Just wondered if anyone has any tips on this. I have a Berghaus jacket, its Gortex. Well, I always thought Gortex was a kind of tight weave fabric. I rode home today in what could only be described as a monsoon.
It was so heavy and dense (the falling rain that is), that I had to pull over as I was unable to see where I was cycling safely.
It was very very heavy rain.
Maybe Im expected too much, but my jacket for the first time since buying it, let me down and I was really soaked to the skin by the time I got to my destination.
Maybe this is normal, but I have worn this jacket over the winter and never once did I get damp beneath.
I have washed it twice, and I do think in error that I might of used a biological washing powder.... Oh do you think Ive ruined the jacket?
Is this repairable??? Can it be re-water proofed, but as its Gortex, I didnt think this was necessary.
Mary
re proofing a jacket
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piedwagtail91
- Posts: 258
- Joined: 23 Jan 2007, 9:18pm
i've washed and re proofed mine a couple of times using the nik wax stuff..i always iron it afterwards on a low heat setting as thats supposed to activate the coating.
some hill walkers put theirs in a tumble dryer on a low heat setting before they go out to make sure the coating will be at it's best.
some hill walkers put theirs in a tumble dryer on a low heat setting before they go out to make sure the coating will be at it's best.
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thirdcrank
- Posts: 36740
- Joined: 9 Jan 2007, 2:44pm
Manx Cat
If it's Goretex, especially new, it's unlikely to be leaking. It's much more likely that you've got condensation which feels as though it's leaking and is, of course, every bit as wet.
This came up on another waterproofs thread a little while ago. The conversation between MickF and your obedient servant starting halfway down page 2 is the relevant bit here
Incidentally, Goretex uses a porous memberane where the pores are said to be large enough to allow the passage of vapour, but too small to allow the passage of water. Any re-proofing should be something to ensure that water on the surface forms droplets, rather than a film of water. Anything that clogs the pores will make it even less breathable.
If it's Goretex, especially new, it's unlikely to be leaking. It's much more likely that you've got condensation which feels as though it's leaking and is, of course, every bit as wet.
This came up on another waterproofs thread a little while ago. The conversation between MickF and your obedient servant starting halfway down page 2 is the relevant bit here
Incidentally, Goretex uses a porous memberane where the pores are said to be large enough to allow the passage of vapour, but too small to allow the passage of water. Any re-proofing should be something to ensure that water on the surface forms droplets, rather than a film of water. Anything that clogs the pores will make it even less breathable.
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Tom Richardson
- Posts: 772
- Joined: 25 Jun 2007, 1:45pm
Don't wash it in detergent. Detergent contains wetting agents that will cause it to absorb water and wet out over the surface in future. (If you have already washed it in detergent it can be fixed by running it through the rinse cycle it but you need to do it about five times).
Wash it in soap - like nikwax tech wash or much cheaper some supermarkets sell soap flakes. Run your washing machine on a rinse cycle first to clear any detergent residue (put a load of muddy stuff in on a rinse cycle so's not to waste the water). If you use soap flakes disolve about one quarter of a small cup of them in about half pint of hot water first and tip it into the drum before you put your coat in.
Thats good for all outdoor stuf that might get wet.
Gore-tex and similar stuff will need re-proofing every five or so washes with nikwax tx or graingers do a similar one. Apply it by running your stuff through a second wash cycle straight after the first but with the re-proofer instead of soap
Wash it in soap - like nikwax tech wash or much cheaper some supermarkets sell soap flakes. Run your washing machine on a rinse cycle first to clear any detergent residue (put a load of muddy stuff in on a rinse cycle so's not to waste the water). If you use soap flakes disolve about one quarter of a small cup of them in about half pint of hot water first and tip it into the drum before you put your coat in.
Thats good for all outdoor stuf that might get wet.
Gore-tex and similar stuff will need re-proofing every five or so washes with nikwax tx or graingers do a similar one. Apply it by running your stuff through a second wash cycle straight after the first but with the re-proofer instead of soap
Wash it in water, if it's dirty, no detergent. Or just tumble dry it on low. Every so often wash by hand (rubber gloves needed) in reproofer and tumble dry. If it gets sweat on the inner surface the salt can delaminate the fabric, which spoils the performance so try to wear a barrier layer between sweaty you and the jacket, condensation is ok but direct sweat means a wash before next use. Otherwise an occaisional tumble keeps it waterproof.