In late spring and early summer, as the sunshine becomes increasingly abundant, many people begin to bring outdoor equipment to nature – camping tents, hiking jackets, hiking backpacks, anti-corrosion wooden flower racks in the courtyard, and children’s outdoor toys. These “companions” who accompany us in exploring the outdoors may seem sturdy and durable, but they are actually being quietly “eroded” by the sunshine.
Many people think that outdoor products are “durable” and can be exposed to sunlight freely, but they do not know that the ultraviolet rays in sunlight are the “invisible predators” of outdoor products. It is not as intuitive as wear and tear, but it slowly damages the material at the molecular level, causing the equipment to age prematurely, which not only affects its service life but may also pose safety hazards. Today, let’s uncover the truth, teach you to avoid misunderstandings, and extend the “service life” of outdoor products.
Don’t be misled by ‘outdoor durability’! The damage of sunlight is more hidden than you think
When we buy outdoor products, we always see the promotion of “waterproof and wear-resistant” and “UV resistant”, which gradually forms the inherent understanding that “outdoor equipment is not afraid of sun exposure”. But the fact is, no outdoor material can completely resist the long-term erosion of sunlight. The so-called “UV resistance” only delays aging, not complete immunity.
The core of the damage caused by sunlight to outdoor products comes from ultraviolet rays (especially UVA and UVB), whose energy is sufficient to destroy the molecular structure inside the material, triggering a “photoaging” reaction – like a molecular level “chain reaction”. First, the material absorbs ultraviolet energy, producing highly reactive free radicals, and then the free radicals trigger a chain reaction, ultimately leading to irreversible damage to the material structure. Even more concealed is that this kind of damage can occur even when idle. Many people wash their equipment and directly expose it to the sun to dry, or leave it in direct sunlight such as balconies or car trunks for a long time, unaware that this will double the aging rate.
More importantly, photoaging also synergizes with heat and moisture: the heat brought by sunlight accelerates free radical reactions, while rainwater or moisture breaks material chemical bonds through hydrolysis reactions, making aging more severe [6]. Whether it’s expensive trench coats or affordable outdoor toys, as long as they are exposed to sunlight for a long time, problems will gradually arise.
Common outdoor products’ sun aging ‘records, these signals should be vigilant
Outdoor products made of different materials may show different signs of being “sunburned” by sunlight, but they all have clear signals. Comparing them, your equipment may have already been hit.
Textile category: assault suit, tent, sun protection suit
The core materials of these products are mostly polyester fibers and nylon, and the surface also has waterproof and anti fouling coatings. After long-term exposure to sunlight, fading and yellowing will first occur, and the originally bright colors will become dull and dull; Secondly, the coating will gradually age and fall off, and the waterproof performance will be greatly reduced – the submachine suit that could block rainstorm may become “seeping in light rain”, and the outer layer of the tent will also have water seepage and rain leakage .
Even more concealed is the brittleness of the fabric, which may cause cracks when gently pulled by hand, especially for sun protection clothing. After washing 5-10 times and exposing to sunlight, the UPF value of the coated version will drop from 50+to below 30, losing its effective sun protection effect; Although the original yarn style is durable, it may experience a decrease in sun protection after being exposed to sunlight for more than 3 years. Many people think that ‘clothes can still be used if they are not torn’, but they do not know that brittle fabrics may suddenly tear outdoors, affecting the safety of use.
Leather/rubber: hiking shoes, outdoor gloves, sealing rings
The midsole of hiking shoes, the leather part of outdoor gloves, and the rubber sealing ring of waterproof sockets are all “severely affected areas” by sunlight aging. Long term exposure to sunlight can cause leather to lose its oil, become dry, crack, harden, and even peel off; Rubber materials will undergo “hydrolysis aging”, becoming sticky and brittle, and will fall off with just a pinch by hand.
For example, hiking shoes that have been stored for many years, even if the surface is clean, the midsole may have become brittle after exposure to sunlight, making it easy for the sole to fall off or break during hiking; After the sealing ring of the waterproof socket ages, it will lose its sealing effect, and water vapor entering may cause a short circuit. It is worth noting that even if these materials are not used, they will age after long-term exposure to sunlight, and their shelf life will not exceed 5 years.
Plastic/Metal: Outdoor tables and chairs, backpack fasteners, wrought iron products
Plastic outdoor tables, chairs, and backpack fasteners may turn yellow and brittle after prolonged exposure to sunlight, and may break easily with a light drop; Iron flower racks and hiking poles made of metal materials will rust faster after exposure to sunlight, especially at the welds and roots, which may loosen or break after rusting through.
The anti-corrosion wood in the courtyard is also like this. Although it has been treated with anti-corrosion, it will crack, deform, and decay after being exposed to sunlight for 5-8 years. A screwdriver can easily pierce into the interior of the wood. These seemingly inconspicuous signs of aging not only affect aesthetics, but may also pose safety hazards – such as brittle plastic tables and chairs that may suddenly break when sitting on them.
Avoiding 3 maintenance misconceptions to extend the lifespan of outdoor products
Many people do not neglect the maintenance of outdoor equipment, but have fallen into a misconception and instead accelerated the aging of equipment. These three common misconceptions must be avoided in a timely manner.
Misconception 1: After washing, directly expose to the sun to dry. This is the most common mistake, especially for textile and leather products. Exposure to sunlight can quickly cause the fabric and leather to lose moisture and oil, accelerating brittleness and cracking. The correct approach is to dry naturally in a well ventilated and cool place after washing, avoiding direct sunlight.
Misconception 2: Randomly place when idle. Many people put their outdoor equipment directly on the balcony or in the trunk of their car after use. These places have direct sunlight and high temperatures, and even if they don’t use them, the materials will continue to age. The correct approach is to clean and dry the equipment when idle, store it in a cool, ventilated, and dry place, and avoid moisture and exposure to sunlight.
Misconception 3: Neglecting daily maintenance. Many people think that ‘if the equipment is not broken, there is no need to worry’, but daily maintenance can effectively delay aging. For example, after each use of a submachine jacket, rinse the surface stains with clean water to prevent detergent residue from corroding the coating; After using hiking shoes, dry them and apply specialized care oil to prevent the leather from drying out; Iron products should be regularly wiped and coated with anti rust paint to extend their service life.
Different material maintenance techniques, simple and easy to operate
For outdoor products made of different materials, as long as you master simple maintenance techniques, you can effectively delay sunlight aging and make the equipment last longer.
Textile products (such as jackets, tents, and sun protection clothing): After each use, rinse the surface dust and stains with clean water. If the stains are heavy, gently rub them with a special detergent to avoid forcefully scrubbing and damaging the coating; After washing, dry in the shade. When storing, fold neatly to avoid squeezing, and place desiccants to prevent moisture. Try to choose the original yarn process for sunscreen clothing, and it is recommended to replace the coating once every six months to a year.
Leather/rubber (hiking shoes, gloves, sealing rings): After each use of hiking shoes, dry the surface with a soft cloth to remove soil and moisture, regularly apply specialized care oil to keep the leather soft; If there are signs of aging on the rubber sealing ring, replace it in a timely manner to avoid affecting the sealing effect. Avoid contact with sharp objects during storage to prevent scratches.
Plastic/metal/wood (outdoor tables and chairs, wrought iron, anti-corrosion wood): Plastic products should be avoided from long-term exposure to sunlight and regularly wiped with a damp cloth to remove dust; Regularly inspect wrought iron products, promptly polish with a wire brush and apply anti rust paint if rust is found; Anti corrosion wood should be coated with wood oil once a year to extend its service life.
In fact, the aging of outdoor products cannot be completely avoided, but as long as we avoid misunderstandings and do a good job of daily maintenance, we can effectively slow down the aging rate and let these “outdoor companions” accompany us for a longer time. Sunshine is the driving force for us to explore nature, but it should not become the “natural enemy” of outdoor products. Mastering these truths and techniques allows every outdoor equipment to maximize its value and accompany you to more mountains and seas.
Dongguan Liansheng Non woven Technology Co., Ltd. was established in May 2020. It is a large-scale non-woven fabric production enterprise integrating research and development, production, and sales. It can produce various colors of PP spunbond non-woven fabrics with a width of less than 3.2 meters from 9 grams to 300 grams.
Post time: Apr-19-2026