I’m Just back from a big trip with my friends up in New York’s Pharaoh Lakes Wilderness, so now it’s time to unpack my camping and backpacking gear and start washing everything.

I have invested a lot in high performance synthetic and wool clothing, and when washing expensive hiking clothing, I am really careful to keep its functionality.  This gear must be  both warm and breathable, and must wick moisture away from my skin so that I stay dry and comfortable.  I find that washing this type of gear with regular detergents reduces its performance.  In particular, I find that after washing a nice synthetic shirt with regular detergents, the garment will start to feel clammy when I wear it.

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