Care & Re-Wax
Made to be used. Made to last.
Your Ukoala bag was built to take the days you throw at it — on the bike, on the trail, on the carry. A little care keeps it ready for the next ten years.
Every Ukoala bag is cut and sewn by hand from 1060D nylon and waxed canvas, with reinforced stitching at every stress point. Those materials are chosen to age with you, not against you — so caring for your bag is less about babying it and more about a few simple habits.
The basics — for every bag
Whatever material your bag is made from, these four rules keep it in fighting shape.
Spot clean only
Wipe down with a damp cloth, mild soap, and warm water. Work the spot gently — no soaking, no scrubbing with anything abrasive.
Air dry, always
Let your bag dry flat or hanging, away from direct heat. Heat warps hardware and dries out waxed canvas before its time.
No machine wash
A washing machine batters the strap system, hardware, and stitching — and strips the wax from canvas. It does more harm than a season of hard use.
No machine dry
Tumble drying melts wax, cracks coatings, and stresses the seams we reinforced by hand. Skip it entirely.
1060D Nylon
Caring for nylon bags
1060D nylon shrugs off abrasion and resists weather, which makes it about as low-maintenance as carry gear gets. Most of the time, a quick wipe is all it needs.
- Spot clean with a soft cloth, mild soap, and warm water. Dab at marks rather than grinding them in.
- Rinse the soap with a clean damp cloth so no residue is left to attract dirt.
- Air dry fully before storing — a damp bag in a closed space is how odors and mildew start.
- Store loosely in a cool, dry spot. Stuff it lightly to hold its shape if you like, but skip airtight bags that trap moisture.
Waxed Canvas
Caring for waxed canvas bags
Waxed canvas is the material that earns its character. It starts crisp and weather-ready, then softens and marks with every trip until it looks unmistakably like yours. That weathering is the point — but the wax that makes it water-resistant does wear down over time, and it's easy to bring back.
Everyday cleaning
- Brush off dirt once it's dry, or wipe with a damp cloth and cold water.
- For stubborn spots, a touch of mild soap is fine — but use it sparingly, since soap lifts wax along with the grime.
- Never machine wash or machine dry waxed canvas. Both strip the wax and ruin the finish.
- Air dry at room temperature, away from direct heat.
Re-waxing — about once a year
Plan to re-wax roughly once a year, or whenever water stops beading on the surface and starts soaking in. If your bag sees heavy weather or hard daily use, you may want to do it more often. Here's how:
- Clean and dry first. Brush off loose dirt and wipe the canvas down. Let it dry completely before you start.
- Warm the wax. Soften your wax slightly so it spreads easily — a warm room or a gentle hair dryer on the tin works well.
- Apply thin, even coats. Using a clean cloth or sponge, rub wax into the canvas in small circles. Work extra into seams, corners, and high-wear areas. Thin and even beats thick and patchy.
- Warm it in. Pass a hair dryer over the surface to melt the wax into the weave until the finish looks consistent.
- Buff and cure. Wipe away any excess, then let the bag rest overnight in a warm, dry spot so the wax sets before you load it up again.
Expect a patina
Waxed canvas creases, darkens, and develops worn highlights where it folds and rubs. Re-waxing may temporarily darken the fabric and soften those marks — both even out with use. This patina isn't damage and it isn't a flaw; it's the record of where your bag has been, and it's covered by the spirit of our handcrafted guarantee, which protects against defects, not honest wear.
Treat it well and a Ukoala bag will outlast the trends, the seasons, and most of what's in your closet. If something ever fails that shouldn't, our warrantyhas your back, and if a new bag simply isn't the right fit, our 30-day returns do too. Still have a question? Check the FAQ or reach us at support@ukoala.com.
Engineered to move. Built for the journey.