Off-Season, On Point: 5 Summer Storage Tips for Your Ski Touring Gear

Just because the snow has melted in most places doesn't mean ski season is over, at least not when it comes to taking care of your gear. The work you do now, while your kit is dry and the skin track is a distant memory, is what determines whether next season's first tour starts with a fast, smooth setup or a frustrating afternoon of scraping rust and peeling apart skins. A little effort over the summer saves you time, money, and headaches when winter comes back around.

Here are five essential off-season storage tips to keep your Hagan gear in top shape.

1. Protect Your Skis and Bindings

Skis. Before you stash them, use a ski base cleaner or a damp cloth to remove dirt and grime from the bases. Then turn your attention to the edges, remove any rust or corrosion with a gummy stone or steel wool. Once everything is clean and dry, apply a thick coat of summer storage wax and leave it on. Don't scrape it. That extra-thick layer seals the base from air and moisture, prevents oxidation along the edges, and keeps the base hydrated so it's fast and ready for your first tour next season. You'll scrape it off then.

Bindings. Turn down your release value settings, if your bindings have any (World Cups do not). Backing this offtakes tension off the springs so they aren't over-compressed for months on end. Apply a little binding grease to the pivot points and the heel tower to keep everything moving freely.

Storage. Keep skis in a cool, dry place, ideally standing vertical, not stacked under weight. A hot garage or attic is the worst place for them: heat and humidity swings are hard on bases, edges, and binding plastics alike. 

2. Clean and Store Your Climbing Skins Properly

Dirty skins degrade faster and lose their grip and glide. How you clean them depends on your adhesive.

Hybrid skins. Clean the adhesive side with the appropriate hybrid skin cleaner (or mild soap) and a soft sponge to lift out dirt, pine needles, and grime. Then clean the plush (mohair) side with a damp cloth, and finish by applying skin wax or impregnation spray to extend the plush's life and improve glide.

SmartGlue skins. Use a little heat from a hair dryer or heat gun to loosen dirt and particles from the adhesive, then wipe it clean with a lint-free rag. Clean the plush side with a damp cloth, then wax or treat with impregnation spray just like above.

Storage. Use skin savers (mesh sheets) to separate the glue sides. If you don't have them, fold the skins glue-to-glue with minimal pressure. Either way, store them flat or hanging in a cool, dry place. Again, never store them in a hot garage or attic, where heat can permanently damage the adhesive.  I like to store them flat under a bed in a consistently cool room.

3. Show Your Boots Some Love

Boots can be one of the most-neglected piece of touring kit, and the most expensive to replace early. Pull the liners out and let both the liners and shells dry completely, away from direct heat. A sunny window or wood stove can warp a shell. Wipe down the shells, clear grit out of the buckles and walk mechanism, and store the boots buckled loosely (just enough to hold their shape, not enough to deform the cuff). While you're at it, check the soles and toe/heel inserts for wear; finding a problem now means you have all summer to fix or replace, not a panicked week before your first tour.

4. Pull the Batteries from Your Beacon

Batteries left inside your avalanche beacon can corrode and destroy sensitive electronics. Remove them, store them separately, and leave the battery compartment open so moisture doesn't build up inside. It's also a good moment to note whether your beacon is due for its periodic service or software update. Come fall, you'll be glad it's already handled. 

5. Hope for Snow

It's never too early to start your snow dances. Enjoy the off-season, get strong, and stay stoked, winter always comes back.

The Quick Off-Season Checklist

• Skis: clean bases, de-rust edges, apply thick storage wax (don't scrape), store cool/dry and vertical
• Bindings: turn down DIN, grease pivots and heel tower
• Skins: clean adhesive and plush, treat with wax or impregnation spray, store flat with skin savers
• Boots: dry liners and shells, clean buckles, store loosely buckled, inspect soles and inserts
• Beacon: remove batteries, store separately, leave compartment open, check service status
• You: train, rest, and start the snow dances