Octa Mountain Hardwear AirMesh shedding?

Prewash:
Turn garment inside out
Separate from other garments

Wash:
Machine wash cold
Remove promptly

Dry:
Line dry

Do Not!
Do not bleach, do not iron, do not steam, do not use fabric softener, do not dryclean

Thanks.  I did that and it still does.

Some of the like “alpha direct” makers include a little pouch to wash these type garments.  More for the plastic to stay out of the eco-system, but if hikers are washing said garments regularly, seems worth a look.  No one is going to buy it recommend anything that dissolves so readily

Hand wash? Front-loader? Top-loader?

Airmesh is delicate. Like Alpha with a smooth-finished side. I know that the label says, “machine wash”, but I would not put something that delicate in a top-loading washing machine (even on “delicate” cycle). The agitator is harsh on fabrics. Front-loaders just spin, which is much more gentle.

EDIT: HkNewman’s “lingerie bag” is a good idea.

I hand-wash mine.

I know it is delicate but my thought is if you can’t wash it in a front loading washer without the ‘fuzz’ that gives it the heat retaining properties coming loose, maybe it is too delicate.  I wash my AD Lark and Duo every once in awhile and never really see the shedding both in a front loader and by hand.

Yep, what I wrote above is what the label has to say. After seeing what others think, I don’t like the label directions and would add what others do.

A question. Why turn this one inside out to expose the delicate mesh? I thought typically turning inside out was to slow fading or pilling?

With mine I will not turn inside out, place in mesh bag, hand wash cold (woolite or other for delicates), line dry.

OK, so front-loader is good.

The mesh bag thing is a time-tested protective layer for laundering. You will find them in many stores; sold as “lingerie bags” because the original use was for laundering women’s delicate stuff back in the days when it was made from silk. It’s just a loose nylon net sack, with like quarter-inch spaces between strands. Costs a dollar or two. It saves the material from snagging or stretching in the machine; prevents any agitation from directly bashing the fabric inside.

(Bonus use: I carry one rubber-banded to my poncho. When I take the poncho off, it stuffs loosely into the mesh bag, which then clips to my hip belt, in case it rains again. No need to take the pack off.)

As for “too delicate”, that’s up to you. I haven’t had any problem at all with mine; I love it when temperatures are below 20F. (BTW, I did once toss it into a top-loading washer without any trouble.)

John S raises a good question: Why turn it inside-out? That doesn’t make sense.

All synthetic materials shed when washed. How else does all that microplastic get in to the water supply?

.. or just don’t wash it.   I tend not to wear my MH Airmesh in too many “urbany” environments as any corner will rip it (and I know this for a fact).  Unless modern style veers into airmesh, who cares what it looks like? (plug for camo colored clothing that hides stains from cheese, peanut butter, salsa, etc..)

My hiking buddy’s 25 year old Patagonia looked “seasoned” with a couple melted cheese stains that were ever present, especially as that jacket outlasted him.

(edit: make that my late hiking buddy)

Well, mine is shedding after the wash so I don’t think that is good.

Regarding laundry bags that protects your garment and reduces microfibers going into our water system, looks like the GUPPYFRIEND Washing Bag is now available from Patagonia.

GUPPYFRIEND™ Washing Bag – Patagonia North America

GUPPYFRIEND Washing Bag – Patagonia Europe

An Update on Microfiber Pollution

In the coming weeks, Patagonia will begin offering customers in the United States and Europe an inexpensive new hand- and machine-washing bag that acts as a microfiber filter between your synthetic clothing and the drain. The Guppy Friend will be sold in Patagonia retail stores and online throughout the United States and Europe starting in the coming weeks. In Patagonia’s internal testing, its use resulted in a significant reduction in microfiber mass making its way into the wastewater stream.

What Bill said. You can get delicates mesh wash bags from major retailers such as Walmart for inexpensive. A 7 pack going for $10.99. There’s micro type mesh (will hold loose fibers in) and larger spaced mesh like what Bill referred to. No need to buy into the $34.95 Patagonia hype or otherwise.

I turn everything inside out when I wash. Unless it’s super dirty on the outside. Concept for me, that’s where most the sweat and body odor is. Mesh bags have worked great when washing certain delicate backpacking gear of mine.

As for Octa and Alpha shedding, I’d like to know how badly, how much and how often? Before I drop $200 on a prime piece of delicate gear. How many washes before the warmth to weight ratio don’t calculate from new?

I recently bought a premium large all Egyptian cotton bath towel. Lost nearly half its loft and fiber in the first 10 washes. Lint trap was so full of fuzz, I could have woven a sweater. Won’t fork out the extra cash for that type of towel again. Cheaper all cotton towels never shed that much. Where’s the studies in the water supply with that?

I have washed two different AD pieces about 5 times or so and have not really noticed any shedding.  The AirMesh for me started doing it a bit on the first and more in the second.

As for Octa and Alpha shedding, I’d like to know how badly, how much and how often?

I have not experienced any shedding with my Airmesh, although I am gentle with it and do not wear it often. It is the most fragile piece I own; almost everything else just goes in the wash with no special care. I hand-wash wool as well.

I like the Airmesh for its amazing warmth-to-weight ratio (5oz/140g). I wear it as a base below 20F/-7C. It does not pack small (about 1.7L).

People who like sweaters might find it comfortable at warmer temperatures without anything over it (because it is nearly infinitely air permeable). Just sitting still it is too warm for my taste at room temperature.

GUPPYFRIEND

That’s what I was referring too.  The others are mesh and will reduce mechanical friction for delicates but also washable sneakers like Sketchers brand.  To eliminate the fibers getting into the water, fish (including edible fish) etc.. and probably a lot more mechanical protection for the garment(s), the [solid] GUPPY-FRIEND bag would be the way to go.

It’s solid but guessing permeable to soap, water, etc..