Water-proofing a Windjacket?
 

Hey guys, so I recently got a wind jacket from SRV for my winter exploits out here in California, and I took it out on a rainy day last week. Well, it wasn't raining when I started riding.

But anyway, the jacket seems to have a little bit of water shedding abilities, but not that much. So I was wondering if there any ways that I could waterproof it or even just get it to be water resistant.

I ride on a regular basis when it rains, so if it comes down to me getting a waterproofing solution or getting a rain jacket, so be it.

I'm quite certain that any sort of waterproofing spray would kill all the breathability of the jacket. You'd be better off getting a cheap plastic jacket like this: http://www.nashbar.com/bikes//Produc...2_170065_-1___

and then use your wind jacket for it's intended purpose.

The problem with riding in the rain is that you're going to get wet no matter what.... whether it's soaking through the jacket from the outside, creeping in through the openings, or it's your own sweat precipitating on the inside. If you simply must ride in the rain and must stay dry, the best course of action is to wear rubber rain gear, and not ride fast enough to sweat. Otherwise, make sure you're warm enough, and learn to love the wet.... and never ever stop or you'll freeze to death.

Yeah, that's been the story of the last few years. I didn't even have a pair of leg warmers until two months ago.

I suppose you're right, waterproofing would kill breathability. I suppose I should've thought that one through a bit more before I made a post...

Not if it's designed to rejuvenate water repellency used with breathable fabrics. Gore-tex strongly recommends use of Nikwax with its own products.

This.

There is nothing more futile than thinking you're going to be dry if you spend a lot of time in the wet. Come to terms with inevitability. Besides, you get much wetter when you take a shower.

Only if you're doing it wrong.

oh look. someone has found the magic cure.

Most people don't take cold showers in a room that is 45 degrees or less. You don't have to get soaked to the bone if you have the right gear.

My magic cure: Arc'teryx Beta AR wind/rain jacket, made from Goretex Pro Shell. No water leaks in through the zippers, fabric, or openings, plus a cashmere midlayer, and a merino base layer. The sweat goes outward and disappears into the cashmere. I'm dry as a bone. This is perfectly breathable. Comfy on days that start out at 50 degrees and sunny but end after dark when it's 30 F.

If all you've tried is a plastic bag, then of course you'll drown in your own sweat, but that doesn't mean waterproof and breathable are impossible.

look up "dwr spray". a lot of the "water resistant" garments are really not waterproof and the water repelling properties wear off over time/washes. apparently one is supposed to re-treat such garments periodically.

You don't have to get soaked, but it's still useless to try to stay dry. Gear doesn't solve the problem. I own 5 gore-text jackets, 2 gore-tex snow pants, and I forget how many gore-tex gloves. I live in a rainy area, but I don't wear gore-tex when cycling except gloves (and I get the insides wet if I'm out long enough -- I just like the gloves for reasons that have nothing to do with waterproofness). I get this stuff for free if you're wondering why I own so much of it. I use it a lot when doing less strenuous activities, and I also like it for snow sports.

The basic schtick is that you need vapor pressure for the sweat to go through the breathable membrane. When the relative humidity is near 100%, that's pretty tough, though it does work better at lower temps. I can't figure out how SF doesn't get any water in because even with a high quality garment that doesn't leak at zippers or whatever, water gets wicked in and blown in from other areas. In any case, even just wearing a base layer and a regular jersey, I find I roast wearing any of the gore-tex jackets. They're just too heavy, even pac lite.

Waterproof and breathable is possible, and I do like Pro Shell, but there are no magic bullets.

I dunno. I cinch the wrists and wear a merino neck gaiter when it's cold, which probably explains some of it. If you're ever in Seattle drop me a line and we'll go for a ride.

I said the same thing about half the time, when I just wore a base layer and a goretex shell. It stopped mattering with the cashmere midlayer, though. With just a base layer ( and probably with your jersey ) the sweat goes out and the jacket feels clammy, which just leads to more sweating. Wearing cashmere ( but not other types of wool, at least to the same extent ) as a mid layer, the sweat is absorbed and dissipated somehow. I can take the sweater off, squeeze it, and feel some moisture in there ... but the base layer pushes it outward and stays dry, while the mid layer ... does something magical.

It rains a lot and gets very cold in Seattle, and I get cabin fever if I don't go out and ride, every day, but I like to stop and enjoy the scenery on longer rides. I also go kayaking a few times a week. If I couldn't stay dry, it would have become a big problem.

highly recommend a cycling specific rain jacket with added reflective tape