waterproof gear

[matchan]

What do you use?

Do you need to treat it to keep it waterproof?

The reason I ask is that I've a Joe Rocket Ballistic jacket which was great for about 8 months, commuted through some absolute downpours and it was totally waterproof, for the last couple of months though it's been progressively leakier. It doesn't leak at the seams though, the *tex fabric seems to actually get absorb water which it transfers inside. I've recently treated it with a hiking product (can't remember the name) but it hasn't really been wet since I did it, in the few short showers I've ridden through the water seems to be beading on the surface an running off, but it hasn't really been wet enough to test thoroughly.

So what's your experience?

Cheers
Matt

[jimszx14]

nikwax tx.direct spray on, worked well on my old dririder.

[dave#3]

My experience has been that everything leaks, and these days I've decided I'd rather get wet from the outside when it rains than wet from the inside wearing wet-weather gear

[Glen]

My Dririder Nordic 4 Jacket is really good and I wear a cheapo pair of plastic pants which also work really well. But then I've never found boots that don't leak or gloves either. The Dririders keeps you dry for ages then a little water gets in along the front zipper.

Daves right though, you ride bikes in the rain you get wet. For short trips my gear is OK but anything over a half hour or so gives it a workout.

[waynemorgan]

I use spray on lanolin for my leathers - leave them in the sun to warm them up, spray the lanolin on, leave till sticky then buff off. Seems to work fine. I also have an RST 1 piece rain suit which is excellent and only cost $80. Fits over the leathers nicely.

When I was commuting I used my RJays textiles - removable waterproof liner which actually works. Ridden in some downpours with them and stayed dry. Good in frosty cold winter and hot summer.

[smithy5]

When it looks like rain I just use this big metal thingy called a car

[wilf]

I have read that dirt and grime from the road that get stuck to your jacket can/will affect its waterproofing. Some people reckon if you give it a good wash (please take care on what the jacket instructions are on washing) they become good as new.

Maybe worth a shot?

[Ratmick]

When I bought my Goretex Tiger Angel stuff from the factory they said to wash it and dry it in the tumble drier to reset the waterproofing. They also tried selling me something to wash it in every now and again, but I can't remember what it was...

Got to love Wikipedia:

As dirt - and even human sweat - will block the pores that allow Gore-Tex to breathe, clothing that uses it should be kept clean for best performance, as well as hygiene and appearance reasons.
Both wear and cleaning will reduce the performance of Gore-Tex clothes by wearing away the Durable Water Repellent (DWR) treatment on the surface of the fabric. The DWR prevents the face fabric from becoming wet and thus reducing breathability. However, the DWR is not responsible for the jacket being waterproof. This is a common misconception, so when the face fabric becomes soaked due to an absence of DWR, there is no breathability and the wearer's sweat will cause condensation to form inside the jacket. This may give the appearance that a jacket is leaking when is not, but the DWR is still crucial to the best performance of any membrane-based waterproof. It can be reinvigorated by tumble drying the garment or ironing on a low setting. If this does not work, re-proofing the garment with a wash-in re-proofer can again add water repellency to the face fabric.

What he said .

My Goretex-lined Alpinestars boots are 100% waterproof IF I am wearing the Tiger Anger pants and jacket. If I am wearing Draggins or my leather jacket they just fill up with water .

My Dririder gloves are pretty good, but get damp and clammy when exposed to a lot of water.

I've been stuck in torrential rain. If I am wearing the right gear all that gets wet are my cuffs and the collar of my shirt. If I am not wearing the right gear then you can't get any wetter even if you were in the shower naked.

Mick

[Strika]

My Dririder Nordic 4 Jacket is really good and I wear a cheapo pair of plastic pants which also work really well. But then I've never found boots that don't leak or gloves either. The Dririders keeps you dry for ages then a little water gets in along the front zipper.

Daves right though, you ride bikes in the rain you get wet. For short trips my gear is OK but anything over a half hour or so gives it a workout.

I disagree with you and Dave entirely. As some know, up until last year, I was doing 60,000klms a year touring up and down the east coast and hills from Melbourne to Sydney to Brisbane and surrounds. I rode in all types of weather. Yes, some gear didn't work, but, a lot did!

Technic Labirynth Jacket worked a treat and never leaked not even on days where it rained all day!

BMW Pro Rally II Suit, never leaks, not even on days where it is wet all day. It also doesn't feel like a sauna when it warms up.

Dianese Goretex gloves, Never leak. (If worn correctly, despite what some say, if you want your gloves to remain dry, then place them inside the jacket sleeve, not the outside. If it is on the outside, water runs down the jacket sleeve and into the inside of the glove. If it is wrapped around the outside of the glove, then the water runs off the outside of the waterproof liner.)

Alpine Star Goretex boots. Stay dry on days where it is wet all day.........for about two years, then they need replacing.

[UncleChopChop]

Who's scared of a bit of water? Just HTFU and ride in your T-shirt and jeans you homos-sexual. Fucken poofs prancing around in their Sufari Suits too prissy to get a bit wet.

Regards

UCC

[swearbear9r]

..................+1

[Six Addict]

good quality textile gear is the go... i was probably the driest at bairnsdale on the way back

i have ixon climber pants and ixon sismic flash jacket

[gpxpunk]

weird my joe rocket ballastic jacket has seen some really heavy down pours last year and it still is going strong, no leaks at all and is really really warm. love it, but its way to big now lol.

[matchan]

weird my joe rocket ballastic jacket has seen some really heavy down pours last year and it still is going strong, no leaks at all and is really really warm. love it, but its way to big now lol.

yeah, mine was good for about 15 months, now it's pretty much useless unless i need a sponge.

[gpxpunk]

lmao!
ill be getting rid of mine soon anyways, i wont have a bike to ride so off it goes.