Waterproofing

What is DWR and why does it wear off?

DWR stands for durable water repellent, a treatment applied to the outer face fabric of your jacket and pants. It is what makes water bead up and roll off rather than sit on the surface.

It wears off through abrasion and dirt, and when it goes the face fabric wets out. The outer fabric soaks through and stops breathing, so you feel damp and clammy even though the waterproof membrane underneath is working perfectly. Most people assume the jacket has failed at that point. Usually it just needs reproofing.

Spray-on or wash-in?

Spray-on treats the outer face only, which is what you want on jackets and pants where the inside should stay untreated. Wash-in goes through the whole garment in the machine and suits gloves, base layers and anything where all-over repellency helps.

For most outerwear the reliable combination is a technical wash followed by a spray-on DWR.

How do you reproof a jacket properly?

Clean it first with a technical wash. This step is not optional. Regular laundry detergent leaves residue that actively kills breathability, and reproofing over a dirty garment does not work.

Apply the DWR to a clean, damp garment, then activate it with low heat, either a warm tumble dry or a cool iron through a cloth. Follow the product instructions, because activation temperature varies between products.

When should you reproof?

When water stops beading and starts soaking in, and the fabric looks dark and wet in patches rather than shedding it. Most riders reproof once or twice a season depending on how hard they ride.

Doing it before the season starts is a far easier habit than discovering the problem halfway through a trip.

Buying waterproofing products in Australia

Nikwax and more, across proofing treatments and technical cleaning products. Free shipping on orders over $90, with same and next-day dispatch from Melbourne.

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