Extending the life of a rain jacket when DWR is gone

Assuming you have tried to revive the DWR? Once you start with tape and the like, it's a death spiral. I think it would feel bad and the tape would peel and stick to your layers under.

A while back someone wrote about DWR being a part of the fabric and not renewable once worn out. I say "hogwash." I have added DWR to fabrics that did not initially have it with good success.

I would give it a good washing using a recommended "tech" soap and a *couple* rinses. Double-check the directions, but Gore-Tex usually benefits from the heat in a dryer too, so that would be my next step. Then I would give it a good ReviveX treatment and follow the directions to a "T". No fabric softeners of course.

If all fails and depending on the brand, there may be a warranty to lean on.

If you had a poncho, you wouldn't be going through all this ;)

Yeah, I have refreshed the DWR a couple times in the past year. The first couple times I thought I'd done it wrong but then I noticed it was only the shoulder area wetting out. I did just wash, dry, and treat it two weeks ago. No warranty as I got it off ebay used. Paclite for 30 bucks can't be beat. I've gotten my money's worth from it, certainly. I just want it to last a while longer while I decide whether to go used again or save up $250+ for the latest sub-8 oz technowonder with a warranty.

"It wet out in less than 5 minutes in a downpour yesterday."

Exactly what happened?

"Wetting Out" typically means that the exterior is obviously not shedding water, the fabric appears saturated, and by inference will not breathe.

Were you putting out enough effort to get a vapor buildup and condensation, and hence wet shoulders?

If your shoulders were wet after just five minutes of low effort I'd guess that water was penetrating the fabric, meaning your membrane is compromised.

My Integral Designs eVent Thru Hikers just gave up the ghost as a result of many miles of being packed and carried. It worked last September in the Sierras, but last week while standing in a downpour I got wet. Inspection showed that the membrane had simply been abraded away.

I'm at the same decision point. Big bucks for a WP/B that is typically packed and will die anyway, or small bucks for a ProPore solution, or a MYOG Caffin Poncho out of SuperSil.

Exactly what happened?…Were you putting out enough effort to get a vapor buildup and condensation, and hence wet shoulders?

I walked down the driveway, dragged the garbage cans back up, and walked back inside. Definitely not exerting myself.

"Wetting Out" typically means that the exterior is obviously not shedding water, the fabric appears saturated, and by inference will not breathe.

Yes, this is what it looked like. I stood on the stoop for a minute to watch and water was beading off the sleeves and front like it should. There was no beading on the shoulders and the fabric there was wet. When I took it off inside the shoulder area was damp.

> There was no beading on the shoulders and the fabric there was wet.
I would guess that the fabric is contaminated. Not visible, but killing the DWR.

Give a wash or TWO with Atko Sports Wash following the instructions (NOT ever laundry detergent!), then try Atko fluoropolymer DWR treatment.

Cheers

I am sure Gore warranties their products for life if you cannot resurect the Dwr.

gore has a warranty … try em

if its OR, they dont care where you bought it from as long as its the genuine article

rain jackets are something thats always worth it to buy from no questions asked places with unlimited guarantees

del

Thanks for the info on warranties! I wouldn't have expected that. I will look into it, and the treatment Roger mentioned. Glad I restrained my itchy tape fingers and asked here first.

I have had the best DWR renewal results on my GTX garments using the following:

1. Wash the GTX garment with Nikwax wash and rinse two times

2. Use Nikwax wash-in DWR treatment then dry in drier on med-high.

3. Spray on REVIVEX DWR, let dry and then spray a 2nd time.

Now you have DWR at least as good as the factory treatment.

As a ski patroller I use my GTX patrol parka a lot and need to wash it and re-treat it at least once a season or, despite spraying the liner with FABREEZE after each use, it gets too smelly.

P.S. You can order REVIVEX from REI.

This comes up all the time, but the responses are not so concise and helpful.
Am printing this one out for when it happens to me.
Thanks.