Help and support

Care of products

CARE OF YOUR KIT

We build gear for durability and performance. How long it lasts from here is largely down to how it's looked after. Five minutes of care after a wet exercise is worth more than any warranty claim.

Following these instructions is a condition of any warranty or defect claim — damage caused by incorrect care isn't covered. See section 05 of our Returns, Refunds & Warranty Policy.

AT A GLANCE

Item Wash Dry Never
Shirts & hoodies Cold, gentle Hang, out of sun Bleach, tumble dry, hot iron on print
Shorts Hand or gentle, ≤30°C Hang Bleach, iron, tumble dry
IR patches Cold only Air Hot wash, tumble dry — heat kills the adhesive
Cordura & NYCO patches Cold hand wash Air, shaded Harsh chemicals, prolonged UV
Rigs, belts, pouches Spot clean only Air, shaded Machine wash, submerging, heaters

01  /  APPAREL

Shirts and hoodies

  • Cold wash only
  • No bleach
  • Hang dry out of direct sunlight
  • No tumble drying and no high heat — both damage the print and the fibres
  • Turn printed garments inside out before washing to protect the print face

Shorts

  • Hand wash, or machine on a gentle cycle at 30°C or below
  • Mild detergent only
  • No bleach, no iron, no tumble dryer

02  /  IR PATCHES

Heat is the enemy. Do not hot wash and do not tumble dry — excessive heat breaks down the adhesive bond between the Cordura and the IR material.

Mounting position matters more than washing. The laser-cut lines are thin by design — that's what makes the patch work. Under friction they will tear.

A patch mounted under a chest rig, cummerbund, sling, strap or pack harness sits in a high-abrasion zone and will be chewed up by it. Pick a low-abrasion position. If a high-abrasion position is operationally necessary, treat the patch as a consumable — that wear isn't a fault and isn't covered.

Field fix for minor separation. If the Cordura starts lifting from the IR material, you can usually re-bond it:

  1. Place the patch between two layers of cloth
  2. Apply low-to-medium heat with an iron to reactivate the adhesive
  3. Let it cool completely, then test the bond
  4. Repeat if needed — several light passes beat one hot one

If the bond won't hold after a few attempts, get in touch and send us a photo.

03  /  CORDURA & NYCO PATCHES

  • Cold hand wash with mild detergent, or none at all
  • Avoid harsh chemicals — they accelerate fading fast
  • Sunlight bleaches Cordura over time. Store out of direct sun when the patch isn't in use, and expect some fade on anything worn daily outdoors. That's normal and not a fault.

04  /  RIGS, BELTS AND POUCHES

  • Spot clean with a damp cloth and mild detergent
  • Don't machine wash, and don't leave it submerged
  • Air dry only — never a tumble dryer, heat pump, hot car or radiator. Heat degrades webbing, coatings and thread.
  • Brush off dust, grit and debris after every field use. Grit works into the weave and cuts fibres from the inside — it's the single biggest cause of premature Cordura failure.
  • Been in salt water or mud? Rinse in fresh water, then air dry fully in the shade before storage.
  • Work buckles, zips and sliders clean. A zip full of sand will fail, and that failure isn't a manufacturing fault.

Never store gear damp. Mould and mildew stain permanently and rot stitching.

05  /  THE FOUR RULES THAT COVER EVERYTHING

  • Cold, always. Heat breaks down adhesives, fibres and coatings faster than anything else you'll do to your kit.
  • No bleach, no harsh chemicals. They shorten fabric and print life dramatically.
  • Dry and shaded storage. UV fades, damp rots.
  • Inspect and fix early. See below — this is the one that saves you money.

06  /  CATCH IT EARLY

Give your kit a look over after every serious use. You're checking three things: stitching at load points, abrasion on contact faces, and hardware that's stiff, gritty or cracked.

A small tear that gets stitched this week stays small. The same tear ignored for three months takes half the panel with it — and at that point it's neglected damage, not a defect, and it isn't covered.

Found something and not sure whether it's wear, damage or a fault? Send us a photo of the whole item plus a close-up. We'll tell you which it is, and if it's repairable we'll quote you. Repairing a small tear costs a fraction of replacing the garment.

WARRANTY & SUPPORT

Our gear is built tough and field-tested. If a product fails under normal use despite correct care, that's on us — email support@stridersolutions.com for repair, replacement or guidance.

What's covered and what isn't is set out in full in our Returns, Refunds & Warranty Policy.

Strider Solutions — support@stridersolutions.com  |  Last updated 9 August 2026