Sorry if this is a FAQ, I'm new to OM, as I usually spend my time on bikemagic. I have owned a berghaus mera peak gortex jacket for 13 years or so. The fabric is still in good nick, and the shell is still perfectly intact. However, along the way it has been washed with normal washing powder, and has pretty much lost a lot of it's water repellancy. I have tried grangers and nicwax re-proofing sprays and wash-in treatments, but the arms, which are made of lighter material just don't bead water, although the heavier fabric on the shoulders is OK.

I notice some companies, like Lancashire Sport Repairers, will reproof garments for 30 quid. Has anybody used this service, or can recommend anything similar? I hate to give up on this jacket, as the shell is still servicable, and a new one is a lot of dosh, so I don't mind spending £30, if it works. Ideally, I'd like to restore the jacket before the winter season, when I'll be wearing it, rather than my paclite.

Dylan,

After washing with normal detergent you need to wash it again in a pure soap cleaner, either soap flakes or Nikwax Tech Wash.

This will remove the residudes left by the normal detergent which prevent the DWR from working properly.

Then you apply the DWR which hopefully will work now.

Good luck.

To speak of "reproofing" a membrane-based jacket like a Goretex one is incorrect: the waterproofness comes from the membrane, which can't be replaced (AFAIK).

It is possible to replace the external water repellancy coating (DWR), so that rain bounces off the surface of the jacket and never reaches the actual waterproof membrane underneath. Even if the DWR is toally gone, the jacket will still be waterproof, just nowhere near as breathable.

Since this can be done as well at home as "professionally" for rather less than 30 quid I can't see the point shelling out for someone else to do it?

As an aside: it seems to me that manufacturers could do with putting much more effort into enhancing water repellancy and finding a way of making it last for the lifetime of the garment?

How different in breathability is a totally wetted out Goretex jacket and a plastic mac? ;)

maybe its me and i'm just a really sweatty person, but personally i don't find any breathable fabric that breathable! yet somehow i just keep buying them. it stated when i was in the army with the`gortex' kit they suplied which was ok and a little better than conventional waterproofs. since then i've tried them all from the extreamly cheap (and extreamly permiable) to the extreamly expensive and very waterproof. Yet all without exception don't allow the sweat to evaporate when i'm exercising! although the good stuff does dry out extreamly quickly when i take it off. so its up to you but personally i wash detergent free on a very low temp and find that its still waterproof , (depending on cost! see earlier)and a bit cleaner ,ie the muds off but i'm afraid the stains stay.