The Outdoor Industry's Dirty Secret - How to Stay Dry Backpacking, by MyLifeOutdoors on YouTube. 5 min 2 s.
- Video length
- 5 min 2 s
- Time to do it
- 45 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Learn the sign of wet out. Water no longer beads on the outside of the fabric and the surface turns dark and soaked, so the jacket feels clammy inside even though it is not leaking.
Know why it happens. Dirt, body oils, sweat, sunscreen and abrasion clog the durable water repellent finish, so the outer fabric starts absorbing water instead of shedding it.
Test the finish before you treat it. Flick a little water on the shoulder or sleeve. If it beads and rolls off, the DWR is fine. If it soaks in, it needs attention.
Wash the item with Nikwax Tech Wash instead of normal detergent. Use the dose on the bottle, run a gentle cycle, and zip up pockets and main zips first.
Rinse the garment well. Run an extra rinse cycle so no cleaner is left in the fabric, and never add fabric softener or bleach.
Tumble dry the item on low heat for about 20 to 30 minutes. The warmth reactivates the existing DWR finish, which is often enough to bring the beading back.
Re-proof if water still soaks in. Use a wash-in waterproofing product for the whole garment, or a spray-on treatment for the outside only, following the bottle instructions.
Test again with a splash of water, then pack the jacket for your next trip. Repeat the wash and re-proof whenever the surface stops beading.
Tips and common mistakes
Never wash technical rain gear with regular laundry detergent, because it leaves residue that attracts water.
Wash your rain gear a few times a season, since a clean jacket beads water far better than a dirty one.
Wet out does not mean the jacket leaks. Check for actual leaks at the seams before you replace it.
Treat tents, rain covers and tarps the same way, but check the care label before tumble drying them.
Questions
Does wet out mean my jacket is leaking?
No. The waterproof membrane is usually still working. The outer fabric has soaked through and stopped letting vapour out, so you feel damp from sweat and condensation.
How often should I reapply DWR?
Reapply when water stops beading on the surface, which is often every few months of regular use. Wash and tumble dry first, since heat alone fixes many cases.
Can I use a normal washing machine?
Yes, a front-loading machine on a gentle cycle is fine. Avoid top loaders with a central agitator, and skip detergent, softener and bleach.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
