DWR coating

[woodsmith]

Any aftermarket DWR coatings that actually work? The Nikwax stuff is poor show. And no, I can't afford an outdry/ shakedry jacket before anyone mentions it.

[Bearbonesnorm]

I've tried most but sadly I've not found anything that works for more than a short time. Fabricating a nice smock from a bin bag and wearing over the top works wonders

[voodoo_simon]

The tumble dry stuff by Grangers can get great results* but you’ve got to brave enough time in the tumble drier for it to be effective

*ive had results ranging from ‘whydidibother’ to ‘holycrapitslikenew’ using it

[ton]

i need a whole body DWR coating. went out today for a couple of hours, and got my 1st proper soaking through. properly drenched to the undies.
i need to re think my winter set up.

[Alpinum]

Any aftermarket DWR coatings that actually work?

I wanted to write no, but... silicone, wax...
In my experience, Grangers, Nikwax et al. work best when "heat treated" with an iron. Check the right settings for your garment.
Not all hardshells like tumbledrying, especially some of the PU membrane stuff.

[JohnClimber]

can't afford an outdry/ shakedry jacket before anyone mentions it.

Outdry will save you a fortune in new jackets and DWR and getting wet and miserable.

Save a few more pennies and look for an Outdry bargain.

Mine's as good as new and was one of the first batch from many years ago.

A quick google found this XL in a shitty white colour for just £72.

https://www.slamjam.com/en_GB/man/cloth ... t=deeplink
search longer and find a bargain in the size and colour you like.

Or on offer from Columbia themselves
https://www.columbiasportswear.co.uk/p/ ... lsrc=aw.ds

[fatbikephil]

https://www.slamjam.com/en_GB/man/cloth ... t=deeplink
search longer and find a bargain in the size and colour you like.

Or on offer from Columbia themselves
https://www.columbiasportswear.co.uk/p/ ... lsrc=aw.ds

Good find, will try for the second time to get one!

[ScotRoutes]

I've had better results with Granger's/Nikwax if done by hand rather than in a washing machine.

However, I'm expecting all the Paramo fans to amaze us with their pearls of wisdom given that it relies so heavily on DWR.

[ScotRoutes]

Oops

[Alpinum]

I've had better results with Granger's/Nikwax if done by hand rather than in a washing machine.

What a wonderfully easy and great idea. Will try that next time
Any advice on how long to let it soak, luke warm water?

[fatbikephil]

I've had better results with Granger's/Nikwax if done by hand rather than in a washing machine.

However, I'm expecting all the Paramo fans to amaze us with their pearls of wisdom given that it relies so heavily on DWR.

Bung it in the washing machine with TX-10 and the jobs a good'un. But Paramo has two layers to make it waterproof so doesn't rely on the DWR of the outer so much.

[ScotRoutes]

I've had better results with Granger's/Nikwax if done by hand rather than in a washing machine.

What a wonderfully easy and great idea. Will try that next time
Any advice on how long to let it soak, luke warm water?

Wash item in machine at 30-40C
Fill basing with water at 30-40C.
Add DWR liquid and swish around to disperse it.
Add clean garment.
Agitate well by hand.
Let water cool for a while.
Empty out basin and add cold water.
Rinse garment.
Spin, or hang to (almost) dry
Put in tumble drier on a gentle heat if garnment care instructions allow.

Oh - wear household/latex gloves when treating the garment. You'll understand why should you forget

[stevenshand]

It's all in the application. Gore use a brand of DWR that's readily available to everyone (and has been mentioned in this thread) on their fabric before it goes out. It isn't a proprietary product as many think. It is however, applied with a specific process (think high heat).

[jameso]

I've only used the Nikwax stuff by hand, Techwash and spray-on DWR, and had durable results on Goretex. Would echo Scotroutes' comment about wearing gloves, which I didn't do first time.

[woodsmith]

It's all in the application. Gore use a brand of DWR that's readily available to everyone (and has been mentioned in this thread) on their fabric before it goes out. It isn't a proprietary product as many think. It is however, applied with a specific process (think high heat).

If you know how its done and what with why not justy tell us rather than being cryptic?

[Bearbonesnorm]

Has any had any long-term success? I've achieved results that were great but only for a short time.

[woodsmith]

Has any had any long-term success? I've achieved results that were great but only for a short time.

I've previously used the hand application in a bowl rather than the washing machine method. First time was reasonably successful but not particularly long lived and each subsequent treatment has been progressively more dissapointing on both counts. ( Goretex jacket)

[stevenshand]

It's all in the application. Gore use a brand of DWR that's readily available to everyone (and has been mentioned in this thread) on their fabric before it goes out. It isn't a proprietary product as many think. It is however, applied with a specific process (think high heat).

If you know how its done and what with why not justy tell us rather than being cryptic?

Not trying to be cryptic, just passing on what I can without breaking the terms of a contract. Really just making the point that with good process (hight heat), results similar to what leaves the factory can be achieved by the general public. Bear in mind that the process in the factory involves flat rolls of fabric not garments so the process details wouldn't be much use anyway.

[ScotRoutes]

Yeah, I'd assumed a process which made garments wouldn't survive, what with taping etc.

[UnderTheRadars]

I ‘spose just coating everything in Fabsil Gold will just bugger up the breathability, mind if that’s not an issue for you

[woodsmith]

I ‘spose just coating everything in Fabsil Gold will just bugger up the breathability, mind if that’s not an issue for you

Even fairly low levels of activity seem to overwhelm the breathability of goretex. I'll take 100% waterproof over breathability every time now.

[stevenshand]

I ‘spose just coating everything in Fabsil Gold will just bugger up the breathability, mind if that’s not an issue for you

It might be obvious but the DWR has a huge impact on the breathability and comfort of Goretex. If the fabric is wetting out (becoming saturated) then the breathability is massively reduced. It also plays a big part in how warm the jacket will feel, especially against bare skin. A saturated (but still waterproof) jacket will feel like it's sucking heat away from your body at a much higher rate than a dry (DWR protected) jacket, making the fabric feel cold and clammy.

[AndreR]

can't afford an outdry/ shakedry jacket before anyone mentions it.

Outdry will save you a fortune in new jackets and DWR and getting wet and miserable.

Save a few more pennies and look for an Outdry bargain.

Mine's as good as new and was one of the first batch from many years ago.

A quick google found this XL in a shitty white colour for just £72.

https://www.slamjam.com/en_GB/man/cloth ... t=deeplink
search longer and find a bargain in the size and colour you like.

Or on offer from Columbia themselves
https://www.columbiasportswear.co.uk/p/ ... lsrc=aw.ds

Thanks for that John, just ordered one. Had my first proper wet ride of the year on Tuesday night and came back wetter than an Otters pocket. My Alpkit Gravitas has been excellent for about 4 years with yearly Nikwax treatments but following it's first tumble dry to improve the Nikwax finish earlier in the year finish has gone funny in a few places and leaky as well.

[belugabob]

Just discovered, this morning, that the DWR coating on my craghoppers jacket (not used for cycling) has given up the ghost.
I'll be applying nikwax reproofer, via a hand wash, and will report back.

Ultimately, I think I'll get an Outdry jacket, but not keen on the grey or the white - they don't seem to do them in blue, anymore.
Also, curiously, the do seem to make Outdry trousers.

EDIT - "don't"

[Bearbonesnorm]

Also, curiously, the do seem to make Outdry trousers.

They used to.