ARK Product care

Field manual

How to wash, dry, store and repair your gear so it keeps doing its job, storm after storm.

Your garment’s sewn-in care label comes first. Where it differs from this manual, follow the label.

What are you caring for?

Wash

  • Shells

    Close every zip and tab. Machine wash cold on a gentle cycle with a cleaner made for technical fabrics. No softener.

  • Insulation

    Only when needed. Front-loading machine, cold and gentle, with a down-specific wash for down fill.

  • Fleece

    Cold and gentle, inside out. Skip fabric softener: it clogs the fibres.

  • Knitwear & toques

    Hand wash cold with a wool-safe detergent, or as the label says.

Dry

  • Shells

    Tumble dry on low if the label allows: gentle heat helps the water-repellent finish recover.

  • Insulation

    Low heat, long cycle, with clean dryer balls to break up clumps, until completely dry.

  • Fleece

    Low heat or hang dry.

  • Knitwear & toques

    Press the water out in a towel, then dry flat away from direct heat.

Store

  • Shells

    Hang it loose, clean and completely dry. Never store it compressed or damp.

  • Insulation

    Hang it, or keep it loose in a large bag. Compression is for travel only.

  • Fleece

    Folded flat, away from direct sun.

  • Knitwear & toques

    Folded, in a dry place.

Repair

  • Shells

    Small tear: clean and dry the area, then apply a repair patch made for technical fabrics, corners rounded. Anything bigger, write to us.

  • Insulation

    Small hole: cover it with a repair patch straight away. Push escaping fill back in rather than pulling it out.

  • Fleece

    Pilling: lay it flat and remove pills gently with a fabric shaver.

  • Knitwear & toques

    Snag: pull the loop through to the inside with a crochet hook. Never cut it.

Refresh

  • Shells

    When water stops beading on the surface, re-apply a wash-in or spray-on water repellent.

  • Insulation

    After travel, shake it out and let the fill recover before wearing.

Applies to

Shells

Waterproof-breathable shells work best clean: dirt and skin oils block breathability.

Insulation

Down and synthetic fill keep you warm by trapping air. Care is about keeping that loft.

Fleece

Fleece keeps its warmth as long as the fibres stay open.

Knitwear & toques

Knit holds its shape when it is treated gently and dried flat.

Gear needs more than a wash?

Write to us. A person who knows the products answers within one business day.

Contact support