Gear

Hi everyone,

I am a new member, but have been looking at the forums and website for a while now.

I have a Sprayway TL Orbit jacket (hydro/dry) which is a few years old, which I have just washed and re-proofed (following tips from a thread on here), which involved cleaning the washer, then washing the jacket with soap flakes, then with a liquid detergent (ecover delicate) and then used TX direct wash in, then drip dried and put on the radiator (I don't have a tumble drier), and now my Sprayway jacket wrinkles (looks more like little craters on the surface fabric) when it rains.

What is causing this to happen, has the re-proofing not worked correctly? Or does it require better heat treatment to activate the DWR? I did wash another jacket at the same time (foreign jacket, assumed 3 layer as it has no drop lining) and that seems fine as the water just runs of that one with ease, doesn't wrinkle and feels brand new.

As a side question, I am looking at getting a new waterproof jacket soon anyway, and have my eye on a Berghaus Mera Peak. What are peoples thoughts on this jacket, or can you recommend some others (I have looked at / considered Rab Latok or Mountain Dru, Mountain Equipment Tupilak II (if I can find cheap enough)) which might be worth looking at. The fit for me is important as I'm 6'6" and slim / athletic build so I'm after a fitted / slim jacket (as I hate baggy coats) and need long sleeves. I'm looking at a budget of around £200, at a max £250.

 Thanks

Jep_uk wrote (see)

 washing the jacket with soap flakes, then with a liquid detergent

Um, I would have done these two steps the other way around, because the detergent is good at cleaning but bad for waterproofing. The soap wash would presumably clear out any lingering dirt and detergent, so the DWR treatment will then work correctly...

Anyway, the most important thing is, does your now wrinkly jacket actually keep the rain out? If so, mission accomplished  

I find it hard to get interested in buying normal waterproof shells. They're all good enough these days, so you may as well wait until stuff comes up in sale. Probably a good idea to go try some on first, given that you're inconveniently shaped... Rab probably works okay for you, not sure who else would be good off the top of my head.

Thanks for the reply Serriadh, that was a mistake on my part, but only a typo, I did actually wash in the detergent first now that you mention it, but its been a long week and I'm not functioning correctly .

 It kept the rain out so far, but I've not been in really heavy rain or out in it for a long period of time. Hopefully it will keep me dry (while looking like a homeless guy with my wrinkled jacket and re-grownbeard).

 I've been mainly looking at sale items, as you can usually get a bit more for your money. Its a bit hard to try some on as we don't have a great deal of outdoor shops here in sunny Warrington that have a decent selection of jackets, I had tried the berghaus and was fairly happy with fit, but need to try it again with and without a fleece layer. Quite fancy the Rab jackets as looking at getting the baltoro guide (which the XL fitted very nicely), so would hope that the hard shells had a similar fit, need to find a decent rab stockist near by I think.

Here's a link to Rab's Latok Trek jacket (I saw it on another thread yesterday), stocked only by Cotswold Outdoor, but quite similar to the Latok Alpine. Worth considering, may be, at only£120. If you've tried the XL Baltoro Guide on then that's a good measure of Rab's cut and fit.

However, I think you'll find that the Baltoro Guide is a softshell, so not a direct replacement for your Sprayway hardshell, nor similar to the Mera Peak hardshell or others you mention in your first post.

... and welcome to OM!

I always thought you were supposed to removeall traces of detergent from a machine to prevent the detergent stripping the DWR? (might not be the same with Event fabrics)

Just thought I'd mention itbecause if youre forking out on a new jkt you wont want to be spoiling it!!!

See here http://www.mountain-equipment.co.uk/help_desk/caring_for_your_gear/waterproof_clothing/ for how to clean a Mountain Equipment Jacket for eg

Jep_uk wrote (see)

Hi everyone,

I am a new member, but have been looking at the forums and website for a while now.

I have a Sprayway TL Orbit jacket (hydro/dry) which is a few years old, which I have just washed and re-proofed (following tips from a thread on here), which involved cleaning the washer, then washing the jacket with soap flakes, then with a liquid detergent (ecover delicate) and then used TX direct wash in, then drip dried and put on the radiator (I don't have a tumble drier), and now my Sprayway jacket wrinkles (looks more like little craters on the surface fabric) when it rains.

What is causing this to happen, has the re-proofing not worked correctly? Or does it require better heat treatment to activate the DWR? I did wash another jacket at the same time (foreign jacket, assumed 3 layer as it has no drop lining) and that seems fine as the water just runs of that one with ease, doesn't wrinkle and feels brand new.

My first walking kit (about 1989) was made of hydrodry, and it puckered up when it got wet.

I didn't get on with it, and it never seemed to work properly.

Thinking about it now, I guess the PU layer was absorbing the water, and that there wasn't quite enough for a good hydrostatic head.

@ Craig, there seems to be a lot of confusion regarding washing water proof jackets, with fabric manufacturers and jacket manufacturers recommended different techniques, I did have a good read on many forums regarding the washing, and the method I used seemed to be the most recommended. When my new jacket arrives (assuming it fits well) I will probably only be washing it with Nikwax tech wash (or graingers alternative), but I will be emailing Haglofs and Gore tex to see what they recommend, and I will post up the responses.

@ Jim, I havent been impressed with the Sprayway hydro dry, but it hasnt been looked after that well to be honest.

"I always thought you were supposed to removeall traces of detergent from a machine to prevent the detergent stripping the DWR?" not quite these days as modern DWR is robust stuff. removing all detergent is so you don't get detergent residue on the DWR rather than it actually stripping the DWR (detregent WILL strip, eventually, nikwax proofer). detergent residue will make the fabric wet out quicker.

detergent is the only thing that will shift all the dirt properly (event suggest washing regularly in detergent) - dirt makes the fabric wet out quickly too. if the fabric wets out quickly after washing - and you're sure it isn't dirt -  wash again in soap which will get rid of detergent.

rmember that everytim eyou pick up your pack you smear oil/gunk from your hand onto the strap and from there onto the shoulders of the jacket. i used to think that the abrasion rubbed the dwr off in such places. it turned out just to be dirt/oil/grease/gunk.