Anyone wash their Osprey?

[LesBrass]

Hello all

I'm back from my walk and I notice that my pack is not as fresh as it was at the start... In particular the straps and back.

I cant access the pack care section of the osprey website as it keeps forcing me on to the french website and the link doesn't exist there... but I'm pretty confident that some clever soul will have the answer on here.

How did you wash yours? Did you just soak it in the bath? Put it in the machine?

All ideas welcome

 

[rector]

Hello all

I'm back from my walk and I notice that my pack is not as fresh as it was at the start... In particular the straps and back.

I cant access the pack care section of the osprey website as it keeps forcing me on to the french website and the link doesn't exist there... but I'm pretty confident that some clever soul will have the answer on here.

How did you wash yours? Did you just soak it in the bath? Put it in the machine?

All ideas welcome

 

[rector]

I washed my wife's Osprey in the bath with a solution that I bought in Cotwold's Outdoor store and it has been from St Jean to Santiago twice. It came up like new as did my own pack

 

[Kitsambler]

Yes, washed my Exos 46 after several years of training and walks (and leaning up against wet earth and the occasional charred tree ...). Very simple and very successful. First, remove everything from the pack, including the water bladder. (1) Draw a tub of warm water with a bit of hand-wash type detergent (ie, Woolite) dissolved, (2) Swish about a minute and then let soak for the afternoon, (3) Swish about for a minute, remove pack from tub, drain tub, refill with fresh water, swish pack in the rinse bath a few minutes, (4) Hang to dry in the inverted position. Dries overnight.

 

[ranthr]

I have also washed my Exos after each camino.
I often use the raincover when walking to protect the backpack. It's easier to wash the raincover than the backpack, and it also protect agaist sharp stones. The fabric in modern lightweight backpacks is often very thin and may break if you hit something on the ground.

 

[simply B]

From @Kitsambler -

Yes, washed my Exos 46 after several years of training and walks (and leaning up against wet earth and the occasional charred tree ...). Very simple and very successful. First, remove everything from the pack, including the water bladder. (1) Draw a tub of warm water with a bit of hand-wash type detergent (ie, Woolite) dissolved, (2) Swish about a minute and then let soak for the afternoon, (3) Swish about for a minute, remove pack from tub, drain tub, refill with fresh water, swish pack in the rinse bath a few minutes, (4) Hang to dry in the inverted position. Dries overnight.

Worked just as well on my Kestrel 48 after each Camino!

And congratulations on your Camino, @LesBrass!

B

 

[Phillypilgrim]

Just got back and put my Tallon 33 in the washing machine on gentle cycle warm, then let it dry flat for a day. looks and feels great.

 

[krazeekuban]

For me it is part of my Camino and I cannot wash it off. It is the Camino patina for me

 

[fortview]

I also washed my Talon 33 in the washing machine, hung it upside down, and it came out fine. I've read though, that it's a mistake to put them in the machine if you have one of those top loading ones with the twisty thing, sorry don't know what they're called, but you get them in Canada and the States!!

 

[LesBrass]

Many thanks for the replies. I was wondering about putting it in a pillowcase and pop it in the machine on a low gentle wash... but can als0 soak in the bath.

I dont think not washing is an option... it certainly has aquired a camino odour

 

[Al the optimist]

During my last Camino I was starting to think that my feet were odorous even after my shower when I realised it was my sandals!

 

[Phillypilgrim]

Pillow case is a good idea, shoulda thought of that myself. My old machine is a top-loader, but it still worked out.

 

[Rebekah Scott]

I tried washing an Osprey, but it did not work out so well. The talons shredded everything else in the washer-load.
I find goshawks and screech owls much easier to clean, especially in cold water.

 

[simply B]

Dear Ms. Scott -

Everybody knows that when washing an Osprey that you cover the feet with leather booties.

(I really think they could have used your sense of humor on the "How much water?" thread.)

B

 

[Tincatinker]

A good soak in soapy stuff, a bit of vigorous dunking and a spell hanging upside down in the orchard has kept my pack from being classed as a bio-hazard by the rest of the family. A spell in the workshop freezer has given me some confidence that it was bug-free when i bathed it. Ms Scott deals with the challenges of the camino on a daily basis and therefore has more expertise than most. Especially as most of those challenges turn up wearing leather booties. Meanwhile the water thread has gone way beyond humour. If only emoticons came with sound .... horse laughing fit-to-bust.....

 

[susanawee]

I tried washing an Osprey, but it did not work out so well. The talons shredded everything else in the washer-load.
I find goshawks and screech owls much easier to clean, especially in cold water.

I am still laughing at this one....smiles.

 

[t2andreo]

There is a product called Nikwax Tech Wash, available at most outdoors stores. This is what Osprey recommends.

Loosen ALL straps and buckles. Open all pockets.

After rinsing your rucksack to remove loose debris or mud, soak it in a bathtub, in warm water containing the proper amount of Milwax Tech Wash. Use a soft to medium stiff brush to work on stains and deeply embedded dirt. Agitate the bag in the water with your hands.

The Tech Wax solution extends the life of the waterproofing your bag came from the factory with.

Drain your tub. Refill with water only to rinse the solution from your bag. Repeat as necessary until you are confident you rinsed all the soap.Drain the tub.

Allow the bag to drip and air dry outside. I wrapped my Osprey Kestrel 48 in a large towel and carried it outside to hang upside down over a lawn chair.

This works, and is what the maker recommends.

I hope this helps you.

 

[Al the optimist]

Nikwax Tech Wash

Good Info Tom - thanks.

 

[judydaisy]

I'm pretty sure you can. There is a great website: www.nikwax.com.
They sell all sorts of specialised detergents for camping equipment/boots/waterproof items etc, etc and they are extremely helpful when emailed or phoned.
Your Osprey won't have been cheap and it would be a pity to spoil it by not using the right detergent.
Good luck

 

[Deleted member 3000]

There is a great website: www.nikwax.com.

I use their various products, and they all work as advertised!

 

[Mark Lee]

Picked a nice warm, sunny day and hosed off my REI Crestrail 48. Then filled a bucket with soapy water. I just used regular dishwashing liquid. Got a big sponge and soaped and scrubbed the whole pack, especially the areas where my sweaty ass back made contact with it on the Camino. Rinsed off all the soap really well and hung outside to dry, which it did in just a couple of hours. Good as new.
Backpacks are pretty sturdy. No need to baby them. In the military we used to just throw our packs in a big washing machine, and they would be pretty funky after coming in from the field. Those special soaps and stuff they sell are just a way to hose a few more bucks from you.

 

[t2andreo]

Picked a nice warm, sunny day and hosed off my REI Crestrail 48. Then filled a bucket with soapy water. I just used regular dishwashing liquid. Got a big sponge and soaped and scrubbed the whole pack, especially the areas where my sweaty ass back made contact with it on the Camino. Rinsed off all the soap really well and hung outside to dry, which it did in just a couple of hours. Good as new.
Backpacks are pretty sturdy. No need to baby them. In the military we used to just throw our packs in a big washing machine, and they would be pretty funky after coming in from the field. Those special soaps and stuff they sell are just a way to hose a few more bucks from you.

Mark:

This approach will work to clean your rucksack. However using the Nikwax product or a similar item, restores or improves the waterproofing treatment most rucksacks now come from the factory with. It makes it less likely that light rain or perspiration will penetrate the rucksack in future.

Also, going this soaking route using Nikwax (or similar), will add extra water resistance to the sewn seams on your bag. Only brushed on seam sealer will work the best. But, failing that, this is a worthwhile thing to do, at least IMHO.

I hope this helps.

 

[Mark Lee]

Mark:

This approach will work to clean your rucksack. However using the Nikwax product or a similar item, restores or improves the waterproofing treatment most rucksacks now come from the factory with. It makes it less likely that light rain or perspiration will penetrate the rucksack in future.

Also, going this soaking route using Nikwax (or similar), will add extra water resistance to the sewn seams on your bag. Only brushed on seam sealer will work the best. But, failing that, this is a worthwhile thing to do, at least IMHO.

I hope this helps.

Yeah, I gave the pack and the rain cover for it a nice spray-down with some Scotchgard, let them dry and put them up in the garage until the next Camino (hopefully )

 

[rector]

I'm pretty sure you can. There is a great website: www.nikwax.com.
They sell all sorts of specialised detergents for camping equipment/boots/waterproof items etc, etc and they are extremely helpful when emailed or phoned.
Your Osprey won't have been cheap and it would be a pity to spoil it by not using the right detergent.
Good luck

That is the product that I used and just let it soak in the bath rinsed and hung it out great job, just as well because I don't know one end of a washing machine from the other. I'm spoiled!

 

[t2andreo]

Yeah, I gave the pack and the rain cover for it a nice spray-down with some Scotchgard, let them dry and put them up in the garage until the next Camino (hopefully )

I had not thought of using Scotch Guard. Good idea!

 

[Mark Lee]

I had not thought of using Scotch Guard. Good idea!

Yeah, I bought the pack and rain-cover just prior to doing my second Camino this past June-July. The rain-cover looked good, but having heard stories of rain-covers not working well on particularly rainy days, where they get soaked through, I decided to give it a good hosing on both sides with Scotchgard prior to doing my Camino. Only got rained on steadily twice on my second Camino. Once out of Carrion de los Condes and the second time out of O'Cebreiro. The rain-cover performed like a champ and kept my pack dry.