Thank you for choosing First Lite Performance Hunting to make your hunt a success. Following these simple guidelines will insure that your First Lite kit will last as long as possible and continue to perform several seasons from now. First Lite doesn't use any scent-killers, maskers, blockers, confusers or other mumbo jumbo in our product, thus there is no treatment to wash out. Take care of it and it will take care of the rest. If you have any questions at all, please don't hesitate to ask via info@firstlite.com.

Washing/Drying Merino Wool Fabrics at Home

Washing/Drying Merino Wool Fabrics at Home:

1. Close all zippers on the clothing.
2. Separate from bulky clothing or apparel with sharp edges or large zippers such as jeans or work overalls.
3. Turn garments inside out.
4. Machine wash cold on a gentle or a delicate cycle. Any non-abrasive, non-bleach detergent should work. For obvious reasons, we don't recommend perfumed detergent of any kind.
5. Hang dry. Do NOT iron, dry clean or dry using any high heat. Wool of any kind should never be heat dried.

Washing/Drying Merino in the Field:

We strongly recommend you smell your merino layers before going through the trouble of washing it in the field. Most people report being able to use First Lite merino for several days before any odor can be detected, even on strenuous backcountry hunts. Merino tends to shed blood very easily so you can feel confident that blood can wait until you get back to the comforts of your home. That said, washing your First Lite Merino in the field is very easy:

1. Close all zippers on the clothing.
2. Find a moving, non-stagnant source of clean water.
3. Allow the garment to be completely submerged. While submerged, massage the clothing to get any blood or other stains out of the fabric. Hand soap can be utilized on heavy stains but be aware most hand soap carries a fragrance.
4. Hang dry with limbs spread out so that garment can dry as quickly as possible. Do not dry too close to a fire as this can cause shrinkage. In the event hang drying is cut short, be aware that unlike synthetics Merino retains 85% of its thermal regulatory properties soaking wet. Wet wool still equals warm wool.

Storage of Merino:

1. Make sure your wool is not subject to moths, mice, etc.
2. Make sure your wool is thoroughly dried before storing or packing.

Merino Field Care:

1. To refresh garments on extended hunts, submerse in a clear creek or lake and gently scrub, concentrating on areas where sweat or dirt accumulates.
2. Wring out the garment to remove as much water as possible.
3. Hang on a branch, line or pack to air dry.

Pants with Kneepads:

1. Care: Washing the knee pads will degrade them over time, so remove them before care. If you do want them cleaned, do so by hand with mild, unscented soap, and lay flat to dry. They're easily removed by turning the pants inside out and sliding the pads out of the mesh sleeve.
2. Storage: Stuffing your Foundry pants into a pack for a multi-day hunt is completely fine. But for long-term storage, store the pads flat or hang up your pants to avoid creases.

Washing/Drying:

1. Machine wash cold on a gentle or a delicate cycle. Any non-abrasive, non-bleach detergent should work. We use Dead Down Wind. For obvious reasons, we don't recommend perfumed detergent of any kind.
2. 37.5 Technology will not be affected by the occasional, gentle machine wash. Like any outerwear technology, we recommend you do not wash our product more than necessary to avoid undue wear on the fabric.
3. Hang dry. Do NOT iron, dry clean or use any high heat source.

Down Care:

After extended use, we recommend treating your down gear. Once a year is sufficient for most hunters and should be done post hunting season before storage or use out of the field. Washing will remove sweat, dirt, and debris from the gear's face fabric and re-invigorate the loft of the down. Follow the instructions below:

1. Check pockets for items and close all zippers.
2. Use a front-loading machine instead of a top-loader with an agitator, which can damage the structure of the down feathers (front-loading machines are best for all gear). If you only have access to a top-loading machine, use the most gentle cycle available. (Tip: if you have multiple items to wash, divide them into smaller groups of 2 or 3. For larger items such as sleeping bags, wash individually.
3. Choose a cool or cold water setting and add the recommended amount of down-specific detergent per item. We prefer Granger's Wash + Repel. Select and run a gentle cycle.
4. After completing the wash, run the apparel through an extra rinse cycle at the same cool/cold temperature.
5. Post rinse cycle, place your gear in the drier on a low heat cycle until all materials and down are completely dry. This might take multiple cycles on low heat. For increased lofting of the down, add a couple of tennis balls or use the ones provided in Granger's Down Care Kit.

Storage of First Lite Outerwear:

1. Your First Lite Outerwear can be stored as you would store any coat or jacket.
2. Make sure it is always allowed to dry before prolonged storage or packing for travel.
3. Make sure your First Lite Outerwear is not subject to moths, mice, etc.