I've got 'new jacket' paranoia, and noticed that my new Rab eVent is wetting out were my rucsac straps would sit, and has almost gone translucent in some areas.
Is this just the effects of lots of sweat/oil getting compressed into the material? I've washed it twice with Techwash or something equivalent, and it doesn't seem to be leaking, so should I worry about it?
Rab Drillium perchance? Mine is worn out, not waterproof anymore but that was three years of continual use and scrunching it up in a bag a fair bit. Great jacket though...
Nah, the Latok Alpine. Thinking about it, it probably has just gummed up with sweat or grease or something, but it was never going to breathe very well through the material and some great fat rucsac straps anyway, so no harm done.
Doesnt sound like a problem, other than what you have noticed. The perspiration wont pass through jacket material and the depth of the rucsac strap. Wetting out occurs when the DWR (water repellent coating) on the face fabric wears off. Its designed to. When this wears off water/rain soaks into the face fabric, but not through the waterproof material itself. I.e. event, goretex etc. This will result a water barrier impeeding the perspiration management and you will get a damp inside to the jacket. Sweat wont make a difference realy as long as you care for it properly. Like using nikwax, as you have.
Note that washing it with TechWash doesn't do anything positive for the waterproofness - it's just "less bad" than using ordinary detergent.
To renew the DWR, you need to use a specific water-repellency product, either spray-on or wash-in. A bit of heat (e.g. tumble-dry, cool iron) is also useful depending on the type of membrane/DWR. Neither should be necessary with a new jacket though.
I duuno if this helps = but my event (dhb) jacket has been through the wars with a backpack on and the only signs of wear / use are the outer seams are parting company with the fabric. There is no obvious signs of where the backpack straps are - backpack always used. This is on a jacket about 2 years old, maybe twice a week throughout the year. My care instructions are to wash "often" - warm dry or iron (I take as tumble on a low setting).
You must log in to post.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
