What is the best way to store slingshot latex?

We received a couple questions pertaining to this. One was more general about how to store slingshot latex and one was specifically asking if the refrigerator is the best place to store slingshot latex.
Slingshot latex - up until the past few years at least - has been a very sensitive and almost fragile product. But modern elastics are coming along way and working against that nature of latex. This started with TheraBand. It would be hard to NOT credit TheraBand as the latex that really changed the slingshot world. (We would say that it's no longer king of the hill, but we are thankful for the progress that introduced into the world of slingshots.)
Slingshot latex has just a few enemies:
1. UV light / heat
2. Ozone
3. Petrochemicals
So the goal of all slingshot latex storage is to keep it away from these three things.
Since slingshot latex is made from a natural product, it is literally degrading from the moment it is produced.
So by storing slingshot latex properly, we slow the degradation down.
The number one way to slow that degradation down is simply to keep the slingshot latex out of light and heat. If you have ever left a band set out on the dashboard of your car, for example, you know just how quickly light and he will tear those bands up.
All bandsets from SimpleShot come in a UV light proof, sealed amber bag. We sent them in this bag intentionally to protect the slingshot latex from UV light and any contaminants that might be in the air.
So the answer to the refrigerator question is: yes, you can start your slingshot band sets in the refrigerator. There is no light, no heat, no Ozone likely, and no petrochemicals in the fridge! The only question would be whether or not it is very convenient for you to have your band sets in your refrigerator!
Keeping your band sets in the airtight bag in which we send them and out of direct light and heat is sufficient. If they are in the sealed bag then ozone and petro chemicals will also not be a problem.
Summary: keep it out of light, keep it out of heat, keep it sealed up in the bag. All set.
Stay tuned! We'll be releasing these weekly all season long. You can look forward to close to THIRTY questions coming your way. Make sure you subscribe and ring the bell for notifications!
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Please leave us YOUR thoughts below in the comments and don't forget to like and subscribe (and ring the bell). Thanks for watching!

[@primitiveman1022]

Nathan, a year ago I had the idea of storing my bands in a vacuum sealed bag, the ones you store food in. I used my vacuum sealer and had my band stored in my bugout bag in the trunk of my car. I had long since forgotten about it, but recently cleaned it out and refreshed all the contents. The bands in the vacume sealed bag are as fresh as the day I sealed them. I sealed them on 01/04/2021. I have been shooting with them for about 2 weeks now and they have held up very well. You can use this information if you feel it is pertinent to Simpleshot. Put it on your KZbin channel. One suggestion for you would be to find out if you could have dark uv protected vacuum seal bags made. Alot of people have these vacuum sealers already and if it worked for me, it will be a valuable storage solution for slingshot bands as well as food.

[@simpleshot]

Thank you! Great info!

[@Jonoman777]

I'm actually thoroughly impressed how long my simple shot flat bands have been lasting so far. pretty sure I'd be going on a second set of TheraBand gold by now but these don't even show any dry rot yet

[@andiedel]

Hey, Nathan, thanks a lot for answering my question! Gonna leave the Latex in the Fridge now :) it's just too hot during summertime inside my Appartement... Greetings from Germany 👍👋

[@hell86razer6]

This was very good info thank you Nathan 🙂

[@simpleshot]

Glad it was helpful!

[@nutthrower4415]

Enjoying these vids, thanks

[@simpleshot]

Glad to hear it! Thanks for watching!

[@bigronxxxx]

Nathan love the videos

[@ChuckinSteel]

I keep mine in a zip lock bag then in a drawer or cabinet. I have shot bands 3 to 4 yrs old with no problems this way.

[@bleikrsound6127]

I wouldn’t tell people to store them in the fridge - some idiot will try to eat them and blame you. 😂. I’m new to the hobby, great info, thanks!

[@_g_520]

I just keep them in an amber bag in my drawer

[@simpleshot]

Perfect.

[@markmcshart6157]

where do I find quality replacement bands?

[@SylvainSybaris]

I heard using ArmorAll or WD-40 Silicone spray can make the bands last longer, but haven't tried it yet.

[@simpleshot]

Thanks for asking before trying. These are VERY bad ideas. Do NOT put either of these on your bands. 1. They will not increase band life (the propellant may even degrade the band), but FAR more importantly . . . 2. They will make your bands 100% unsafe. The entire band system relies on friction. The band to pouch attachment relies on friction. The band to frame attachment relies on friction. Lubricating these areas will cause failure as the pouch pulls free from the band or the band comes loose from the attachment. Putting a lubricant of any kind on your band is unsafe. Do not do it! Leave them in the bag we send them in, in a cool dry place for longest life. And please never lubricate your bands!! Thanks!

[@SylvainSybaris]

@@simpleshot ... That's what I sort of thought, but wasn't sure.... I discovered from a company that makes slingshots that they use talcum powder on the latex and shipped in a UV airtight bag.

[@SylvainSybaris]

@@jforrest55 ... Ok, I have been spending much time this week looking in to slingshots for my upcoming Appalachian Trail THRU Hike from Georgia to Maine starting in March 2025, and I was thinking of getting some survival hunting & fishing gear just as a back-up method of sustenance ... Hence, the reason for my questions... However, I learned slingshots are illegal in New York and another state the trail passes through, so I have some thinking to do.... I sort of had an idea of just carrying some of your latex bands, and then if I'm in a situation, I can always make one from a "Y" branch and then get rid of it before entering into NY., and I think it's ok to just have the bands in my backpack, just saying... Unless the state can accuse me of "INTENT", not sure.... For God sake, it's just a slingshot for crying out loud!!!

[@simpleshot]

@sylvaindaly8858 Sounds like us. :) We are the ones using powder and putting bands in airtight UV protected bags. That is the #1 takeaway of this very video, actually. At 1:00 in the video we talk about the bag.

[@simpleshot]

Sorry for the reply from the wrong account! Yes, you're encountering the nightmare of legality of slingshots. Uuuuugh. You can DEFINITELY make a slingshot from a forked stick, but make sure you practice with them a LOT since each will vary a bit. Just make sure you know the laws no matter where you go.

[@phdyoutubedegree1939]

Nathan you disappointed me saying you just threw away perfectly good bands... Donate. Help the fellow slingshooters.. lol