Reconditioning rain jacket on a budget
 

My rain jacket is a few years old and the DWR coating is no longer repelling water. I know there are a few commercially available products out there but I am always skeptical of things like that at first. Does anyone have any experience with any of them? Are there other options out there I am unaware of that are more of a cheap homebrew option that works well? I am not super concerned with keeping the jacket "breathable" as I mostly use this when commuting and I really do not push very hard so sweating is not a real problem.

You want the breathe-abe , or the water proof, the most?

I use the Nikwax Techwash and TX wash in. The idea they advertise is that the wash cleans the garment without compromising any existing water repellency/proofness. Then the wash in treatment basically applies a new layer of DWR all over the garments. As far as I can tell, also given the name of the company, it's some kind of low temp wax that embeds in the fabric, you can't tell it's there after the application but in my experience it works well. It does seem a bit pricey for the number of applications you get out of one bottle though. But I haven't used anything else because it was recommended to me and I've been satisfied so far. I wouldn't waste your time with the spray-on stuff from any company. I'm also curious to hear about any "homebrew" options...

http://www.rei.com/product/783563/ni...rwear-care-kit

Looks like it's just a couple bucks cheaper on Amazon, but if you buy from REI and don't like it, at least you can get your money back.

Techwash is a liquid soap. You can use any soap but not detergent. You can buy liquid soap in UK supermarkets. I have made a soap solution by dissolving soap gratings into boiling water.
Clean off all the road gunk and wash in TX Direct wash-in.
On a nylon-based waterproof it will last for a while but will wear off.

I've not not used it, but in another thread people recommended this product.
http://www.mcnett.com/gearaid/spray-...pellent#362211

I recently got a little tub of SNO-seal (beeswax-based leather waterproofer) to treat a saddle, and now I'm wondering what else I can use the rest of it on. What would it do to a nylon windbreaker? Or a cotton shell?

More likely as cotton will absorb it, so waxing cotton will be better, and is a 100+ year old practice.

Waxed cotton is Hip again..

Not really concerned with "breathable" much at all. I would love it if it was waterproof enough that even after an hour plus in heavy rain little to no water would get through. I ride easy enough on my commute I do not sweat much if any.

My one concern though, my jacket is bright yellow and I would love it if the coating would not change that much.

Nikwax TX spray is what they sell at REI. It worked for me but I wouldn't be surprised if there's something cheaper out there.

I've used Plastidip, the stuff that you coat tool handles with ... as a recoating for my Cordura Bags.
when the mill coating wore off on the inside..

I suspect you can find it in yellow and then paint it on the outside.

I myself went over to a thickly PVC coated fabric made into a Rain Cape.
the breathability is zero.. but as it's not clinging to my body, there is sufficient ventilation
coming in from underneath..

Grundens of Sweden.. makers of the foul weather gear fishermen wear at sea.
Rivendale Bike got them to make the capes they sell .. using their seam welding production machinery.

Grundens themselves make jackets.. and Bib overalls
http://www.grundens.com/index.php?op...d=18&Itemid=80

If it lasts longer than a few weeks $15 could be fair to pay. I tried one of the spray on treatments that did not seem to do much of anything after the first couple rides with the jacket in rain. Does it seem to last a reasonable amount of time for you?

Looking at the TX video, I did learn that a dirty jacket could be causing the DWR to not work properly. Going to clean the jacket and hope that helps.

It seemed to. But I used it on ski gear so it's probably not being stressed as much.

Unless someone happens to have a good homebrew solution that is cheaper, I will probably go that route and see how it does then. I am willing to throw $15 at trying to make an expensive jacket work well again.

snow does stay on the surface where rain seeps through ..

Many high-tech materials are effectively a consumable - this post may be the equivalent of asking how to sharpen a disposable razor. Given that it sounds like you're not too worried about the boil-in-the-bag effect of cheap jackets - I'd check prices on replacement jackets before blowing too much money on what could be semi-effective short-lived reproofing chemicals. With a replacement jacket you end up with new zips, velcro, stitching etc.

non breathable, coated, fabrics can make cheaper jackets ..

OP may have, just, a wind breaker , now..


As I said .. cycle rain cape , is my ace in the hole, on the Coast..

where we got a 3 inch-day, winter squall coming ashore .. a week ago

I've used Revivex. It's somewhere around $10 a bottle that will treat perhaps two garments. You wash your garment, spritz the product onto the garment while it's still moist from the wash, then dry it on very mild heat in the dryer. It works but also wears off eventually and you'll need to re-treat.

Danny