PeteD Posted November 6, 2008 Report Share Posted November 6, 2008 Does Gortex wear out? I have an Orvis raincoat that I love, but its no longer water resistant? I wore last night and got soaked. Is it expected that it wear out? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wendell Posted November 6, 2008 Report Share Posted November 6, 2008 Does Gortex wear out? I have an Orvis raincoat that I love, but its no longer water resistant? I wore last night and got soaked. Is it expected that it wear out? It does wear out. Try a product called "Tech-wash". It's for Gore-tex. It renews the fabrics water repellency and it works. I used in on a 3L jacket that I've had for about 8 years and couldn't be happier. Not sure what it does to breathability but what good is breathability w/out being water proof? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ichthys Posted November 6, 2008 Report Share Posted November 6, 2008 Assuming that your jacket used to work fine, it is unlikely that the Goretex has worn out. Given that its a bonded membrane, I think that is unlikely. Rather, it sounds as if it has gotten contaminated, given that what you describe sounds like total failure. A contributing factor also could be that the exterior water repellant on the garment has worn off. (yes, most "beathable membrane" garments do have a topical spray on their exterior in addition to the membrane bonded to the inside. Some liquid deterdents can foul up Goretex. I'd suggest washing it in powdered tide on warm and then drying it in a hot dryer. The hot drier helps to anneal or tighten the membrane if it has loosened up. Wear the coat in the rain and see if it works. To really spruce it up, get a bottle of Revivex and spray the exterior to bring the water repellancy back up to snuff. Finally, be sure that the problem is the jacket and not the weather and your exertion level. I don't know about you, but if I work up a good sweat humpin' out to a spot in the rain, I can soak the inside of a Goretex garment pretty darn thoroughly. If the humidity is high enough, and you working hard enough, and its raining, it might be that the jacket just can't offload moisture fast enough to get dry. And if all else fails, you can always take it back right? Good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RJ Posted November 6, 2008 Report Share Posted November 6, 2008 All of the above and then check the seams! There is a roll on product out there for seams that start leaking thru the stich holes. Ichthys - your post was most informative and if and when my Simms Gore Tex starts to leak (6 years old now) I will try the warm water and hot dryer tighten up. Thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wendell Posted November 6, 2008 Report Share Posted November 6, 2008 Ichthys is right on. The other thing that'll really foul up Goretex is dry salt from salt water. It basicaly wedges it self in between the fibers when it drys. Never heard of the hot dryer trick. I'm going to put it on the list. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
formula1 Posted November 6, 2008 Report Share Posted November 6, 2008 I'm curious though...Gore Tex includes a tag with every Gore Tex garment (I know, I just bought several for my wife and I) that says they basically guarantee the waterproofness/breathability of the Gore Tex for life it seems and to contact them if it ever fails...can you just call them and have them replace it or fix it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CTaylor Posted November 6, 2008 Report Share Posted November 6, 2008 Like mentioned, you need to get a treatment like Nikiwax tech-wash, wash it and through it in the dryer on LOW heat for about an hour should do the trick!! Gore-tex, or any breathable clothing, will not stay waterproof if it is stained or soiled (especially saltwater), you need to wash and treat it...that is directly from Gore-tex. It has always been my private conviction that any man who pits his intelligence against a fish and loses has it coming. ~John Steinbeck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeteD Posted November 6, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 6, 2008 Thanks all. I'm headed to Campmor to get the tech-wash and I'll report the results. I love that jacket and I know Orvis does not make it anymore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crashq Posted November 6, 2008 Report Share Posted November 6, 2008 To test the water repellency of any breathable fabric, simply lay it on a flat surface and sprinkle some water onto the (flat) material. The water should bead up on the fabric like it would on a freshly waxed car. If it does not bead up, you should wash it with powdered detergent, and check again. If it still does not bead up apply the Tech-wash, Revivex, or similar material designed to rejuvenate brathable fabric's water repellency. Then check again, to ensure that the application worked over the entire garment. Whatever you do, follow the manufacturer's instructions. Not all of them allow a hot clothes dryer. Many use lower temperatures. Many wader manufacturer's tell you not to use a clothes dryer because it will damage other parts of the waders. They recommend using a hair dryer, instead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce in RI Posted November 6, 2008 Report Share Posted November 6, 2008 The outer fabric will retain water and make the garment feel wet on the inside when it gets dirty or the water repellant wears off. Medium heat in the dryer is recomended, and the water repellant treated garment must be dryed in the dryer to be done correctly. Glide dental floss is the same material as GoreTex. Don't ask. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HL Posted November 8, 2008 Report Share Posted November 8, 2008 Simms sells ReviveX on its web site catalogue- so I guess it is good for Gortex. Herb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
formula1 Posted November 9, 2008 Report Share Posted November 9, 2008 Just looked at the Gore Tex tag from my latest purchase: Guaranteed to keep you Dry Promise. If you are not completely satisfied with the waterproofness, windproofness or breathability of our gore-tex outerwear, we will repair it, replace it or refund your purchase price. Go to http://www.gore-tex.com/remote/Satel...SessionWrapper for more details: All GORE-TEX® garments and footwear - and only GORE-TEX® garments and footwear - carry the Guaranteed to Keep You Dry® promise. What does this mean? It means that no liquid from the outside will get to you on the inside. This includes moisture from the wet grass you're kneeling in to the sudden squall you get caught in. And that's a promise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nfnDrum Posted November 9, 2008 Report Share Posted November 9, 2008 bring it to a dry cleaner have it cleaned and have it re treated with rpelant good as new... OH if the inside is getting wet its most likely sweet. They only breath when they aren't soaked with water ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fin Addiction Posted November 9, 2008 Report Share Posted November 9, 2008 I got a saying when customers meet me at the dock on a drizzly morning..."There's two types of rain gear...That kind *gortex* and this kind *pointing at the grundens I am wearing*. .....Notice which type I'm wearing"? I've had alot of fancy gortex rain jackets and bibs over the years and all I wear now on the water is GRUNDENS...Oh, and I stay DRY.... Capt. Jeff Smith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CTaylor Posted November 9, 2008 Report Share Posted November 9, 2008 Just looked at the Gore Tex tag from my latest purchase: Guaranteed to keep you Dry Promise. If you are not completely satisfied with the waterproofness, windproofness or breathability of our gore-tex outerwear, we will repair it, replace it or refund your purchase price. Go to http://www.gore-tex.com/remote/Satel...SessionWrapper for more details: All GORE-TEX® garments and footwear - and only GORE-TEX® garments and footwear - carry the Guaranteed to Keep You Dry® promise. What does this mean? It means that no liquid from the outside will get to you on the inside. This includes moisture from the wet grass you're kneeling in to the sudden squall you get caught in. And that's a promise. http://www.gore-tex.com/remote/Satel...g-instructions still need to wash and do routine maintenance to keep the DWR working and you dry!! It has always been my private conviction that any man who pits his intelligence against a fish and loses has it coming. ~John Steinbeck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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