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What's best to use, a spay solution or one that you put in the washing machine?
Any recomendations ...?
If it doesn't have an insulated lining i.e. just a shell jacket, then use the wash in type. If it does have insulation then use the spray on type. Nikwax works well.
I've used Nikwax spray which does reproof but after 3 or 4 uses the breathabilty starts to go
Thompson's Water Seal. Makes the garment a bit stiff at first but soon softens and works well. Spray it on, don't put it in the machine.
Nikwax
Does you jacket leak? Or does the water no longer run off in droplets saturating the outer layer and making you sweat?
Nikwax stinks. I prefer Graingers.
Nikwax stinks
That's certainly true when applying, but doesn't smell when dried.
Grangers seems better for me, but they are both pretty crap compared with the original waterproofing
I use the NikWax products, very good. The instruction label of the gf's ski clothes say not only wash to the garment (with a techwash) but to tumble dry it on low.
My Paramo and Phantom II are currently drying from their bi annual Nikwax touch up.
Nikwax
Use the Tech wash first. This is esssential IMO, since the reproof doesn't work as well unless the jacket is squeaky clean (I've tried it with and without and noticed a big difference when the jacket was properly clean).
I actually did my well worn ME shell a while back (probably the 6th time I've done it) and was impressed by the rain bouncing off. Doesn't last as long though.
Muc off are releasing some sort of reproofing product, it was at eurobike I think? It looked very very good, not sure when it'll be released.