Maintaining High-Quality Outdoor Jackets

Extending the Product Life of Technical Gear

The cost of high-quality technical outdoor jacket reflects its durability, and performance, that is, how warm, dry, and comfortable you will be when wearing it.

Unfortunately care and maintenance of technical gear often falls by the wayside because people believe that the garment should not be washed or dried. Properly washing and maintaining your waterproof breathable shells and insulated jackets will extend the lifespan of your pieces.

Waterproof Breathable Shells

Waterproof breathable shells require regular washing and drying in order to maintain their breathability and water repellency. Waterproof fabrics are comprised of two major components: the waterproof membrane on the inside of the jacket, and a Durable Water Repellency (DWR) saturated face fabric. The most commonly known waterproof breathable membranes are Gore-Tex and eVent, both of which require regular washing and reproofing.

When a jacket is new the DWR on the outside of the face fabric makes water bead up into droplets and roll off the fabric. Over time the DWR coating will breakdown causing water to sit on the surface of the fabric. As water pools on the surface of your waterproof jacket the breathability is compromised and your body heat and sweat cannot evaporate.

In order to avoid this, waterproof breathable shell pieces should be washed seasonally in a regular washing machine using a non-detergent based cleaner such as Zero, Woolite, Nikwax, or Grangers. Heavy detergents found in traditional laundry soaps clog the pores of the fabric compromising breathability.

If you have noticed that your jacket is pooling water badly you should reproof your garment after washing it with either a spray-on or wash-in reproofing agent. Spray-ons work best in high-abrasion areas such the tops of the shoulders where backpack straps sit. Nikwax and Grangers are the most commonly known reproofing agents. Be sure to dry it in a dryer on a medium heat setting.

DWR is a compound that will be activated by the heat of your dryer. Waterproof membranes are manufactured at such a high temperature that you don't need to worry about your dryer damaging the fabrics.

Washing and Drying Down or Synthetic Jackets

Insulation pieces are made with either down or synthetic fill. In dry, cold weather down is warmer; synthetic insulation is preferable in damp climates. Synthetic pieces take washing better; down should be washed minimally and very carefully.

The instructions for washing a jacket made with synthetic insulation are very similar to washing a waterproof shell. The garment should be washed using non detergent based cleaners, reproofed if necessary and then tumbled dry on a medium setting. Some insulations, such as PrimaLoft, are treated with DWR coatings to improve the water repellency.

Washing down jackets requires a little bit more care and attention. Cleaning agents should be down-specific or down-safe. The natural oils on the feathers are what maintain the loft of the down. Detergents and other non-down specific cleaners can damage these natural oils and the loft of your jacket.

Down can be washed on the gentlest cycle in front-loading washing machines, or basin-style top-loading machines that do not have agitator towers. Down should not be washed in machines with agitators as the washing cycle is too rough and can damage the delicate feathers.

Hand washing is also a good idea if you are worried that your washing machine is too rough for the down. Down should be tumbled dry on the lowest heat and gentlest cycle on your washing machine. In order to r fluff the down, add tennis balls to the dryer.