Treatment Of Clothing For Rain Resistance

[jyl]

What do you spray or treat outdoor clothing with, to improve water shedding and rain resistance?

One jacket is a Carhartt, sort of a thick canvas like material.

The other is a Mountain Hardware down jacket, sort of a wind resistant nylon that isn't actually rain gear.

Hoping to make both suitable for a bit of light rain.

[porsche4life]

Nikwax has the best wash in treatments. For both of them.


I wash all my outdoor gear in tech wash helps maintain water resistance and is low odor.

[BeyGon]

I am using SOFSOLE, heavy duty silicone waterproofer.

[fanaudical]

Yep - All my Columbia gear gets Nikwax Tech-Wash and their spray-on TX.

Products

[jyl]

And this stuff is okay for down filled clothing?

[porsche4life]

Wash-in waterproofing for down-filled clothing & gear | Down Proof

[Tishabet]

+1 to Nikwax products

[Charles Freeborn]

Yep Nikwax. Tek wash first. You have to heat set the treatment in the dryer or with an iron.

[Evans, Marv]

I'm old school and likely way behind the times on treatments for down garments. I noticed "Down Proof" claims to make a garment water "repellent" but not "water proof." I don't know if I'd trust a treatment in serious weather events. Maybe they're not for that. I use a down sweater I made 40 years ago with a lightweight Gortex jacket over it if I need to protect it from water. Having spent a lot of time in the mountains in bad weather, I also like the idea of the flexibility of having a combination for the choice of using either as conditions dictate.

[gatotom]

Yes, layering is the way to go, haven't been in the mountains for awhile, now on the water but gortex jacket and get out of the rain on the sailboat. When in the mountains layers of capilene with gortex outer shell is the driest and warmest, the old days wool with outer shell. Patagonia has amazing materials now.

[jyl]

The goal for these garments is only to withstand a bit of light rain. Like a drizzly day when you're in and out, a surprise rain shower during a day hike, etc.

[rusnak]

John,

Take a look at HyVent windbreakers from The North Face. You can see them at Sports Authority, or REI.

I would not wear a down jacket in the rain. I would wear a waterproof, not water resistant, wind breaker over a cotton sweatshirt and a rain proof Gore Tex hat.

I spend a lot of time in the elements.

[stealthn]

In Canada we just use the oil from baby seal skin

[masraum]

Originally Posted by stealthn

In Canada we just use the oil from baby seal skin

I thought you just used several baby seal skins to make your garments.

[gtc]

+1 for Nikwax

[DanielDudley]

Originally Posted by stealthn

In Canada we just use the oil from baby seal skin

In Canada, the fisherman used to boil their jackets in linseed oil.

[Superman]

While off the topic of this thread, I notice that using dryer sheets makes fabric water-repellant. Once in a great while when I visit someone's house and take a shower, if they use dryer sheets when drying towels, I notice it RIGHT away. The towel feels clammy and doesn't do a very good job.

Now...back to your regularly scheduled programming.

[HardDrive]