Should I store latex for slingshots in the fridge? What are the best methods of storing slingshot latex?
If cool and dark is the best place to store latex, would it be best to store slingshot latex in the fridge?
Slingshot latex has been a sensitive product until only just the past few years when great strides have been made to make latex more durable and long-lasting. In this video we will go over the best way to store your slingshot latex to make it last as long as possible.
Modern slingshot latex has found a way to work around those inherent weaknesses of latex.
We have exercise bands and Theraband to thank for making great improvements to the longevity of latex. It was largely Thera band that was discovered as an ideal slingshot latex that lasted longer and provided excellent velocity.
- UV light and heat
- Ozone
- Petrochemicals
Since slingshot latex is truly made from a natural product, it actually starts degrading the moment it is made. It continues to degrade continuously, so the goal of slingshot latex storage is to give it an environment which keeps the degradation happening as slowly as possible.
Have you ever put your slingshot on the dashboard of your car on a hot day? If you did (and it had bands on it) you know very well the rapid effects of light and heat on bands!
We keep all our band sets in an amber bag that is both sealed and UV protected. Sending you bands in this way make sure that your slingshot latex is as fresh and powerful as possible when you receive them.
So the answer to the question of the refrigerator: yes, you can indeed store your slingshot band sets in the fridge! Your refrigerator is unlikely to have Ozone or petrochemical issues. It is always cool. And there is no UV light in your dark refrigerator. So the refrigerator definitely could be a great place for slingshot latex storage for the sake of longevity.
The question at this point really is whether or not you feel like fetching band sets from your refrigerator when you need them. We all need our slingshot band sets in a convenient place because we may need to make a band set change while we are shooting.
So keep in your band sets in the bags in which we send them, keeping them out of sunlight and in the shade is enough. If they remain sealed up in the bag, they are also protected from Ozone and petrochemicals.
FYI, printers and some other electric devices emit ozone. You may be familiar with the smell of ozone that you experience when you are near a printer that is busy. So don’t keep your band sets near your printers! 🙂