How to Waterproof a Jacket & Other Outerwear Maintenance
From Analog to [ak], Burton outerwear utilizes industry-leading waterproofing technologies to maximize performance and keep you dry. But the bottom line is that waterproofing deteriorates over time, especially with heavy use in extreme conditions. So, if you are starting to feel damp during your days on the mountain, Burton’s guide on how to waterproof a jacket is the perfect solution to get your gear dialed in again.
This guide includes everything you need to know about how to waterproof a jacket, including when to waterproof, how often to waterproof, a step-by-step waterproofing guide, and a few tips for extending the life of the waterproofing on all your outerwear.
- How to Care for Your Outerwear: Video Tutorial
- When to Waterproof a Jacket
- How Often to Waterproof a Jacket
- How to Waterproof a Jacket: Step-by-step Instructions
How to Care for Your Outerwear: Video Tutorial
Burton Team rider Mark Sollors explains the ins and outs of outerwear maintenance in this video tutorial. Watch along, then review the rest of this guide for detailed step-by-step instructions.
When to Waterproof a Jacket
Knowing when to waterproof a snowboard jacket or other piece of outerwear is usually pretty obvious: you start to feel wet. But if you would rather not wait until it is too late (and you’re already clammy) then there are a few things you can look for to know when the waterproofing may need a refresh.
Your Gear is Dirty
Waterproofing effectiveness is greatly impacted by how soiled the surface of the fabric is. In fact, oil, dirt, smoke, and sunscreen (just to name a few) can all interfere with the Durable Water Repellant (DWR) coating of outerwear. DWR is a special coating that is applied to fabric to improve its water resistance. It works by forcing moisture to bead up and roll off instead of soaking into the fabric. But any residue or dirt on the outer layer of a jacket can get forced into the material at a microscopic level and actually widen the pores of the fabric, rendering the DWR coating less effective.
Pro tip: If your gear looks really dirty, it may be time to waterproof.
Note: Regardless of whether your jacket is made from GORE-TEX® or DRYRIDE™, the outer layer features a DWR coating.
Your Gear Gets Used (A Lot)
DWR is not permanent and all types of DWR coatings wear off over time. If you only wear your jacket a few times per year, it will probably remain pretty waterproof for a long time. However, if you wear your jacket every day (to class, to the mountain, to trivia night, to your dog’s birthday party) then the DWR will potentially wear off much faster. In fact, the simple abrasion from regularly wearing a backpack daily can rub the DWR off in areas where the pack touches it.
Now, you may be asking yourself: We put people in outer space, why can’t we come up with a DWR that lasts forever? Well, you’re not wrong for thinking that. In developing more environmentally friendly DWRs over the years, the tradeoff is that those DWR variations have a shorter lifespan that requires more applications.
Pro tip: If you wear your gear all the time and have not waterproofed in a while (more than a year), it may be time to waterproof.
Your Gear Looks Wet
Often, a combination of dirt and regular wear causes a slow breakdown of the DWR coating that allows the outer layer of fabric to become saturated during use. This is referred to as “wetting out.” When wetting out occurs, the saturation of the external fabric layer can prevent perspiration vapor from escaping, leading to less-than-dry conditions from body sweat (not from exterior moisture).
Pro tip: If your gear looks wet (even when it’s dry on the inside), it may be time to waterproof.
How Often to Waterproof a Jacket
How often a jacket should be waterproofed depends on how hard it gets used. But for most snowboarders, a jacket (and snow pants) should be washed and waterproofed at the beginning of the second season of use and at the beginning of every subsequent season of use thereafter. However, if you’re especially hard on your outerwear, you may find that you need to do a mid-season wash and waterproof as well.
How to Waterproof a Jacket: Step-by-Step Instructions
Learning how to waterproof a jacket is an important skill that all outdoor enthusiasts should develop. Not only is waterproofing your own gear easy and fun, but it also extends the life of your gear to keep useful items out of the landfill.
- Wash the jacket
- Dry the jacket
- Perform a DWR test
- Apply new DWR (if needed)
- Dry the jacket (again, if needed)
Waterproofing a Jacket
- Wash the jacket according to the instructions outlined on its tag. Most of the time this will require the use of a technical outerwear detergent (such as Grangers Performance Wash) in a warm wash cycle.
- Dry the jacket to reactivate the DWR coating. Refer to the label for drying recommendations. If the jacket can be machine dried, place it in the clothes dryer and tumble dry on a low/medium heat setting for about 30 minutes. If the jacket cannot be machine dried, gently iron it with a clothes iron on the lowest setting.
- Perform a water test to see if the DWR has been effectively reactivated. Using a spray bottle, mist some water on the jacket. If the water beads up it does not need any additional waterproofing. If the water soaks into the jacket, proceed to the next step. Note: Reactivating the DWR will likely work a few times before any additional waterproofing application is needed.
- Apply a new coat of DWR. DWR products are available in both spray-on and wash-in options. While both types are effective, we generally recommend against aerosol spray-on DWR, which is more harmful to the environment. Refer to the instructions on the DWR packaging.
- For spray-on DWR: Hang up your jacket and spray the DWR over the entire surface, working from top to bottom. Pay extra attention to areas that get more wear, like the shoulders, chest, and arms. Wipe off any excess liquid.
- For wash-in DWR: Close all the zippers and flaps and place the jacket in the washing machine. Add the recommended amount of wash-in DWR to the detergent drawer. Wash with a warm setting for a full wash cycle.
- Dry the jacket. Some waterproofing products require heat to activate the DWR, while others do not. Refer to the instructions on the DWR packaging and either hang dry, place the jacket in the clothes dryer and tumble dry on low/medium heat, or gently iron the jacket with a clothes iron on the lowest setting.
Pro tip: Don’t spot treat with DWR. Always apply a full coat to the entire garment for best results.
Outerwear Maintenance
A little outerwear maintenance can go a long way in keeping you dry and comfortable on the mountain and learning how to waterproof a jacket (and pants) can save you a ton of money in the long run. And the good news is that DWR waterproofing attaches directly to the fabric fibers, which maintains breathability and doesn’t harm the fabric. So, you can feel free to re-apply DWR as many times as you like to keep yourself warm and dry.
