Best DWR?

[givethepigeye]

Have an old pair of Cloudveil RPK pants - great color, full side zips, fit like jeans......but the Water repellent is toast. Nothing beads anymore. Using Nikwax Tx-direct Spray-on after a wash. Any better options out there? Hate to make these my “bluebird only” bottoms

 

[Ron]

Grainger also makes a wash-in treatment.
I have found the NIK-Wax spray to work very well though. I believe you have to spray on and then put in dryer on HIGH.

Those were great pants.

 

[givethepigeye]

Grainger also makes a wash-in treatment.
I have found the NIK-Wax spray to work very well though. I believe you have to spray on and then put in dryer on HIGH.

Those were great pants.

Thanks - I’ll try the Grainger - been doing that process with Nikwax

 

[Heeler]

Thanks - I’ll try the Grainger - been doing that process with Nikwax

I've had great luck with the Granger wash-in. Once a year and my Arc'Teryx beads the elements like new for around thirteen years now.

 

[Poolskier Vinny]

I've used the Nikwax Techwash for washing/cleaning (with extra rinse cycle) process, then once the garments are clean just added the Nikwax TX Direct wash in into the machine and run another cycle (without extra rinse). Once it's finished I'll pop it into the dryer as directed.

I find it's easier and less messy than spray on treatments and have been pleased with the results. (Amazon often has good deals on the twin packs or larger size bottles which are sometimes hard to find locally)

 

[Noodler]

I have used the Granger's spray on repel with good success. I'm highly suspicious of the wash-in based treatments as this is not how the manufacturers apply DWR. Do you really want the insides of your gear to be water repellent? Wouldn't that impact breathability more than a light spray on coat on the outside of the shell? I'm asking, not just rhetorical.

 

[Rich McP]

I have used the Granger's spray on repel with good success. I'm highly suspicious of the wash-in based treatments as this is not how the manufacturers apply DWR. Do you really want the insides of your gear to be water repellent? Wouldn't that impact breathability more than a light spray on coat on the outside of the shell? I'm asking, not just rhetorical.

According to Nikwax and some of the clothing manufacturers: No, wash-in does not create that problem. If you think about it, what you are suggesting - that coating the inside would reduce breataibility - would already have been caused to coating the outside. DWR treatments allow breathability because they coat the threads without plugging the holes between the threads, or the holes in the waterproof membrane (Gore-Tex, or the like). The manufacturers don't want you to use wash-in for insulated or fleese lined garments, but none of the manufacturers of any of the products I own have a problem with wash in for straight shell products.

 

[givethepigeye]

I have used the Granger's spray on repel with good success. I'm highly suspicious of the wash-in based treatments as this is not how the manufacturers apply DWR. Do you really want the insides of your gear to be water repellent? Wouldn't that impact breathability more than a light spray on coat on the outside of the shell? I'm asking, not just rhetorical.

^ this is why I have not used the wash in version in the past. These are pants and Im not skinning anywhere - so would be open to using the wash in for this, but probably not a shell. I don't get too swampy anyway

@Rich McP covered it....nevermind.

 

[Noodler]

According to Nikwax and some of the clothing manufacturers: No, wash-in does not create that problem. If you think about it, what you are suggesting - that coating the inside would reduce breataibility - would already have been caused to coating the outside. DWR treatments allow breathability because they coat the threads without plugging the holes between the threads, or the holes in the waterproof membrane (Gore-Tex, or the like). The manufacturers don't want you to use wash-in for insulated or fleese lined garments, but none of the manufacturers of any of the products I own have a problem with wash in for straight shell products.

The important distinction here then is whether the garment is insulated or not. That's why I don't use wash-in products because all of my current "active" pieces are insulated. I gave up on the use of many layers approach years ago. Too much hassle.

 

[Delicious]

I use Scotchgard here in the PNW. Everything gets washed in Woolite and rinsed 100% prior to spray. My young boys stay dry ALL DAY washing/spraying jackets every ~6 days. The adult gear only gets washed/sprayed every ~10? days. I used to have very affordable access to Nikwax products, and used it a ton. I prefer Scotchgard.

Best "stock DWR" is HANDS DOWN whatever Burton uses on their sub-$200 "Cargo Pant". What IS that stuff?!

 

[Green08]

Gear Aid Revive-X is the third option on the market. Particularly for the washes they are the best priced product out there.

 

[Heeler]

The manufacturers don't want you to use wash-in for insulated or fleese lined garments

Great point that I didn't think to mention. All of my gear are "shells" with adequate to very good venting. Personally I love the option(s) of layering and have it dialed in very well for any given conditions.

I gave up on the use of many layers approach years ago. Too much hassle.

That's one reason I tend to use my gear for so long. There is a bit of a learning curve to get it right consistently.

 

[NE1]

I have had good luck with Camp Dry (recently acquired by Kiwi, apparently) for my skiing, hunting, and hiking stuff; it comes in spray cans for application to dry fabrics and surfaces:

Kiwi Camp Dry Performance Fabric Protector (blue background). I use this on all performance parkas and pants with great results.

Kiwi Camp Dry Heavy Duty Water Repellant Tough Silicone (green background) for leather, canvas and breathable fabrics, etc.

Kiwi Camp Dry Boot Protector Tough Silicone (maroon background) for work and outdoor boots.

That said, I use Sno-Seal on the real-deal heavy duty winter leather boots...

 

[NE1]

I should have mentioned above that I wash my performance fabrics with Nikwax Tech Wash before applying the spray-on.

 

[Slim]

I have been a bit dissapointed in the Nikwax wash in and Spray on, as far as performance and durability.(And I use it many times a year, becasue we have many Paramo garments)
It is hard to know what is better though, since all the other brands have been changing their formulas. A few years ago, many used Fluoro compounds, and those are being pulled from the market for environmental reasons(which is good). It does mean that a brand you loved a few years back, might be different now.

I bought a few bottles of a German brand, becasue one of the German outdoor magazines ran a test of these products, and that one came out best. But, that’s maybe a bit crazy, ordering DWR from Europe

In the past I have liked Grangers.

For I uninsulated shell garments, I vary treatment. First time a washer and dryer cycle is often all that’s needed. Next time it needs a bit of love, I’ll hit shoulders/knees etc with spray on after washing and before dryer. The next time it needs treatment I’ll wash it, do wash-in DWR and dryer. Then back to just washing and drying again, etc.

 

[Slim]

I should have mentioned above that I wash my performance fabrics with Nikwax Tech Wash before applying the spray-on.

Heads up to us all: “multiple rinse“ is often insufficient. Once I put my jacket in the bathtub after washing on a cycle that had several rinses, and foam started forming.
Since then, I use as many rinse cycles as possible on my machine.

 

[Tom K.]

Heads up to us all: “multiple rinse“ is often insufficient. Once I put my jacket in the bathtub after washing on a cycle that had several rinses, and foam started forming.
Since then, I use as many rinse cycles as possible on my machine.

Truth, esp in the new, super energy efficient machines. We just moved, and the previous owners gave us theirs at the last minute. We thought it was a major score, but it didn't really clean dirty clothes well, esp mtb poly.

Come to find that the clothes never really get fully immersed, even during the rinse. We went back to slightly less fancy units that allow you to choose your water level manually,......

And, to arrest the drift, Graingers FTW IMO!