Waterproof & Breathable, how do different fabrics compare?

[marzNC]

As late season sales get going, seems like a good time to review what makes technical outerwear worth the extra money. From Posts #22-24 by the Diva expert @geargrrl .

https://specialtyoutdoors.com/demystifying-waterproof-breathable-fabrics/

 

[Tvan]

As late season sales get going, seems like a good time to review what makes technical outerwear worth the extra money. From Posts #22-24 by the Diva expert @geargrrl .

https://specialtyoutdoors.com/demystifying-waterproof-breathable-fabrics/

..... because EVERYONE needs a new jacket!

Morning enabling brought to you by the “we-just-can’t-help-ourselves” Ski Divas...

 

[nopoleskier]

well my Patagonia "water proof" shell is not waterproof.. found that out yesterday. :-(

 

[geargrrl]

Which jacket it is, and how old is it?

 

[nopoleskier]

1.5yrs. not sure of the name.. the label says :sty83406fa15
it looks exactly like the Triolet jacket.,

 

[santacruz skier]

well my Patagonia "water proof" shell is not waterproof.. found that out yesterday. :-(

Darn. My Patagonia w nano insulation did great. Kjus formula pants very waterproof... Neckwarmer not so much.... Gloves were not either...
Today think lifts not even running now.

 

[nopoleskier]

Darn. My Patagonia w nano insulation did great. Kjus formula pants very waterproof... Neckwarmer not so much.... Gloves were not either...
Today think lifts not even running now.

I had the nano underneath at least that is warm when wet and dries quickly. my shoulders and back were wet when I went in.
my shell is the triolet, it was the first time it was ever out in the wet.. I may send back and ask for more waterproofing..

 

[santacruz skier]

I had the nano underneath at least that is warm when wet and dries quickly. my shoulders and back were wet when I went in.
my shell is the triolet, it was the first time it was ever out in the wet.. I may send back and ask for more waterproofing..

Send it back. Patagonia stands behind their products.

 

[geargrrl]

Other possibilities:
-Too many layers and you are sweating at a rate that can't transport out
-DWR needs to be refreshed. Have you run it through a low dryer for about 10minutes to reactivate the DWR?
-Jacket need to be laundered and have the DWR reapplied. DWR does not last forever. I do mine once a season. Somewhere here on the site I've detailed the best practices for washing a ski coat.

 

[marzNC]

Somewhere here on the site I've detailed the best practices for washing a ski coat.

That was in Post #23:

Have you done this,
-wash it in regular detergent and then rinse three times.
-then use techwash. It's actually not a cleaner, just a vehicle to get the DWR to bond to the fabric. In case you wondered why things washed in tech wash don't get very clean...
-Then apply DWR.

I know this is what some shops do to renew the DWR, and this is the method I was given by a shop that does 20000 pieces of goretex commercial laundry a year.

 

[geargrrl]

thanks!!

 

[nopoleskier]

Other possibilities:
-Too many layers and you are sweating at a rate that can't transport out
-DWR needs to be refreshed. Have you run it through a low dryer for about 10minutes to reactivate the DWR?
-Jacket need to be laundered and have the DWR reapplied. DWR does not last forever. I do mine once a season. Somewhere here on the site I've detailed the best practices for washing a ski coat.

thanks for the info:
No not many layers.. 200 wt icebreaker, nano puff and the shell. wasn't sweat.
Only have worn about 15-20x only 3-5x in the wet weather.
No haven't tried the dryer. (I don't dry much except jeans/cottons) I'll try this
I do have DWR at home and can try that too..

It was heavy precip.. rain, sleet snow it was caked on but we were all surprised how wet my nano puff was on my shoulders especially..

 

[geargrrl]

imnsho 15-20 is enough to at least need a trip through the dryer. But you can send it back if you want. All they will do is replace it or wash it with DWR.

 

[geargrrl]

That was in Post #23:

to augment the method description. I take a sponge brush and brush on the DWR, not spray. This way you can really spread it thoroughly, even out runs and apply extra to shoulders, butt, top of thighs etc.

 

[Christy]

DWR needs to be refreshed. Have you run it through a low dryer for about 10 minutes to reactivate the DWR?

Oh interesting--I didn't know about that. Rain is starting to soak in to rather than bead up on my year old Patagonia Powderbowl, though it's not going through the fabric. I'll try this.

As someone who lives in Seattle and dogwalks rain or shine (particularly on the days I walk shelter dogs, which is on a schedule, so there's no waiting for the rain to stop) is is true that nothing is waterproof forever, or even very long it seems. This morning my formerly wonderful waterproof Teva sneakers were soaked through, my formerly waterproof gloves retained so much water I could wring them out, my Powderbowl as mentioned soaked up water. I didn't realize that it was more about use than being out in the rain or snow though and that we should expect deterioration after 15-20 uses.

 

[geargrrl]

Remember there are several components to WPB fabrics. There is the coating or laminate layer, the actual fiber (polyester or nylon) and its technical properties, and a durable water repellent coating. They don't just keep you magically dry forever. UV exposure, dirt, grime, sweat, environmental conditions can and do affect the ability of these fabrics to do their intended job.

 

[geargrrl]

TREW recommends washing twice a season
https://www.facebook.com/colleen.tretter/posts/290945848106952:13

 

[marzNC]

Also advice about washing jackets and outerwear ski pants in this older thread:
https://www.theskidiva.com/forums/index.php?threads/how-do-you-keep-your-ski-jackets-clean.4563

 

[marzNC]

Advice from Arc'teryx about maintaining Gortex. Haven't re-read the thread to see if the advice in the video is the same or different from what's been mentioned already.

 

[marzNC]

As late season sales get going, seems like a good time to review what makes technical outerwear worth the extra money. From Posts #22-24 by the Diva expert @geargrrl .

https://specialtyoutdoors.com/demystifying-waterproof-breathable-fabrics/

since we seem to have a number of new readers as the 2018-19 season gets going.

Post #1, Oct 2016:
For a long time, the only waterproof and breathable fabric I knew about was Gore-tex. Now there are several options. A few are only used by one brand, like Marmot, while four are used by more than one brand of outerwear. If you're curious, Gear Patrol has an article called "Waterproof Breathable Technologies Explained". The four covered are Gore-Tex, NeoShell, eVent, Schoeller, and Dermizax NX. Examples of jackets using the different fabrics are included.