UKH

Would appreciate some advice from the collective.

The offending item is a Marmot GoreTex Active waterproof which I've had for 5 years. About a year ago I re-proofed with a spray-on solution. Followed all the instructions (am used to re-proofing jackets but usually a wash-in). However this time having done everything including wiping off the excess, the jacket was covered in white marks all over the place after drying. Different sizes and shapes. Not only that the jacket started wetting out everywhere.

I Tech Washed it, put neat Tech Wash on, repeatedly treated it. Did everything I could, washed it several times. Grangers were incredibly helpful and suggested I wash the jacket to get rid of the DWR, then start over again. I did this and it helped a bit.

In a recent hoolie in the Lakes the jacket didn't just wet out, I think it may have leaked at the top front. I can't replicate this however. But this thing wets out in random areas within a minute of rain. I can't see any holes / problems with the outer fabric / holes in the GoreTex or any delamination but it just doesn't work like it should. No other jackets have ever done this.

Obviously I could send to LSR for their excellent reproofing and it's cheaper than another waterproof, but it's whether spending that money would be better invested into a new similar hardshell. Any advice? Cheers!

What is the actual problem you have. You say it leaks?  (at the top front)

DWR is to make the water bead up and fall off to retain breathability longer but in horrible weather even the best DWR the fabric will wet and then breathability will be zero, however Gore-Tex  should not leak if the membrane/seams are intact

If your jacket actually leaks despite washing etc etc, sorry to give bad news but stop wasting time on re-proofing, you are fighting a lost battle because that won't fix a leak

Boil wash it then use it as a windproof .  Well, maybe not boil at 100°C, but you see what I  mean?

Thanks.

Two problems really. One is the wetting out issue which is near instantaneous despite proper care, proper washing and re-proofing. This isn't simply in dire weather, this is very quickly in any rain. It only started doing this after the spray-on was applied.

Second is the possible ingress of water, which has happened in a small area once I believe (hard to tell as it was a slightly miserable cold day) but hasn't done this otherwise.

My issue is really whether to spend the £50 on reproofing from specialists vs investing that into a new jacket.

Ha, yes understood!

Personally, I would prefer to always attempt reproofing first assuming there is nothing visibly wrong with the fabric and I liked the jacket enough to justify.

I’ve always used wash-in rather than spray on (except once and it didn’t work well for me that time) and I’ve got waterproofs many times older than your jacket and still waterproof. Can you try that again before a professional re proofing since you have used wash-ins in the past?

Thanks for your time and advice, yep agreed, especially in these times and wanting to be environmentally sensitive too.

I'd estimate I've tried to reproof the jacket since 'stain-gate' about 5 times using wash-in, including again recently. No visible damage to the fabric in or outside, so I'll give it one more test under the shower (or in fact just stand outside) and then off to LSR.

I've always washed in, long ago many claimed a cool iron helped revitalise water shedding properties. 

You say the jacket is five years old. How much use has it seen and is this its first bout of washing and reproofing? 

Gore-Tex has a tendency to suddenly show symptoms of delamination and other wear when first washed and treated after long-term use and should actually be treated once or twice a year when used frequently, even if it appears to be clean. 

If no care has been taken of the jacket in years, it's better to leave it be and use it until it  falls apart than trying to wash and reproof, as this is very likely to have poor results. 

Ah, sorry, too quick a read, I hadn’t noted you have tried wash-ins again.

Thinking again, it is possible that the membrane has been damaged permanently so spending money on a professional re-proofing would be a waste of money. I remember one of the large brands years ago used to claim use of perfumes, deodorants, air freshener, etc., including hanging jackets in rooms where sprays were used, could affect the fabric membranes detrimentally over time and lead to premature failure.

Sure you will have eliminated usual possible causes, but just in case not - eg fully cleaned the washing machine of any detergent and conditioner remains before doing a Tech Wash wash (or DP liquid soap, etc) followed immediately by a second plain water with re-proofer only wash? Any detergent left behind could in theory affect the re-proofing.

Also, are you using heat of some sort afterwards to “activate” the DWP? The Gore-tex website still has heat treatment included https://www.gore-tex.com/blog/restore-durable-water-repellency-raingear .

Alternatively, what about another make of re-proofer as a long shot? If you have been using Grangers, say, try Nikwax. The later is my go to personally; been using Nikwax for almost as long as it’s been on the market and never had a problem with it’s wash-in re-proofer.

BTW, I used to re-proof monthly on my heavily used jackets, though I don’t recall having anything with “Active” membrane which I think is a lighter one - maybe more prone to damage/deterioration?

Thanks, 5 years old and in / off and in / out of packs fairly regularly, like 1-2 times a month.

Been tech washed washed several times and generally cared for very well. This was its first time of re-proofing as it had started to wet out a bit.

Just wish I could figure how it got 'white marks' on it. Only thing I can think of is it had some kind of oil or stain on it before or during (I left it on a kitchen work surface). 

Thanks so much for taking time to give such a thorough answer, seriously appreciated.

As for as I could I've cleaned the washing machine / only used tech wash and Grangers version. I haven't got a tumble dryer and don't know any mates with one. I have used a hair dryer on it - but constantly moving it / hung it in the airing cupboard!

I've had 3 other other jackets from eVent to Paclite and GoreTex Pro jacket and never had this issue. My Pro jacket has been used for about 8-9 years. But I've only ever re-proofed with wash-in, so that could be the issue unless the spray-on I used was contaminated.

Alternatively maybe the jacket had been stashed in a pack with maybe some stains in the pack, or possibly got stains on when I was re-proofing, leading to contamination when drying off (despite having been tech washed previously!) Internally I can't see an issue.

So it's a contamination / lack of heat treatment it seems! Cheers again.