Keeping your kit going
None of this is complicated. Most travel gear fails early for one of two reasons: it went in the tumble dryer, or it got packed away damp. Avoid both and everything here lasts a lot longer.
Ripstop nylon & polyester bags
This covers most of our bags, packing cubes, toiletry bags and laundry bags.
Machine wash cold on a gentle cycle, zips closed, using a mild detergent. Empty every pocket first — a forgotten pen is the usual cause of a ruined lining.
Hang dry, away from direct heat. No tumble dryer. The water resistance on these fabrics comes from a thin polyurethane coating on the inside face, and dryer heat is what makes that coating go tacky and flake. Once it has gone, it does not come back.
For a spot on an otherwise clean bag, warm water and a soft brush will usually do it without a full wash.
No tumble dryer, no radiator, no iron. Heat is the one thing that permanently damages a coated bag.
Printed apparel
Our hoodies, t-shirts and sweatshirts are printed to order, so the print is part of the garment rather than a patch on top of it. Treat the print and it will outlast the shirt.
Wash cold, inside out, with similar colours. Turning it inside out keeps the print off the drum and off other clothes.
No bleach, and no fabric softener — softener leaves a film that dulls the print over time.
Do not iron directly on the print. If a garment needs pressing, do it inside out on a low setting, or put a cloth between the iron and the design.
Tumble dry low if you must, but hanging it up keeps both the print and the fit better. Cotton shrinks a little on a first warm wash, which is why the size guide suggests sizing up when you are between two.
RFID-blocking wallets & PU leather
Wipe with a damp cloth, then dry it straight away. A little mild soap on the cloth is fine for a mark.
Do not soak them and do not put them in a washing machine. The RFID-blocking layer is a thin metallic film laminated between the outer and the lining; soaking it can separate the layers or crease the film, and there is no way to tell from the outside whether the shielding still works.
PU leather is a coated fabric rather than hide, so it does not want leather conditioner or oils — those soften the coating and make it peel. Keep it out of prolonged direct sun, which is what fades and stiffens it.
Storing luggage & bags between trips
Dry it fully first. Open every compartment and leave it a day somewhere airy before it goes away. Damp in a closed bag is how you get that smell, and the smell is mould.
Store it unzipped. Air moving through the bag matters more than keeping dust out, and zips under constant tension for months tend to distort.
Do not compress it long-term. Compression straps and vacuum bags are for a trip, not for a shelf. Months under pressure sets permanent creases in the fabric and flattens padded panels and straps for good.
Loosely stuffing a large bag with a towel or some tissue helps it hold its shape. Keep it off a concrete floor and out of a hot loft.
Not sure about a specific item?
Email hello@bonvoyage-shops.com and tell us which product it is. A person answers, usually within one working day.
If something has failed rather than just got dirty, the warranty page explains what we cover and what we need from you.