The rain coat I bought last year is not waterproof at all anymore. It's almost porous.

I asked the Mec folks about it and they told me that machine washing & drying it will raise the little repellent hairs in the fabric again... but it didn't work. I was expecting to purchase some sort of spray, but they told me they didn't carry anything like that for their products. If anything, my jacket is more porous after the washing than before.

What should I do?

Did the person not tell you to use NikWax?

Or at least direct you to this page on their website?
http://www.mec.ca/Main/content_text.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302881782&CONTENT%3C%3Ecnt_id=10134198673221131&bmUID=1218469871199

More information on different topics can be found here:
http://www.mec.ca/Main/articles_main.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=1408474396038663&FOLDER%3C%3EbrowsePath=1408474396038663&bmUID=1218469853251



Another option is that you can take it back to them, and get your money back...

MEC's Rock Solid Guarantee

Like many retailers, we guarantee our products; if an item hasn't met your expectations, you can bring it back. Unlike most retailers, we also guarantee the product selection advice offered through our catalogue, website, and staff; if an item you've purchased based on this advice turns out to be unsuitable, you can bring it back. In either case, simply return the item for exchange, refund, repair, or credit.

http://www.mec.ca/Main/content_text.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302881722&bmUID=1218469733652

I would let them know, no matter what action you take, that you aren't happy with either their product nor their customer service advice.

What model jacket is it?


Barbara

No they didn't - and that information would have made a difference. I did wash it with liquid detergent, which explains why it's worse.

I specifically asked for a product to use and was told I didn't need anything, and I spoke with two different people!

I think this is the jacket I have: http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524442618350&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302704149&bmUID=1218471847826

Thanks. My next trip is in a week and a half, and we're going to get wet!

Help on the floor at the MEC is not what it once was, that's a ridiculous mistake that shouldn't have happened. Washing doesn't improve the DWR treatment though drying on a hot setting will some times (though be careful that the garment can take it).

I've treated many WB jackets with nicwax (purchased from the MEC) and found that it helps. But DWR is not a water proofing treatment it's designed to keep the water from soaking the fabric so that it can still breathe, a heavy downpour will overcome the best factory DWR treatment.

Personally I've lost almost all faith in waterproof breathable garments. they cost twice as much and last half as long and even the best ones don't breathe that well. I prefer good ventilation to WB, pit zips and venting hand pockets are far more useful IMO.

Get a wind breaker and a proper rain coat, it'll last longer, work better and probably be cheaper than a goretex jacket.

FWIW, my experience with Arcteryx goretex jackets has made me a lifelong fan. My jacket was stolen at the beginning of the season and I have since replaced it with another. Can't compete with their products, though they are now unfortunately manufacturing in China. Not that that's necessarily a quality drop, but it isn't any action towards the contrary.

I was very happy with it on my temagami trip last year; it kept me quite dry.

I hope that nicwax will bring it back to an at least functional rain jacket.

I got it on sale at around $70, and I know you get what you pay for. I wasn't expecting a fantastic jacket, but I was expecting it to be good for more than one season.

I got soaked on my last bike ride and had thoughts of rubbing it with mink oil. There's a nice mess!

if it's leaking you're only going to get so much out of it. Like I said the DWR will only hold back so much rain after that the fabric needs to be water proof. You might try buying a waterproofing spray, something that will kill all breathability but will stop the water. Nicwax makes a treatment like that as well.

Or keep it as a light rain/wind coat and get a solid waterproof rain coat to deal with the downpours. I picked up a paddling jacket and it's perfect for keeping the rain off.

First off, you should wash that coat a couple more times WITH NO SOAP. Soap will only reduce the surfacte tension of the water so it can leak through everywhere. Soap is your enemy when cleaning waterproof breathable clothing.

Then get the Nikwax and follow instructions, better than new.

Say, if it's leaking bad enough you can even skip Doug's step as the rain will wash it for you ^_^

douG is sort of right. You do want to make sure to rinse all the soap from the garment before you treat it, an extra rinse cycle is a good idea. But you do need to make sure the garment is clean, and that will require soap. Don't go crazy and use an entire capfull if you're only washing one jacket, be conservative with it.

Residual soap will make it leak more but it's a necessary part of the process. And your DWR will never be good as new let alone better than new, you can't replicate the factory process in your basement with a spray bottle. It will help but it ain't gonna fix it.

And at $20 a bottle it'll cost you nearly a third of what your jacket cost new.

Guys and Gals we have been using the Hazmat Suits ( used for spills and cleanup of hazardous material) cost is about $10.00 each and although they are not completely waterproof, they weigh in at about 10 oz's. We have had to wear them twice in the last 5 years and when not used we theyare rolled up and use as an extra pillow.If is raining that hard you are usually finding shelter somewhere anyway. Buy the XL size.

That's an awesome idea, thanks