What does waterproof mean to you?

[cdnredneck_t3]

On Friday three of us were riding Coal Creek out of Fernie and it was flat out raining. Two of us were wearing KLIM gear a few seasons old and the other was wearing FXR bought new this season. All three of us were soaked in the elbow, knee and crotch areas. My KLIM gear was treated with ReviveX this fall and it did not seem to make a difference. KLIM, FXR and SkiDoo gloves were soaked after about half an hour. We kept our spare gloves dry and saved them for the trail back so the wind would not freeze our fingers. We all layer with the proper clothes so we were not cold.

All of our gear performs well in just snow but this is not the first time rain has tested the limits of GORE-TEX and Hypora. The Manufactures state that this gear is all water proof but I would call it water resistant.

What are your thoughts? Has anyone used gear that did not let a drop of moisture through in the worst conditions? Are these situations when a non-breathable pullover is required? I don't want to turn this into a brand bashing thread, I would like it to stay educational.

 

[snopro]

Just got back from rain in Revy. Both sets of Reima goretex gloves were soaked through. Skidoo jacket that is water proof was damp inside and Klim boots and pants which have goretex were dry. In fairness both pants and boots are new this year. Jacket and gloves about 5 years old.

 

[the_real_wild1]

I have found that anything that is truly waterproof is not breathable. They can come real close but it isn't perfected yet.

 

[Free Rider]

Maybe the Arcteryx hard shell stuff? Not sure if it would be 100% waterproof but have heard good things.

 

[jhurkot]

Gloves seem to be impossible, just pack 3 pairs. Jackets/bibs are good when they're brand new and when you try to nikwax them it only lasts a ride or two. See if they will warranty on the klim gear (they definitely will for motorfist).

 

[shockman]

Over 20yrs experience with Gore-tex, It works very well 1st year!! after that it depends on how used it is. It don't matter who's garment it is, but does depend alot on outer fabric, the longer the outer fabric maintains it's DWR (water shedding ability) the longer it will stay dry. The best thing you can do is call them on the warrenty!! Yesterday on a mountain ride in 3ft of wet heavy snow my 4 year old Scott pants leaked a little at knees and ass, Son's yr and 1/2 Klim pants were dry, both our Klim boots (1 1/2yr) were dry, Klim gloves soaked after couple of hours. If anybody thinks they are going to stay dry in any of the breathable products in the most adverse conditions they are suffering from an illusion. Okay I'm sure if you stand in a shower with new Gore it will work, but that's all I would bet on. JMO

 

[giddyup]

i was riding in fernie on friday as well, my klim (3yr) jacket was wet from the elbow to the wrist, pants were damp on the knee the boots were dry, i had treated my klim just a month before, water dosnt seem to shed from it , dont know, but it was raining hard, great riding up top but you had to get there, i was ok till we started home then it soaked through, anyone have any advice

 

[cdnredneck_t3]

That's what I was thinking shockman. I watched something on discovery and they had a GORE-TEX test by simulating rain. Spending 6 hours causing friction, bending, moving and grinding the water through the outer fabric snowmobiling is a bit different than standing in the rain. I have seen gear that looks just like KLIM but by a different manufacturer marketed as rain gear in Bass Pro Shop for the same price. I think I will contact KLIM tomorrow and see what they have to say.

 

[Trashy]

Last year in Revy, I rode about 25 minutes in POURING rain. My HMK gear kept me bone dry and they are 3 years old. Never been waterproofed, my crappy boots and gloves at the time were soaked!!! I haven't tried my motofist gloves or stompers in the rain yet. But the HMK gear, I can't speak enough about how good it has been......

 

[the_real_wild1]

I wonder if that new waterproofing stuff would work and stay breathable???

 

[HotShotHarry]

Thought I read somewhere that putting your gore tex garments in the clothes dryer re-activated the waterproofness.

 

[shockman]

putting it in the drier does nothing for the Gore, what it does do is help the DWR of the outer fabric, which is all any of the wash or treat products do. May get you one ride! but if you are at the point of needing it, your membrain is pooched! No fixing it, Bandaid! People get all worked up about brands! but the make-up of the outer fabric is far more impotant than the brand. My Scott pants have some sort of a pad in the ass and it has done more for waterproofing than the Gore. The flip side is the tougher and more abrasion resistant the outer fabric the less breathable.

 

[snopro]

I'm sure after this past weekends rain events alot of these gear manufacturers will be fielding a few calls. Lol.

 

[CUSO]

I wanted to send my pants in to Klim for part that wore through on the inside leg. I asked if I should be feeling a bitdamp and clammy on the wetter days.They said to send it in to get tested. I sent in the whole garment and they replaced both the pants and jacket. It was 5 years old.

They did tell me to regularly wash it and heat dry in the dryer... they said it activated the goretex.

I have been skiing with my klim gear, and everyone was givinh me a hard time about it. At the end of the last day it started to pour rain and when we got back to the bus, almost everyone was soaked.. I was completely dry...

 

[Kaz Dog]

I would venture a guess that, if it was raining, the weather was "warm" - relatively speaking. I further guess that you might have been sweating extensively, even if you thought you weren't, and the Gore-Tex could not evaporate fast enough on the vapours, so it became water, and you were wet. Just a theory, no science involved, or applied......

 

[Nonhighwayservice]

Treat your gear with ultra ever dry

 

[JCasino]

Maybe the Arcteryx hard shell stuff? Not sure if it would be 100% waterproof but have heard good things.

I came to sledding from backcountry skiing/mountaineering and can say the Arc'teryx stuff will keep you dry and is way more comfortable due to its light weight. Yesterday while having lunch at the cabin, all the Klim/Motorfist riders were steaming as they dried out and my 12 year old 3-layer Arc'teryx bibs were not even damp on the surface. Same with the jacket though it is only a year old. I did try a pair of MotorFist pants on the other day and there is no way I could get used to the weight of them either. Backcountry gear companies figured out how to make lightweight, waterproof, gear years ago and that durable did not mean full cordura and I'm sure sledding will get there too.

 

[JaySimon]

I wear a Loki outerwear coat for a rain coat. It's waterproof. Event fabric stuff. Haven't skied/sledded in it yet, but I bet it would stay dry there too.

 

[Dutchman]

We were also out that way on Friday. At lower elevations it was like standing in a spring rain. We were in the wet snow/rain for about 5 hours.

Ten year old Yamaha Goretex bibs, non insulated shell. I have never treated or touched these with anything and was bone dry. No idea who made them, but they work awsome.
My new Motorfist jacket was just a little damp, mostly around the sleeve openings, but nothing to worry about. I think it's called Redline, not sure at this point but it is insulated. Thought it worked pretty good considering the conditions.
Klim Togwetee gloves, soaked through in the first hour, could have rung them out.
Regular old snowmobile boot (the ones with felt liners), frinkin useless, felts were like a wet sponge.

 

[Teth-Air]

I have found that old gear gets fuzzy due to wear. This fuzz attracts water and wicks it in. I have used the wifes clothes iron to iron the gear to melt the fuzz and re-seal the surface. It helps but does not make it as good as new.