Feel around the inside of the fabric behind the dark patches. Does it feel wet? If that’s the case (and you’re sure it’s not just sweat), it’s probably water seeping through and your jacket or pants need a fresh DWR application.
A note about wetting after heavy rain: Even new, hard-shell jackets can get wet after a prolonged heavy downpour. So if you see dark, wet patches after a long time in a storm, that’s not must which means you need a new DWR overlay. Do a little detective work to find out for sure. After you bring your clothes home and have a chance to dry, use a spray bottle full of water to spray the clothes to see if any moisture remains. If it happens again, it’s time for more DWR.
Clean clothes first
Wash your clothes before re-watering to remove body oils and old dirt. It will help the new DWR coating adhere better to the fabric. Purchase a cleaning product specifically made for outdoor technical clothing, such as Nikwax Tech Wash, although you can use a small amount of regular laundry detergent instead.
You’ll want to wash these separately from your usual outdoor clothes. Then you’re ready to apply the DWR treatment. You have two options here: spray or spray.
How to apply DWR Spray-On
For spray options, there are Gear Aid ReviveX Spray, Grangers Performance Repel Plus Spray, and Nikwax TX.Use direct spray.
Whichever you choose, take it outside to apply — it’s not good to inhale this substance. Just hang your clothes on an outdoor hanger, zip the front and close the pockets and spray the outside of your jacket or pants.
One spray is enough to waterproof an outfit — that is, a jacket and a pair of pants. In my experience, there’s only a decent amount, so don’t waste it spraying any particular spot on your clothes for too long. If you have leftovers after you’re done, apply it to areas of heavy wear, such as shoulders, armpits, and the crotch/upper thigh area.
How to Apply DWR Wash-In
Typically, you’ll want to use the DWR wash treatment in a top or front load washing machine set to a gentle, warm water cycle, but refer to the bottle of the product you’re using. Your best choice is Gear Aid ReviveX Wash-In, Grangers Repel Wash-In, and Nikwax TX.Direct Wash-In.
If you don’t have a washing machine, you can use the product by hand with a sink or bucket of warm water and wear gloves. Some DWR treatments instruct you to follow up by tossing the garment in the dryer set on a low heat cycle to seal in the coating. Just check the instructions on the bottle of what you’re using first.
How long will it last?
Complications of DWR do not persist with factory-applied treatment. There’s no way around it: You’ll have to get used to having your raincoat checked before your trip and reapplying the DWR if necessary. High impact areas like shoulders and armpits experience more wear and tear, and these areas tend to lose their waterproof coating sooner than others.
DWR treatments have, for a long time, used long-chain perfluorocarbons (PFCs) that create toxic by-products during manufacturing and are released into the environment as the product wears out. The DWR treatments we recommend — ReviveX, Grangers, and Nikwax — use flour-free formulations. While you might balk at the idea of putting more synthetic chemicals into your equipment, these treatments increase the life of your clothes many times over, creating less waste over time.
The more you use the garment, the faster the DWR coating wears off. But there is no limit to how many times you can reapply for DWR. As long as the garment is intact, you can continue to waterproof it for years to come and save yourself a few hundred dollars’ worth of rain gear.
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