs checking once a year.

That way you always check the right thing at the right time without constantly unpacking everything. This saves time and still makes sure your gear works when you need it.

After every trip: spread out the tent, sleeping bag and clothing to dry and air, even if they only feel slightly damp. Remove the worst of the dirt. Note small damage such as a hole or a loose buckle straight away and repair it before it gets bigger. Clean a water filter as its instructions say. This usually takes only a quarter of an hour.

Every six months: test and replace batteries, charge power banks, swap water and food in the car and go bag for fresh supplies – you can simply use up the old ones in everyday life. Also adjust the clothing in the kits to the season: in winter thicker things belong in them than in summer.

Yearly: check reproofing, seams, zips and seals. Check first-aid supplies for expiry dates. Service the stove as instructed. And update the document copies in the go bag if anything has changed, such as a new ID card or a new phone number.

How you store things between trips often decides more about their life than the trip itself. Store sleeping bags loosely, for example in a large, airy bag, and not permanently squashed in the small stuff sack. Otherwise the filling gradually loses its ability to loft and keeps you less warm.

Tents only go into the cupboard completely dry. Even one tent stored damp can get mildew spots and smell musty. Keep gas canisters cool and out of the sun. Everything should be safe from direct sunlight and from rodents, which like to nibble fabric and packaging.

For devices that sit unused for a long time, some manufacturers recommend taking the batteries out. Then they cannot leak inside the device. Follow the information for your device.

Leaked batteries leave a residue that can irritate the skin. So remove them with gloves and wash your hands afterwards. Damaged or leaked batteries go to a battery collection point, not into household waste.

Climbing and fall-protection gear such as ropes, harnesses or helmets is not covered by this general plan. For them, the manufacturer's information and, where required, inspections by experts apply. Criteria such as age, loading and history decide when something must be retired.

Replace expired medication in the first-aid kit and dispose of it as is usual in your region – a pharmacy can often tell you how. A kit with expired supplies gives a false sense of security.

The hardest part of a maintenance schedule is not the work but remembering. Many people link the check to fixed dates they already have in mind, for example the clock change in spring and autumn or the start of the year. A recurring calendar entry does the rest.

Put a simple list in each kit with date, contents and the next check date. Write the expiry dates of food, water and medication on the outside of the container. That way you see at a glance whether something is due, without emptying everything out.

This plan is a suggestion. Manufacturers' care instructions always come first. Once you have kept to the plan for a year, it becomes routine and hardly takes any time.