Rewaterproofing my Jacket

So I have a Sierra Designs Hurricane Accelerator rain jacket that is becoming not so waterproof in a few spots (particularly the shoulders). Was curious if anyone had any experience in rewaterproofing their jacket good or poor. Product suggestions and tips to doing a good job are appreciated. Thanks for the help!

Wash and dry (with heat). Apply nikwax-usa.com/en-us/produc…

The wash method is bad for two reasons:

(1) The "durable water-repellant finish" gets applied to the inside surface, as well. You want the DWR finish only on the outside surface, to shed water (or make it bead up) before it can enter the fabric. If Gore-tex works at all, water must bead up on the outside surface. If Gore-tex works at all, DWR on the inside surface interferes with transmission of water vapor from inside the garment.

(2) The chemicals that would go down the washing-machine drain are toxic for the watershed.

Buy a Nikwax product that you apply only to the outside surface.

Sorry, I wasn't suggesting using a wash-in treatment. Wash with regular detergent, then apply the spray-on stuff.

don't wash with regular detergent....that will clog up the pores in the membrane of a gore tex jacket. Use Nikwax tech wash to wash it, then spray on dwr coating from nikwax.

Nikwax sucks in my opinion.

I'd recommended Grainger's instead. I agree that the spray-on method is ideal.

also, don't know that jacket in particular but it is probably is a laminated waterproof jacket (white stuff painted on the inside for waterproof layer).

That laminate gets damaged and peels off. once that happens the jacket is done. That usually happens in the shoulder area first from wearing a backpack.

christoph: it is happening on the shoulders currently, i would assume from a backpack as it is my daily rain jacket and I ride to and from school. Can you explain further the water proofing difference between the laminante you describe and a gore tex/ other waterproofing style? Additionally why is it now donezo? I can't use a spray on method to bring it back to water proof spec still?

gore tex is a separate piece of material sandwiched between two layers of nylon (except paclite gore, or performance gore which has the "hanging liner") which is always a waterproof material. Just needs cleaning to remove dirt and oils from the pores which allow it to breath, and dwr coating to allow water to bead up off the outer layer of nylon.

Laminate jackets, like yours are a piece of nylon with the waterproof layer applied right to the back of the nylon. It is a cheaper method of making a waterproof piece. The laminate flakes off and gets damaged over time, leaving just nylon which is not waterproof.

if all the laminate is still in place, then yes you can use tech wash and a spray on dwr to restore the waterproofing.

You should be able to look on the inside of the jacket and see the laminate, if it is flaking off in the shoulders its time for a new jacket.

Had anyone had any experience with the Nu Water Repellent Treatment from Arc'teryx?

christoph benells wrote:gore tex is a separate piece of material sandwiched between two layers of nylon (except paclite gore, or performance gore which has the "hanging liner") which is always a waterproof material. Just needs cleaning to remove dirt and oils from the pores which allow it to breath, and dwr coating to allow water to bead up off the outer layer of nylon. Laminate jackets, like yours are a piece of nylon with the waterproof layer applied right to the back of the nylon. It is a cheaper method of making a waterproof piece. The laminate flakes off and gets damaged over time, leaving just nylon which is not waterproof.

2 layer- outer layer of nylon fused with waterproof membrane (Gore-Tex, event, etc.) and hanging liner on inside.

2.5 layer- Outer layer of nylon fused with membrane, and an inner "coating" put on the membrane. inner coating helps protect the membrane, adds no comfort. You must wear a full length wicking layer under to avoid clammy feeling that comes from liquid sweat hitting the membrane.

3 layer- membrane sandwiched between 2 layers of nylon.

what the OP has

Laminate- Waterproofing is essentially painted on, on the inside, to a face fabric of nylon. Usually has a mesh hanging liner to keep liquid sweat off inside of jacket, which makes that clammy feeling.

Sweat need to be turned to vapor before it can escape any of these breathable jackets.

It works like this, pores in the material are small enough that liquid water can get in, but big enough water vapor can escape. Thus the need for wicking layers...

I would recommend a new jacket...

Nikwax and Grainger's work OK. However, the best is the hardest to find and least user-friendly: 303 High Tech fabric protectant. It's the closest to the factory DWR coating you can get. It's also solvent-based, not water-based. Read the instructions carefully.

Lee Green wrote:Nikwax and Grainger's work OK. However, the best is the hardest to find and least user-friendly: 303 High Tech fabric protectant. It's the closest to the factory DWR coating you can get. It's also solvent-based, not water-based. Read the instructions carefully.

Matt Collins wrote: Is this what you are referring to? amazon.com/303-High-Tech-Fa…