OUTDOOR KIT TO-DO LIST: THE TOP 10

1. Wash and re-proof your waterproofs If you’ve noticed your waterproofs aren’t shedding rain as effectively as they used to, they need to be re-proofed. Start by washing your garments with Nikwax Tech Wash (don’t use normal detergent) and then reapply their durable water repellency (DWR) using Nikwax TX.Direct Wash-In.

2. Clean your walking boots It’s the chore every hillwalker hates, but it needs to be done – dirt can dry out leather, corrode fibres and ruin your boots’ performance. First wash off caked-on mud with water; next use a cleaning gel for a deep clean; and finally apply a re-proofing product.

3. Make do and mend Don’t throw away gear due to minor imperfections. Instead get it mended – it’s far better for the environment. Get creative and carry out your own repairs. Or, if you don’t have the skills, brands such as Rab and Alpkit offer professional repair services for sleeping bags, jackets and much more.

4. Have a clear-out Perhaps your wardrobe or garage is overflowing with piles of old gear. If so, it’s time for a spring clean. Flog surplus items on eBay or the Outdoor Gear Exchange UK page on Facebook, or donate to the Kit Collective (kitcollective.co.uk) – a project encouraging greater diversity in the outdoors.

5. Get stocked up

Avoid the need for last-minute, pre-expedition dashes to Go Outdoors by stocking up on your adventure consumables, such as gas canisters, camping meals and snacks. Why not fill a box with essentials, whether that’s Lucho Dillitos energy blocks, dehydrated meals or packs of jelly babies? 6. Find time for those chores that never get done

Unless you’re exceptionally diligent, you probably never get around to these chores – replacing your LifeStraw’s filter, recharging your spare headtorch, refilling your first aid kit with plasters, or renewing your ViewRanger subscription. But, with lockdown here, there’s no excuse – get it done.

7. Sort your maps and books Are your OS maps, scrambling guides and Wainwright books scattered higgledy-piggledy across the house? If so, it’s time to get them organised neatly on a bookshelf – you don’t have to alphabetise or categorise them, but imagine how orderly it’d look if you did.

8. Look after your down products Down kit is expensive and needs to be looked after correctly. Here’s two quick things you can do: use Nikwax Down Wash Direct and Nikwax Down Proof to clean and reproof your clothing; and store your down sleeping bag (and mat) out of their compression sacks to avoid ruining the ‘loft’.

9. Create a gear storage set-up Clear out a wardrobe, install shelving in the shed or build a bespoke unit in the garage – and then fill it with your outdoor kit. Organise everything logically, by activity or season, and use peg boards, racks and rails for added neatness. Keep things you regularly use closer to hand for speedy packing.

10. Go on a spending spree Carry out a gear audit and figure out what’s missing from your kit bag. Perhaps you really need a winter sleeping bag, or a lightweight tent, or a warm down jacket. Whatever it is, check out TGO’s expert gear reviews for best buys and recommended products.