Gore Top renewing waterproofing

CiB

It's rained a bit lately; my Gore Cycling Top (this one) seems unable to cope so for the last few rides I've ended up with soaking arms where the top has soaked up water rather than disperse it. Not a big problem in itself but it means that it's still wet by the time I go home, and that's not so good.

It's a couple of years old, has been through a few 30 washes. Any tips & guidance from the collective genius herein about renewing its water repellant properties?

spasypaddy

thats not a waterproof top...

rjsterry

Indeed. Description doesn't even say water-resistant.

FWIW, I wonder whether anything that you could comfortably cycle in would hold out the rain we've had in the last few days.

greg66_tri_v2.0

Go here http://www.gorebikewear.co.uk/remote/Sa ... r-_Phantom

and Gore will tell owners that it resists "all but the worst downpours".

CiB - there are some care instructions linked from that page. FWIW, I'd suggest a good clean and some waterproofing spray/wash-in product. The more you can ensure water droplets run off it, the less chance it has to get waterlogged.

ToeKnee

GoreTex washing instructions/care

jds_1981

'Should put anything 'waterproof' through the machine. Hand wash with water only (or specialised wash if you're about to put new waterproofing on it.)

See
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/nikwax-tech-was ... h_Wash_300

greg66_tri_v2.0

ToeKnee wrote:

GoreTex washing instructions/care

It's not Gore Tex though. And Gore says not to tumble dry it, which is one of the usual thing to do with Gore Tex to restore proofing.

veronese68

I have another Gore windproof jacket and I use Nikwax wash in reproofer. Seems to work quite well for a bit, never quite the same as when new though.

CiB

Thanks for various replies. I'll check tonight if that is my top; it matches the look & approximate cost but it may not be the one. Regardless, when it was new water didn't penetrate, it rolled off in the way that it does off real waterproofed materials. Maybe it was just being new that did it but from memory I'm sure it was sold as a rain-proof top.

Not a big issue. Rain is rain. It doesn't hurt; I'd rather not have to put wet togs back on.

MonkeyMonster

if its gore then heat works best to restore the waterproof weave, if not then chemicals my lad.

bails87

MonkeyMonster wrote:

if its gore then heat works best to restore the waterproof weave, if not then chemicals my lad.

Are you talking about the brand Gore, or the material GoreTex?

I've been tumble drying mine to refresh the waterproofing.....just found out that was wrong. I might reproof it and give it a very cool iron this weekend as it's also gone into 'soak up' rather than 'roll off' mode.

MonkeyMonster

bails87 wrote:

MonkeyMonster wrote:

if its gore tex then heat works best to restore the waterproof weave, if not then chemicals my lad.

Are you talking about the brand Gore, or the material GoreTex?

I've been tumble drying mine to refresh the waterproofing.....just found out that was wrong. I might reproof it and give it a very cool iron this weekend as it's also gone into 'soak up' rather than 'roll off' mode.

my bad in missing out the tex - figured not giving it the capital G would make it obvious - plus in my head I saw it as gore tex

sashmo

I washed mine with this: http://www.wiggle.co.uk/nikwax-tech-wash-1-litre/ followed by this: http://www.wiggle.co.uk/nikwax-tx-direc ... n-1-litre/ and it did the trick. Water rolls off like when I got it out of the packet.

optimisticbiker

I have the Phantom (removable sleeves - there another similar without removable ones) and mine's about 2y old as well. Its not advertised as waterproof but windproof (windstopper). However it keeps showers off, but mine was drenched yesterday. I've used the stuff you use for proofing suede shoes. hang it on a hanger and give it a light coating. Didnt seem to affect its properties, but does wash out after a few washes. I always hang mine on a clothes horse to dry after washing and it dries in a few hours. At work it takes a while longer in the coat cupboard so i usually hang it on the window by my desk if its that wet. Normally nearly dry by home time.

vorsprung

Proper water proof Gore coats have a lifetime guarantee on the waterproofness

In your case you could try spraying the outer surface with tx-direct, this is available as a spray on

bails87

I washed my Gore Phantom with nikwax tech wash and reproofed straight after with the wash in stuff,then gave it a light iron and it's back to beading like a boss.

madtam

Waterproof goretex material does not rely on water beading up on the surface, it is an impermeable to water material. Usually the goretex membrane layer is either sandwiched between an inner and outer material to protect it, or it might be laminated to an outer material only. It is waterproof but also breathable in that moisture vapour can pass through it (usually from the inside to the outside as the inside is warmer and wetter so that vapour is driven through the membrane). If the outside is completely saturated then it will struggle to transmit water vapour and the inside is likely to get wet through condensation.
If it is goretex material then as mentioned goretex do give a guarantee but there are specific washing instructions and putting through a standard wash in a washing machine using any detergent is definitely out. The detregent will ruin the breathability of the material.
If it isn't goretex material then it mioght well rely on external surface treatments to bead up and repel the water in which case tumble drying or cool ironing can help. Otherwise reproofing chemicals either washed in or sprayed on will help.

rhext

You could try this:

http://www.grangers.co.uk/product.cfm?c ... roductid=6

I usually use a softshell for winter rides and they're not really that waterproof though. They keep the worst out if it's not absolutely chucking it down, and keep you (fairly) warm even when it is...as long as you're working hard that is. I suspect that if you want true waterproofing, you're going to have to invest in a new jacket.

bails87

Madtam: It's not Goretex, it's a jacket made by Gore. Confusing, I know!

Headhuunter

madtam wrote:

Waterproof goretex material does not rely on water beading up on the surface, it is an impermeable to water material. Usually the goretex membrane layer is either sandwiched between an inner and outer material to protect it, or it might be laminated to an outer material only. It is waterproof but also breathable in that moisture vapour can pass through it (usually from the inside to the outside as the inside is warmer and wetter so that vapour is driven through the membrane). If the outside is completely saturated then it will struggle to transmit water vapour and the inside is likely to get wet through condensation.
If it is goretex material then as mentioned goretex do give a guarantee but there are specific washing instructions and putting through a standard wash in a washing machine using any detergent is definitely out. The detregent will ruin the breathability of the material.
If it isn't goretex material then it mioght well rely on external surface treatments to bead up and repel the water in which case tumble drying or cool ironing can help. Otherwise reproofing chemicals either washed in or sprayed on will help.

I've got a Gore Tex jacket and was told that using a specific washing liquid and then tumble drying would be the best option so I think heat helps restore Gore Tex breathability and waterproofing too. However I haven't got a tumble dryer but was told to wash it and then dry it with a hair dryer. Wish I hadn't bothered though as the washing doesn't seem to have removed the grime from round the collar and cuffs and it does seem to have affected the waterproofing... If I were you I wouldn't bother washing Gore Tex unless you really, really have to.... The jacket I bought is red so dirt shows up round the cuffs particularly (it's 6 years old now), I've bought a new Gore Tex jacket which is black so it shouldn't show the dirt!

Headhuunter

rhext wrote:

You could try this:

http://www.grangers.co.uk/product.cfm?c ... roductid=6

I usually use a softshell for winter rides and they're not really that waterproof though. They keep the worst out if it's not absolutely chucking it down, and keep you (fairly) warm even when it is...as long as you're working hard that is. I suspect that if you want true waterproofing, you're going to have to invest in a new jacket.

That's the brand I used on my jacket...

mudcow007

aye all my berghaus jackets are goretex an they get treated to a yearly "nikwax"

horrible stuff though, i normally do mine in the bath an just let the jackets wallow in it for a hour or three.

you hands will feel like crap after you touched the fluid though, washing up liquid removes it

enjoy

Headhuunter

bails87 wrote:

Madtam: It's not Goretex, it's a jacket made by Gore. Confusing, I know!

Are Gore and Gore Tex 2 different companies? That's confusing, I'm surprised that the first 1 to use the name didn't sue the 2nd for breach of trademark or something!

mudcow007

Headhuunter wrote:

bails87 wrote:

Madtam: It's not Goretex, it's a jacket made by Gore. Confusing, I know!

Are Gore and Gore Tex 2 different companies? That's confusing, I'm surprised that the first 1 to use the name didn't sue the 2nd for breach of trademark or something!

same company different products i believe

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