Restoring Gore-Tex?

[8x57 Mauser]

The raingear thread on the hunting forum got me thinking:

I don't have much dough to replace the camo raincoat I have now, but the Gore-Tex no longer does its job.

I'd like to extend the useful life of that jacket a bit - at least make it good for day trips where I don't have to try and dry out in a tent at night.

So, what do folks recommend to restore the waterproofness of Gore-Tex?

And is "waterproofness" a word? Waterproofity? Waterproofitude? Waterproofocity?...

 

[WinMag]

try this

try this

If the stuff has been damaged and or the seam seals have failed I think you are out of luck... I know that standard detergents cause all sorts of problems with breathable fabrics... I've read (somewhere) that normal laundry detergents cause a reverse wicking because they do not fully rinse out....

I use Sportswash and it keeps a fabric's breatheability intact, does not add UV brightners and so and so forth... I don't know that it will "fix" broken gortex but if the problem is associated with detergents that have failed to FULLY rinse then use some Sportswash...

 

[ptarmigan]

Restoring Gore-Tex

Restoring Gore-Tex

Go to www.gore-tex.com and click on "care". It is quite simple. I just did it the other day on my flyfishing jacket and it brought it back to life, the water runs off of it like it is new. The coating on the outside of the jacket is very important and by taking a few simple steps you bring right around. Gore-tex is great, but like most things people dont know how to properly care for it, or know its limitations. A couple day fishing trip, its great. A week in the rain beating the brush would be pushing it. Good Luck!

 

[The Cleaner]

My jacket is in the same shape as yours. It quit working real well after a couple of years and left me pretty wet at one point. Last winter I treated it with Granger's G Line and it seemed to bead the water up once, but after a thorough soaking this weekend I've concluded the jacket is a goner.

Good luck. I got a lotta, lotta use out of my Northface Mountain Lite and will buy another one, but raingear it aint.

 

[Brian M]

Go to REI or AMH and buy the NikWax that's designed for gore-tex jackets. That stuff is amazing!

-Brian

 

[6XLeech]

REI Expert Advice...good info

REI Expert Advice...good info

I have used some of those tech wash products - with good results - because they were recommended by Marmot, which made the pants I bought a year or two ago. But I also have a lot of stuff, waterproof or water-resistant clothing that needs washing from time to time and found myself buying larger and larger supplies of tech wash. Now, I just keep a box of unscented powder detergent in the laundry room instead and use that, which is consistent with advice from REI and Simms for waterproof garments. GoreTex likes to be clean because oil from our skin and dirt interfere with the function of fabric micropores. All my stuff still functions fine outdoors.

REI Expert Advice: Washing Gore Tex Outerwear:
http://www.rei.com/expertadvice/articles/washing+goretex+outerwear.html

Simms wader care and maintenance:
http://www.simmsfishing.com/site/repairs_main_new.html

The Simms site mentions using Revivex or other water repellant treatment. When I asked the Simms rep about this at McAfee's one day, he wasn't so keen on this. He explained that though the waders might "wet out", and appear wet, that the waterproofness... wasn't significantly better with these treatments. Indeed, that's what the REI site says in the fine print.

 

[ytlogger]

One thing I can say for sure is, do not hang your new gore-tex raincoat on the, apparently dormant, motion sensor light outside the back door.

 

[MarineHawk]

Go to REI or AMH and buy the NikWax that's designed for gore-tex jackets. That stuff is amazing!

-Brian

Do you use the spray-on or wash-in versions or both? How much does it take per jacket/pants?

 

[blackfoot]

Just keep in mind you can do NOTHING to restore the Gore-Tex. It will always leak after a while. The specs alone say it. When you are spraying something or treating the outside of the fabric, it's just putting a layer of repellent on the fabric that will help bead up water to roll of the fabric. The Gore-Tex is a laminated layer under the fabric.

 

[Mr. Pid]

I use Nikwax spray-on on my Gore stuff and there's no question that it helps. I spray it on before the garment goes into the dryer. Iron with a medium hot iron when it comes out of the dryer and it works even better. Revivex spray-on works, too.

 

[Alasken]

Gotta love Gore-Tex. It works great until it starts leaking.

 

[Mr. Pid]

I do love Gore Tex. It's made outdoor activities safe and comfortable. I routinely go places and do things I couldn't dream of 30 years agp, and much of the reason is the incredible gear we have available to us. For you guys who continue to recite the stereotypical complaints? The market's wide open. Make something better.

 

[Alasken]

I do love Gore Tex. It's made outdoor activities safe and comfortable. I routinely go places and do things I couldn't dream of 30 years agp, and much of the reason is the incredible gear we have available to us. For you guys who continue to recite the stereotypical complaints? The market's wide open. Make something better.

Well, I'm not in the outdoor clothing business, I use Gore-Tex too. I thought I was making a joke. Note the above.

 

[Mr. Pid]

My bad. Sorry.