My typical daily attire is either a suit and tie or a Nomex uniform, so I need to store more suitable BOB clothes in the trunk of my car. My concern is that the extreme heat of Southern summers will eventually degrade the adhesives and plastics used in most boots and shoes today (especially the lighter-weight ones), and, to a lesser extent, things like elastic, nylon fabric, and waterproof coatings. Does anyone have any knowledge or experience with this potential problem?

Thanks,

Jeff

We keep spare clothing in the storage pod (heat absorbing black in color) on top of our car, along with camping gear, etc. They have been in there for years (either stored in those huge zip loc bags, or vacuum shrunk and sealed), in the summer heat of the Central CA area, the Mojave Desert, lots of hot places, and we haven't noticed a problem yet...

Car interiors get real hot, but how hot do trunks get? I'd guess not as hot as the interior.

I normally carry my Firefighting boots in the rear of my truck (in a camper shell) here in southeren Calif the rear of the camper will normally go over 110 Deg. they have been in there for 2 years with no problem. of course they are good boots with stiched on soles and nailed heels. I don't think the temp. will bother a good boot.

If you have concerns, you may consider using one of those large soft-sided insulated food coolers like they have at Sams for storage of these items. The insulation may help prevent some of the temperature extremes.

Craig.

I like to think my bunker boots and other firefighting gear have above-average heat resistance.

I also have some heavy sewn-welt leather boots that should be OK, but I'm concerned about heat damaging light hikers that have a lot of adhesives and artificial materials in them.

Jeff

Good idea. Thanks.

Jeff

I don't know how hot it actually gets, but it gets hot enough that it occasionally softens or partially melts the rubber tubing on my BP cuff.

Jeff

I think the color of the car may make a big difference. I have always had light colored or white cars, the trunks didn't get much above ambient. I currently drive a white pick-up with a white FG tonneau cover over the bed. No problem with heat build up. Dark colors and black will probably get hotter.

Jeff i am a little further south than you but a couple of years ago when it was slow at work one afternoon several of us decided to play with a new batch of thermometers. The winner was on the light tan dash of my old truck at 160 degrees F in less than an hour. And as a note of caution when the needle on the thermometer is pointing at 160, don't pick the thing up with bare fingers.