<http://schema.org/articleBody>
" No one likes to replace their favorite pieces of backpacking equipment. But if you&amp;#039;re lugging some really old gear, your body will probably thank you. &amp;quot;A $300 tent that&amp;#039;s a few ounces lighter won&amp;#039;t matter, but if you&amp;#039;re hauling around a steel-and-canvas number from the 1950s that&amp;#039;s three times heavier than a new one, it&amp;#039;s probably worth the money,&amp;quot; says Mitch Lillie, veteran backpacker and former Eagle Scout. However, the trend toward lightness in today&amp;#039;s outdoor tech can impact the longevity of certain equipment. Backpacks and tents are often made of less resilient fabric and thus tear more easily. &amp;quot;If a backpack doesn&amp;#039;t fit right anymore, has an irreplaceable broken zipper, is torn at a seam, is dry or moisture-rotten or weighs more than the gear inside, it might be a good time to get something new,&amp;quot; says Guy Thorsby, an employee with Mountain High Outfitters. Assessing backpacking gear takes more than a set of eyeballs. For a backpack, consider how often you&amp;#039;ve used it, how it has been maintained, and how much weight it has taken on over the years. Here are a few tips to help you decide whether the time is now for new gear: Boots Quality tends to wear out in the soles first. If you can touch the deeper parts of the treads with the tip of your finger easily, you should think about resoling or replacing. Trail-running shoes and lighter footwear typically wear out sooner. Tents Usually the signs will be obvious\u2014you may find burn holes or rips. You can patch holes that are less than an inch in diameter, but buy a new tent if any holes are larger than that. Check the seams for signs of stretching\u2014another sign that a tent purchase is looming. Once the poles no longer stretch the fabric tight, you won&amp;#039;t stay dry in heavy rain. Backpacks Backpack frames get bent, especially when overstuffed or shoved onto airplanes. If something feels like it&amp;#039;s jutting out, inspect the frame. If it&amp;#039;s bent, spring for a new pack. Sleeping Bags Sleeping bags should be unpacked from their compression bags and stored loosely after every trip\u2014otherwise they&amp;#039;ll become permanently compressed and lose a good deal of their heat retention. If you are shivering when you should be sleeping comfortably, it&amp;#039;s time for a new sleeping bag. Sleeping Pads Many sleeping pads have a self-inflating mechanism: The user opens a valve and lets the pad fill with air naturally as its rubbery components expand. Unfortunately, these too wear down\u2014or campers get impatient and start blowing into the valve, which can further diminish the pad&amp;#039;s ability to self-inflate. If you have to blow hard to inflate your pad, it&amp;#039;s time to buy a replacement. Stoves Check for gas leaks. To do this, connect your stove and fuel canister tightly but don&amp;#039;t light them. Listen for any slight hissing at any of the joints. If you hear a hiss, try replacing the gaskets. If that doesn&amp;#039;t work, then you&amp;#039;ll probably need a new stove. Much of this is simple advice, but important: Don&amp;#039;t wait until the very last stitch has popped to replace a piece of equipment. After all, you wouldn&amp;#039;t want that stitch to pop when you&amp;#039;re halfway along the trail. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.popularmechanics.com/adventure/outdoors/a9437/6-signs-that-its-time-to-replace-your-camping-gear-15922693/>