Waterproofing Products

Hi,

I wondered if anyone can recommend any products, method, best practice to waterproof ski clothes?

I ask because I sprayed my clothes with some waterproof product, and it didn't seem to work when I get stuck in rain. My clothes are waterproof in the sense that they didn't let water pass from the outer surface to the inner layers - thus I remained dry. However, the outer surfaces became wet and stayed wet for some time, making me feel colder than I would normally.

I wash my ski clothes with normal cleaning products at low temperatures, although I am aware you can buy special waterproofing cleaning products. I can't believe they are worth using, but am happy to be proven wrong.

So - I wonder if anyone has some proven recommendations to make re washing and waterproofing?

Ta.

Yup, I'm currently awaiting delivery of a bumper 5L bottle of Nikwax Polar Proof. It's supposed to be specifically for ski gear. Re-waterproofs what needs to be waterproof, and is supposed to "revive breathability" too. Used it last year and the stuff was like new. MrEvs wouldn't let me wash his jacket in it and once we'd been caught in a blizzard etc it weighed an absolute ton when wet. He refused to believe there was a connection :roll:

By the way for the avoidance of doubt I have no connection with Nikwax whatsoever.

Hi Paul,
We had a thread on this last year, if you're interested in having a look at it :D

http://www.j2ski.com/ski-chat-forum/posts/list/8374.page

Ally

AllyG wrote:Hi Paul,
We had a thread on this last year, if you're interested in having a look at it :D

http://www.j2ski.com/ski-chat-forum/posts/list/8374.page

Ally

Hi Ally

You seen to be the expert here on j2. Please can you advise - I have a pair of Goretex gloves that are white (or were!) They desperately need washing as they are so dirty but the label says Do Not Wash!.

I bought them years ago and had them in storage and only found them when I was back in Australia going through all our stuff and having a cleanout. I wore them this winter and they are so toasty warm that I want to keep them.

I think I just answered my own question - if they are that old, wash them and find out what happens :oops:

cwagner wrote:I think I just answered my own question - if they are that old, wash them and find out what happens :oops:

Hi,
As you said, try washing them in that special stuff and see what happens :D

You could maybe protect them a bit by washing them like 'delicates' and putting them in something like an old pillow case (or one of those special delicates bags if you have one), and then dry them flat in an airing cupboard (or outside maybe, seeing as you live in Abu Dhabi?).

Best of luck :D

Ally

Paul,
You should wash the gear first with 'pure soap flakes' ( do not use detergents); dependent what type of jacket you have you could use either a machine wash waterproofer or a direct spray on. Nikwax or grangers do these products and work well.Follow the instructions and you should be fine.
You can find these both for a good price on ebay.
FB

I also use Nikwax Polar Proof after each trip on jacket, sallos and gloves. It has never let me down. The instructions advise using Nikwax Techwash first, but I have never actually done this as the Polar Proof seems to also clean my gear - if I came home from a trip with a really grubby jacket I suppose I might use the wash stuff as well.

Hi, I wash my jacket & ski trousers with Nikwax Tech Wash, which is designed for waterproof & breathable fabric. Every so often, I follow this up with the Nikwax TX Direct Wash In to re-proof the fabric. The Nikwax website has all the necessary information for the different types of outdoor gear you are likely to have.

These products aren't cheap, but I don't use them very often, so think it's worth it to prolong the usefulness of my ski gear.