A Barbour Ashby (in Olive. obviously). A beautifully tailored fit, plus - you can send it back to Barbour once a year for re-proofing and any running repairs.
Wouldn't be without mine
Barbour in
Got something to say or just want fewer pesky ads? Join us... 😊
[Misc] Waterproof stuff that stays waterproof
- Thread starter Bozza
- Start date
Had my Fjallraven Greenland for a while now and it’s the best waterproof coat I’ve owned.
clapham_gull
Legacy Fan
- Aug 20, 2003
- 25,876
I went to secondary school with the inventor (*). If you want to use a real Sussex product, that's the one.
( His name is Nick )
Nikwax Ltd · Unit F Durgates Industrial Estate, Wadhurst TN5 6DF
★★★★☆ · Manufacturer
www.google.com
(*) 17 years older than us, he came back to do his A Levels.
Last edited:
Another shout for Muckboots, not that I have fat calves thoughWellies: Muckboot (fat calves
Very decent sole and not really like other wellies, I have got the Derwent II which are shorter than normal wellies, great for dog walking in the countryside when it’s muddy.
Waterproofing, tricky subject. Often comes down to water pressure. For instance, Goretex membrane is used in ski clothing, and in motorcycle apparel. If you used the ski stuff on a motorcycle and vice versa you would likely end up wet in both instances but for very different reasons.
Ski gear does not actually see that much rain (on average) but it does get snowed upon. In cold mountainous climates this snow is usually quite dry when coming down and when it meets human clothing it just tumbles down the fabric and off again with very little melt. Usually the weittest part of skiing is picking yourself up off the floor after a few seconds contact with the snow. At the same time the sport does require a fair bit of physical exertion, creating sweat or water vapour, this needs to be got away from the user as quickly as possible or they will begin to feel cold, clammy and when examining the inside of their clothing it will be wet. Not from outside rain or snow, but from inside human created sweat. To combat this the holes in the Goretex membrane are larger than those in garments produced for other purposes.
In road motorcycling there is little physical exertion required (unless racing) therefore creating comparatively less sweat and water vapour. The outside of the garment may now be being hit by snow, sleet or rain in varying degrees of size, and more importantly at much higher speeds, let’s say anywhere from 30 to 100 mph. In garments produced for this application the pores in the membrane will be much smaller, allowing less ingress from the outside conditions, but also losing out in breath ability.
We can complicate the issue further with a number of parameters including complete immersion, humidity and wear and tear (footwear is very tough on membranes due to hard edges created in leather by the manufacturing process). In reality there are very few truly waterproof fabrics or membranes, just make the liquid press against the garment with enough pressure and it will,probably get through. In fact the effectiveness of a membrane is measured by filling a very tall thin tube with water with a piece of stretched membrane below, and then measuring the height of the ‘head’ of water until the membrane leaks.
Anyway, more boring info in the following link………. https://www.winfieldsoutdoors.co.uk/blog/everything-need-know-gore-tex/
Ski gear does not actually see that much rain (on average) but it does get snowed upon. In cold mountainous climates this snow is usually quite dry when coming down and when it meets human clothing it just tumbles down the fabric and off again with very little melt. Usually the weittest part of skiing is picking yourself up off the floor after a few seconds contact with the snow. At the same time the sport does require a fair bit of physical exertion, creating sweat or water vapour, this needs to be got away from the user as quickly as possible or they will begin to feel cold, clammy and when examining the inside of their clothing it will be wet. Not from outside rain or snow, but from inside human created sweat. To combat this the holes in the Goretex membrane are larger than those in garments produced for other purposes.
In road motorcycling there is little physical exertion required (unless racing) therefore creating comparatively less sweat and water vapour. The outside of the garment may now be being hit by snow, sleet or rain in varying degrees of size, and more importantly at much higher speeds, let’s say anywhere from 30 to 100 mph. In garments produced for this application the pores in the membrane will be much smaller, allowing less ingress from the outside conditions, but also losing out in breath ability.
We can complicate the issue further with a number of parameters including complete immersion, humidity and wear and tear (footwear is very tough on membranes due to hard edges created in leather by the manufacturing process). In reality there are very few truly waterproof fabrics or membranes, just make the liquid press against the garment with enough pressure and it will,probably get through. In fact the effectiveness of a membrane is measured by filling a very tall thin tube with water with a piece of stretched membrane below, and then measuring the height of the ‘head’ of water until the membrane leaks.
Anyway, more boring info in the following link………. https://www.winfieldsoutdoors.co.uk/blog/everything-need-know-gore-tex/
Excellent - thanks. I have often wondered what those measurements on jackets were.
And as an aside, being a charity shop / secondhand purchaser, I wish they would always put the head measurement on the label instead of just on the disposable tag!
Not such an interesting post this one - it doesn't talk about measuring the height of the head of water!
ClemFandango
Active member
- Oct 2, 2023
- 137
And if it helps, I’m pretty sure Nikwax are a Sussex company!
Sergei's Celebration
Well-known member
Have worn paramo ski touring in deepest darkest Norway and it was absolutely brilliant. Warm, dry and light. Perfect for living out of a bergen for a week.
Having worn all the others on that list next would be Berghaus (had one for a decade and never let me down), then Rab (slightly overpriced but solid), then mountain equipment.
Was not Was
Loitering with intent
- Jul 31, 2003
- 1,607
Thanks @Bozza for starting this thread and so prompting me to sort out the waterproofing on my North Face coat. I checked their website, which said: wash with detergent, rinse, rinse again, then cool/slow tumble try ... and it has worked a treat, based on the test I just did pouring on water and watching it bead.
RandyWanger
Je suis rôti de boeuf
My RAB jacket got a workout this morning!
Can anyone recommend some comfortable waterproof trainers? I've seen good reviews on the Nike Gore Tex running shows, thinking along those lines.
Can anyone recommend some comfortable waterproof trainers? I've seen good reviews on the Nike Gore Tex running shows, thinking along those lines.
- Thread starter
- #92
My experience of all Gore-Tex footwear, and as a runner and Nike fanboy I've had the like of the Pegaus Trail Gore-Tex models, is they don't stay waterproof for very long at all.
As others have said here, maybe it's just the case that waterproof materials that are designed to be breathable are just going to fail sooner or later.
My current dog-walking shoes are Salomon Gore-Tex trail running shoes, and my feet are already getting damp after a few months, as they did walking in the wet grass in the pissing rain this morning.
I think I'm going to take the advice from here and buy some sort of short-length welly booty. My only concern with using these on my longer walks over the Downs is underfoot traction in mid-winter conditions. Mrs B wears wellies when the weather is really grim and she slips and slides all over the place.
I got some waterproof North Face boots that have lasted well for dog walking, waterproof has stayed solid, they are lightweight but are more boot like than a trainer
Something like this I think - https://www.google.com/aclk?sa=L&ai...w6yst42JAxUZzgIHHX1YNtIQwg8oAHoECAgQMQ&adurl=
Something like this I think - https://www.google.com/aclk?sa=L&ai...w6yst42JAxUZzgIHHX1YNtIQwg8oAHoECAgQMQ&adurl=
FatSuperman
Well-known member
- Feb 25, 2016
- 2,922
Apols if covered in the thread (I only got to page 2) - I use Nikwax to re-waterproof my snowboarding gear and it's very good. I use their tech wash to clean, and then the TX.Direct spray on. Don't use the wash in stuff as it can affect breathability.
Hoka Speedgoat GTX here. Comfy shoe and so far so good.
Dick Swiveller
Well-known member
- Sep 9, 2011
- 9,524
I've heard good things about a duck - particularly its back and arse.
Wouldn't bother if for road running. The water will get in and generally not be able to get out again. My Saucony Triumph Runshield failed spectacularly this morning as I ran through a puddle.
Was not Was
Loitering with intent
- Jul 31, 2003
- 1,607
My experience: trainers/walking shoes sold as waterproof get smelly long before those not sold as waterproof (which makes sense as they're less breathable).
Waterproof footwear for trail running is rubbish in my experience. Anything that keeps the water out also keeps it in, better to have fully breathable uppers and embrace the wetness with decent socks.