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Waterproofing a jacket

Waterproofing a jacket


Postby bikerbill » Fri Nov 18, 2011 10:29 pm

Hi all

I was in Mountain Warehouse to get some Nikwax to reproof my jacket. However, they no longer stocked it so the salesman suggested Wash n' Proof, which washes and proofs in one go. I followed the instructions to the letter to discover that the jacket was actually worse, as a small shower of rain had me soaked through within a matter of minutes.

What did I do wrong I thought!! Mmmmm my jacket is not meant to be tumble dried, but the salesman suggested that I could still tumble dry my jacket at a low heat setting as it helps the water proofing agent to work better. I have heard this from other people so thought that it should be ok. Anyway, I have now steeped the jacket in plenty of Wash n' proof as you do with Nikwax and hope that it proofs the jacket this time. Can anybody recommend a good waterproofing agent?

Thanks in advance

Billy
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Re: Waterproofing a jacket

Postby Shads » Fri Nov 18, 2011 10:52 pm

hello, ma pal had the same problem and he used nik wax wash in and it didnt work, so he steeped his gortex jacket in it just like you did and then he sprayed it with nik wax spray on waterpfoofing. It worked!! It was tried and tested just yesterday on a 12 mile walk up the pentland hills near Edinburgh in heavy rain and the water was just rolling off. I hope this works for you - best of luck!!
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Re: Waterproofing a jacket

Postby monty » Fri Nov 18, 2011 11:07 pm

I have a jacket I bougbht fromn Aldis 3 years ago. Its great. Without the inner it s warm and dry even in a snowstorm. I struggle to understand how Rab and others can charge 150 pounds for the same jacket or a jacket with comparable properties.
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Re: Waterproofing a jacket

Postby HighlandSC » Sat Nov 19, 2011 1:05 am

never used nikwax, but tried grangers all in one wash and proofer on goretex and it was okay but nowhere near as good as washing then spraying with a seperate proofer and tumble drying.
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Re: Waterproofing a jacket

Postby brpro26 » Sat Nov 19, 2011 10:22 am

Apparently your meant to use the Tech-wash before the Nik-wax as detergent effects the application of Nik-wax. I made this mistake when washing my jacket a wee while ago. It's expensive using both, good marketing ploy. Have'nt tried the Grangers "wash and go" but it looks the best option, will try it next time. Wonder if using a spray on meant for tents etc would be any good on a jacket.
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Re: Waterproofing a jacket

Postby mrssanta » Sat Nov 19, 2011 4:04 pm

it does make a difference though, you need to get all the dirt out, as much as possible anyway. Normal detergents are wetting agents and the idea of waterproofers is "unwetting agents" to make the water bead rather than spread. if you do it in the washing machine it does help to rinse the machine and wipe out any detergent deposits first.
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Re: Waterproofing a jacket

Postby bikerbill » Sat Nov 19, 2011 4:25 pm

Got to agree with you there Monty, too many brand snobs. I've had expensive jackets that were not that good and much cheaper brands that did the same job. Funny thing, when I wear my North Face jacket people will chat with me, cheaper jacket i'm lucky if I get a nod :lol:

Don't think I will use wash and go again though rinsing the washing machine beforehand makes sort of sense.
Waterproofing for tents I have thought about before, but will the jacket still 'breath'?

As for tumble drying, I was told today that tumble drying the garment makes no difference and to never tumble dry a garment if it has not to be dried that way. suppose the jury is still out on this one :shock:
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Re: Waterproofing a jacket

Postby HighlandSC » Sat Nov 19, 2011 4:56 pm

As far as i remember with grangers is they say nearly all waterproof shells can be tumble dried with it. With my goretex it made a HUGE improvement. Was first in anything you like, but specialised stuff is best. Then when jacket is still wet i spray with grangers proofer then put straight in tumble drier. Result is great, water beads off the surface brilliantly.
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Re: Waterproofing a jacket

Postby mrssanta » Sat Nov 19, 2011 5:16 pm

you do need a tumble drier for that to work, though
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Re: Waterproofing a jacket

Postby mrssanta » Sat Nov 19, 2011 5:18 pm

bikerbill wrote:Got to agree with you there Monty, too many brand snobs. I've had expensive jackets that were not that good and much cheaper brands that did the same job. Funny thing, when I wear my North Face jacket people will chat with me, cheaper jacket i'm lucky if I get a nod :lol:


I'm shocked and horrified at this, but sadly not surprised. I'll say hello to you! :) :D :wave:
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Re: Waterproofing a jacket

Postby bikerbill » Sat Nov 19, 2011 7:30 pm

And a big HELLO to you too mrssanta and thanks 8)
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Re: Waterproofing a jacket

Postby hill-walker » Sat Dec 03, 2011 9:33 am

Hi,

I use the Spray-on Nikway TX-Direct. Wash the jacket in their Tech-Wash then spray on the Tx-Direct then tumble dry. If you cannot tumble dry then not sure if it will work.

Alternative is to but the Tx-Direct wash in version and wash the garment again the tumble-dry. I find the spray on method is just as effective and is cheaper as you use less of the expensive Tx-Direct.

If you have Buffalo gear you must NOT use the wash in product as it ruins the ability of the Buffalo to wick the sweat away you MUST use the spray on product but it works like a dream

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Re: Waterproofing a jacket

Postby mrssanta » Sun Dec 04, 2011 3:18 pm

it works if you don't tumble dry. I don't have a dryer on principle. However it is always best to reproof regularly, ie before you get a soaking. And keep your garment clean, as dirt carries wter through. never wash in normal washing powder.
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Re: Waterproofing a jacket

Postby Eskimo » Mon Dec 05, 2011 11:16 pm

Hi guys,

My Goretex jacket could do with some TLC in preparation for the winter walks. Previously I have always used the Nikwax wash and wash in waterproofer. I'm tempted to try the Grangers stuff. What the vote, Nikwax or Grangers?!

Either way I swear by putting the garment in the tumble on a low heat for 30 mins or so. Really seems to help. I was advised to do this by Goretex. Seemingly helps even without a waterproofer.
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Re: Waterproofing a jacket

Postby Frogwell » Tue Dec 06, 2011 4:33 pm

Eskimo wrote:Hi guys,

My Goretex jacket could do with some TLC in preparation for the winter walks. Previously I have always used the Nikwax wash and wash in waterproofer. I'm tempted to try the Grangers stuff. What the vote, Nikwax or Grangers?!

Either way I swear by putting the garment in the tumble on a low heat for 30 mins or so. Really seems to help. I was advised to do this by Goretex. Seemingly helps even without a waterproofer.

Nikwax for sure. I've tried the Grangers wash in goretex proof stuff, their leather proof stuff and something else for normal fabric and I've got to say in my case it didn't hold up nearly as well as the Nikwax stuff. I used the goretex stuff on a very worn 10 year old Jacket and it really didn't seem to do much good at all, I got lots of wet patches the very first time I went out in rain. I figured it was just the jacket was beyond waterproofing at that point and nothing apart from some decent gloss would keep the rain out. Then on a recommendation I gave the Nikwax stuff a try and since then I've had the same Jacket out in the worst rain Scotland has to offer and not had as much as drop get through. Never looked back since. I don't even bother with the tumble dry.
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