used north face

1. When Your Puffy Gets Drenched: How to Save Your Soaked Jacket We've all been there. You're out enjoying the crisp winter weather when an unexpected deluge catches you off guard. Now your precious used North Face puffer jacket is drenched. What should you do? As an avid outdoorsman in rainy Seattle who has saturated his fair share of puffy jackets, I've learned a thing or two about caring for a waterlogged jacket. Follow these simple guidelines, and you can extend the life of your synthetic or down- insulated jacket.

2. Stop the Soaking It may be tempting to keep wearing your saturated puffer to stay warm. But trapping water inside will only damage the insulation further. Your first move is to get out of wet conditions. If out on a hike, seek shelter to assess your jacket's condition. If caught in an extended downpour, consider adding a lightweight emergency rain shell to protect your puffer's insulation if possible. Having backup layers and water protection is key to enjoying the outdoors! Do: Gently Compress Once safely out of the rain, gently squeeze excess water out of the jacket's shell and lining. Avoid wringing or twisting aggressively— this can tear seams and displace insulation. Carefully compress soaked sections between towels to absorb moisture. I like to carry a lightweight pack towel specifically for this purpose when hiking with my go-to used North Face Denali fleece. Don't: Dry With Direct Heat You may be inclined to throw your puffer in the dryer or stand next to a roaring campfire. Fight the urge! Exposing soaked-down or synthetic insulation to high heat can severely damage its ability to loft and trap body heat. Instead, air dry naturally— hang your jacket if possible or lay flat, gently re-fluffing the insulation every few hours as it dries. Trust me, I ruined a treasured down parka trying to hurriedly dry it after a backpacking trip. Now I always prioritize proper low-and-slow drying for my used North Face gear. One of my go-to tricks is to stuff my soaked jacket with newspaper or dry towels, changing the stuffing every 30 minutes as it absorbs moisture. I avoided buying a new jacket by patiently drying

3. my soaked-through Nuptse this way after a soggy backpacking trip! Test Loft Recovery Once thoroughly dry, it's time for a puffer performance test! Gentle compress your jacket in various spots, then release. Synthetic insulation should quickly "puff" back to its original lofty form. Down may need some help — reach into filling chambers and gently pull apart any clumped feathers to restore loft. If certain spots feel thin or aren't regaining warmth, the insulation may be damaged beyond repair. But you can still prolong your jacket's life! I use iron-on patches to reinforce thinning spots in my aging but much-loved down jacket.

4. I don't mind a little patchwork to enjoy my trusty used North Face gear for extra seasons. Related Cold Weather Outerwear Tips ●Learn how to wash your puffer jacket properly between adventures -incorrect cleaning can damage insulation and coatings. ●Add a durable water repellent (DWR treatment) to renew rain protection and improve the shedding of snow and moisture. ●Inspect your zippers, snaps, and Velcro closures frequently and replace if broken - this prevents interior moisture exposure. ●Consider adding wicking base layers to draw sweat away from your skin and minimize interior jacket moisture. I love a good Merino wool base layer in winter hiking layers. ●Rotate between multiple puffy jackets and outerwear pieces each season - this allows proper drying time and reduces wear-and-tear damage from overuse. A good soaking doesn't have to spell disaster for your precious puffer jacket. Arm yourself with knowledge of proper care techniques. Stop further soaking ASAP, air dry slowly without direct heat, and test insulation recovery. Follow these guidelines and related tips, and you can squeeze more winter adventures out of your trusty jacket!