How Weather & Storage Impact Your Hurley: Keeping It Match-Ready Through Seasons

A hurley’s performance starts long before you step onto the pitch. How it’s stored and how it spends its off time determines whether it will play true or let you down. Moisture, heat and general neglect shorten its life and change how it feels in your hands. Look after the stick and it will look after you.

Understanding How Weather Affects Your Hurley

Ash takes on moisture and loses it just as easily. In wet weather the wood swells. If that swelling is uneven the stick can warp or develop small splits that get worse with use. In dry weather the opposite happens: the wood shrinks, becomes harder and more brittle, and is more likely to splinter or crack when it takes an impact. Neither extreme is good. The result is a stick that doesn’t move or land the way you expect, and that breaks sooner than it should.

Indoor vs Outdoor Storage

Store a hurley inside whenever you can. A stable, ventilated room keeps the wood steady. Don’t leave it near direct heat or in full sun — that dries one side faster than the other. Outdoor storage — even under a cover — exposes the hurley to shifting temperatures and humidity. Overnight dew, warm afternoons and cool nights are a slow way to ruin a stick.

Temperature Considerations and Transport Tips

Hurleys don’t like hot or cold extremes. Heat dries them, makes the wood stiff. Cold damp spots make it swell. Don’t just toss your hurley anywhere. Put it in a bag, wrap it in cloth if you can. Keep it flat if it’s in a car. After a wet match, wipe mud and water off. Let it sit and dry before storing.

Seasonal Care for Your Hurley

Winter: damp wood is fragile. Keep it dry and out of cold drafts. Spring and autumn: moisture changes can make small cracks appear. Check your stick often. After rainy matches, clean it, dry it, then put it somewhere safe. Off-season: flat or on a padded rack is fine. Avoid damp basements or hot attics.

Quick Checklist for Players

• Dry it after weekend games and keep it indoors.
• After a match, clean mud and grass, dry fully.
• Transport it in a bag or wrapped up.
• Look for cracks, soft spots, warps. Fix small problems early.

Final Thoughts

Storage and weather matter. Dry it, store it indoors, avoid damp or heat. Small habits keep your hurley strong and ready.

Need banding or a repair? Let us help keep your stick in top shape.