Keeping Gear Outside

[TheProfessor 2]

I've been throwing all my grear outside on my porch after a game and leaving it there until next week. Basically, all my stuff (except my skates) stays outside in the texas heat. Will this damage my gear? I've wondering if I should at least keep my gloves inside to keep the leather in the palms from drying out or cracking. However, It's probably good to keep it all aired out.

[BK 0]

Yea, it will probably do some sun damage to it. I would invest in some wood and make a gear tree. You can hang up your gear on it to air out.. After a day, pack it back up.

[Jake 0]

On top of that, I'd be worried about creepy-crawlies getting in the gear.

[kovalchuk71 212]

Use PVC not wood. THe wood will swell and rot

[odp 0]

Isn't sunlight good for helping sterilize things as well?

[ATLstealth09 0]

sunlight is good for sterilization, but most leather products should be kept out of direct sunlight. When I had leather gloves (non-synthetic) I would keep them facedown for a few hours; that's it. Most equipment dries out in a few hours anyways.

[TBLfan 25]

yeah, keep it out of direct sunlight. Use pvc or metal rods(aluminum preferably, but something that wont rust on ya).

[tbintexas 0]

IMO, wood dowels are OK if you paint them - I did that and have no issues with swelling or rot.

[TheProfessor 2]

If I kept it in the shade (or say in the garage where there's no AC) would that be ok? I don't have much room inside the house.

[TBLfan 25]

I'd say yes, just keep it off the floor and on some sort of rack. Oh and if you don't feel like making one I think hockeymonkey and/or hockeygiant have premade racks.

[ktang 34]

UV rays might break down certain plastics, so to be safe, shade the plastic parts.

[Cheesehead 0]

heres what my faamily did to make a rack. we got an old latter, and some hanging wire grid thing from the kitchen. it had oegs in it to hang the stuff up., we atteched the kitchen grid thing to the latter, an dit works great.

[mack 44]

I have mine on a rack in the garage with a standing fan by it to help keep an airflow going on it.

[Jim A 4]

I just use a wire rack on the patio..leave it out overnight..put some of the stuff (skates/gloves) back in the bag in the AM...its out of direct sunlight...when I was in an area that actually had winter...I bought a dehumidifier for the basement and would run it around 40-50% to dry the gear slowly...

[Guy Incognito 0]

Instructions for a wood rack...

http://www.lifetimehockey.com/Hockey_tree.htm

[chippa13 1844]

You want to dry your gear in a cool, dry place. Heat and moisture together provide a breading ground for bacteria and mold.