New Year Preparedness Reset — Start the Year Outdoor Ready

Why January?

New year, fresh start — it's a cliche, but it genuinely works for gear maintenance. You've probably used your kit hard over autumn and winter, Christmas has kept you busy, and now there's a natural pause before the year's adventures ramp up.

Spend a couple of hours in January going through your gear. You'll thank yourself in March when you grab your pack and everything's ready to go.

The Kit Audit

First Aid Kit

Open it up. Actually open it and go through everything:

• Check expiry dates on medications, antiseptic wipes, and sting relief
• Replace used items — blister plasters, wound dressings, anything you used last year
• Check packaging — are sterile items still sealed?
• Add anything you wished you'd had last year

If your first aid kit lives in the bottom of your pack untouched, it probably needs updating more than you think.

Water Purification

• Check filter condition on squeeze or pump filters — when did you last backflush?
• Replace purification tablets if they've been opened for more than 12 months
• Test any UV purifiers to make sure the battery still holds

Fire Starting

• Test your lighter — does it still work?
• Check storm matches — are they dry and do the strikers still work?
• Inspect your fire steel — is it worn down?
• Replace cotton wool or tinder if it's been sitting in a damp pack

Lighting

• Check all batteries in torches and headtorches. Replace them even if they seem fine — batteries degrade over time.
• Test all lights. Switches corrode, seals fail, bulbs (LEDs rarely, but still) can die.
• Charge rechargeable headtorches to full and check the charging cables aren't damaged.
• Replace any headtorch that's more than 5 years old — LED technology has improved dramatically.

Clothing and Footwear

• Wash waterproof jackets according to the care label and reproof them. DWR coatings wear off and need refreshing.
• Inspect boot soles for wear and delamination. Resole or replace if needed.
• Check zips on jackets, fleeces, and packs. Lubricate sticky zips with a zip lubricant.
• Repair or replace base layers that have seen better days. Holey merino is not a feature.

Shelter

• Pitch your tent indoors or in the garden. Check for damage, missing pegs, and pole issues.
• Seam-seal if needed — UV and use degrade sealant over time.
• Check your bivvy bag for punctures or coating delamination.
• Inspect guy lines — replace any that are fraying.

Emergency Kit at Home

While you're at it, check your home emergency kit:

• Power banks — charge them fully and check they still hold capacity
• Torch batteries — replace them
• Stored water — rotate it (pour it on the plants and refill with fresh)
• Tinned food — check expiry dates and eat anything close to expiring
• Radio — does it still work? Do the batteries need replacing?
• Candles and matches — still accessible? Still dry?

Set a Schedule

The easiest way to stay on top of gear maintenance is to build it into your calendar:

• January: Full kit audit (you're doing it now)
• March/April: Spring gear refresh — transition kit for warmer weather
• September: Autumn storm prep — prepare for winter weather
• Before every trip: Quick check of essentials

Make a List

Write down anything that needs replacing or buying. Don't try to get everything at once — prioritise safety-critical items (first aid, lighting, water purification) and work through the rest over the coming weeks.

January sales are a great time to pick up outdoor gear at reduced prices. Many retailers clear winter stock, and you can find serious bargains on quality kit.

Start as You Mean to Go On

A prepared kit is a confident kit. There's something genuinely satisfying about knowing that when you head out the door, everything in your pack works, fits, and is ready. It takes a couple of hours once a year to maintain that feeling all year long.

Kit Worth Replacing in January

If your audit reveals worn-out essentials, these are the items to prioritise replacing. Safety-critical gear comes first.

Check out our January gear picks for what's worth buying this month.