Ski care and storage
The biggest enemy of your skis: moisture. To prevent the edges from corroding, you should dry them with a cloth after each use. Rusty edges reduce the edge grip and thus your skiing performance. Regularly check the condition of the base and edges. Tip: Get your own ski care kit. This will save you a lot of money in the long run. Since industrial machines remove a lot of substance from the edges, it is also the gentler method for your skis.
Care and storage of shoes
The bad news first: no matter how carefully you handle them, your shoes have a limited lifespan of about ten years. That's because the plasticizers contained in the plastic evaporate over time. This makes your shoe hard. By the way, this effect is intensified by UV radiation, so you should store your shoes in light-proof packaging. Before that, the shoe should dry thoroughly (if possible, take out the inner shoe) and close the buckles loosely. This way it keeps its shape.
Coat care
First of all, what kind of skin do you have? The classic is adhesive skins with a hot melt adhesive applied to the underside. A newer methodology is adhesion, which creates a bond at the molecular level. However, since this principle is (still) vulnerable, especially to temperature fluctuations, there is also a third variant that combines adhesion technology with classic glue. These combination skins are called hybrid skins.
No matter what adhesive technology you have: Regularly impregnate your skin with a special spray or wax to protect it from moisture. This prevents annoying pilling or impaired adhesion. If the edges are frayed, you can carefully remove the fringes with nail scissors and then seal the edge with a lighter that you run along the edge.
a) Hybrid skins: care and storage
Hybrid skins do not give in terms of adhesive power. To reactivate the adhesive performance, it is sufficient to clean them regularly and remove any dirt, dust or wax residues. A special spray recommended by the manufacturer should be used for cleaning - for example, Contour Hybrid Cleaning Spray.
How it is done, you can see here:
Then allow the skin to dry thoroughly. For storage, place the skin with protected adhesive surface in a bag.
b) Adhesive skins: care, storage and renewal of the adhesive surface.
After the tour, the skins should be dried at room temperature if possible (not in the oven and not on the heater!). Then store them in a bag with the adhesive surface protected. A separating net or cover film is recommended to protect the adhesive surface. This also protects it from drying out. Adhesive skins unfortunately lose their adhesive strength after a certain time. If adhesion decreases, it is necessary to renew the adhesive surface. Many fur manufacturers offer adhesives and adhesive transfer foils. These can be applied to the adhesive surface in accordance with the instructions for use.
Avalanche transceiver
It is the heart of your safety equipment. Carrying an avalanche transceiver should be mandatory when touring in the backcountry; it can save not only your life, but also the lives of others in the event of an avalanche. For proper maintenance, the batteries should be removed over the summer (because they can leak). Then, for the new season, new, unused batteries should also be installed. And, of course, before you go on a tour, turn on the device to make sure it is still working properly.
Avalanche shovel and probe
The shovel and probe have a maximum service life specified by the manufacturer. They should be checked regularly, but especially at the start of the winter season.