Re-waterproofing rain gear?

[SimonSays]

Has anyone tried a spray or any method to re-waterproof their rain gear? I usually use a Columbia jacket I bought about 3 years ago for my snowboarding/skiing/fishing needs, but recently i've notice that it soaks up more water than it repels.  

Any thoughts and ideas would be great guys! thanks!

[AnglerNFuego]

Interesting question.  I know the 5 dollar vinyl Poncho sold at dick's sporting goods work fairly well.  

[SimonSays]

ahh, but it'd be such a waste to toss the columbia jacket =D

[Sam]

Speak to a local dry cleaners and find out if one of them does waterproofing.

I have used those spray cans to waterproof my boat cover and they work OK but not as good as a professional job.  Plus my hand hurt from holding down the spray button.

You may want to check out waterproofing in the Yellow Pages but I would think most of the listings would be for basements and crawlspaces.

Let us know what you find out.

Thanks.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

Many Outerwear garments need conditioning.  Just because it is gore-tex, entrant,or hyvent or some other waterproof material, you have to understand what these things are.

Gore-tex is merely a layer inside the garment.  It looks like tissue paper and is between the hard outer layer and the liner.  The outer layer is treated with a scotch guard type material at the factory.  This is why the rain beads off, NOT because of the gore-tex.

With that said, a scotch guard type treatment needs to be reapplied a few times a yr depending on how often you use it.

Now, if there IS gore-tex inside the garment, you MUST be sure to use a Gore approved treatment as a regular scotch guard treatment has chemicals in it that deteriorate gore-tex.  VERY IMPORTANT!!  There are 4 or 5 different makers of Gore approved treatments.

(pss- NEVER, NEVER use fabric softener or detergents containing them!!!!)

(ps-a gore-tex tip- putting gore-tex garments in the dryer (on low) is actually good for gore-tex.)

For more Gore-tex care and maintenance, read HERE

[RobDar]

depends on the material...columbia makes alot of different jackets.

I used to get this stuff from "Army Navy Surplus" near me before they closed that was for tents etc. It was a gel you rubbed on. It worked pretty well.

The last stuff I got was something a friend of mine had from sierra Nevada or someplace like that...it was just you typical spray on waterproofing. Does not work as well as the gel, but still works okay.

[mayassa]

They sell the stuff at my local ski shop,  I learned my lesson after washing my sons outfit it started to absorb water not repel it.

[bass109]

jackets work

[Wayne P.]

If your jacket is GoreTex, use ReviveX to recondition the outer shell. Just follow the instructions as that product is recommended for GoreTex.

http://www.prolitegear.com/pl_revivex.html