Richard Gear's Latest Answers

Q: I own a waterproof shell jacket from The North Face - I can't remember it's name - it's been brilliant for about a year but it started to get saturated when it rained. I proofed it for the first time with a Storm proofer - Protector Plus I believe - but it still 'wets out' and doesn't give me the beaded look anymore! Can you help?! ?

A: For one week only, no silly intro. As you've discovered, with use the factory applied DWR - Durable Water Repellant - treatment wears off and allows water to saturate the outer layer of the jacket. When this happens, your jacket will stop breathing effectively and probably leave you damp from condensation forming inside the jacket.

As you've noticed, the obvious sign of this is that water no longer beads and runs off the surface of the fabric. You're on the right path using a reproofer, but for the process to be effective, you do need to be quite thorough...
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Q: My North Face Bullfrog is 12 years old and in great shape ....... Ok the ground sheet leaks like a sieve, I proofed it in the summer,(nikwax spray on) its first trip out we ended up sleeping on a survival bag cut in half as a groundsheet. What can I reproof it with that will make it watertight again or do I really need to replace it now which I don't want to do. ?

A: Groundsheets have a tough life, crawled on, rubbed against abrasive ground and generally subjected to pressure and dampness on a regular basis as well as being folded and unfolded. Most use a PU coating to stop water from getting in, however with extended use, this will eventually leak.

Given that your tent is 12 years old, I suspect that replacing the groundsheet won't be a particularly sensible solution as other parts of the tent will inevitably be getting tired as well - the fly, for example, will likely have suffered from UV degradation....
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Q: What's the best boot for moderate hiking?

A: I've said this before a number of times, but there really is no 'best boot' out there, simply the boot which is best for you as an individual and here's why:

Everyone has different shaped feet, some people have narrow heels with a broad forefoot, some people have very wide feet all round, some people have flat wide feet, some people have, well, you get the picture.

Different boot makers produce their boots to fit an artificial foot called a last. Every company has a different last . ... '
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