Q:What can I do to help my ankles from going out? Both have been sprained many times.

Elizabeth Case

Gear Guy: As the owner of a bad wheel myself, I empathize with your dilemma. Three things you can do: First, wear solid leather boots. Not fabric/leather hikers, but full-leather boots that extend above the ankles. One Sport Moraines or Asolo Poseidons (both about $200) are what I have in mind here.

Next, visit a sports medicine clinic and get fitted for a good ankle brace. The elastic ones you find at the sporting goods store won’t cut it. The kind I’m thinking of are made of luggage-grade nylon, lace up around your foot, then are secured in place with big Velcro straps. Finally, get a set of hiking poles such as Leki Super Makalus. These take a lot of strain off your joints.

Q. I have a Lowe Contour 40 and I love it, but it looks a little brown and grungy. Is there a recommended method of washing or cleaning it?

Soren Telfer telfer@physics.ucla.edu

Gear Guy: For a small pack like the Contour 40, just snap all the buckles together, cinch them down so the straps don’t snag on the agitator, and stick them in a washing machine using warm water and the “gentle” or “permanent press” cycle. A little spray-on stain remover such as Shout may help.

Hang the pack to dry in a warm place, and you’re in business.

For a big pack, shake the pack out then fill a bathtub half full of water. Add some mild detergent such as Ivory, and let the pack soak.

Scrub it gently with a soft brush to remove stubborn dirt, then rinse thoroughly. Again, hang it to dry in a warm, dry place (near your water heater, for instance).

MEMO: Interactive Gear Guy Douglas Gantenbein responds to gear questions from readers twice weekly on Outside Online (https://outside.starwave.com).