Waterproof jacket / life spans

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Derby Tup Sep 2020 4:52pm, 30 Sep 2020 46,758 posts	0 Derby Tup I have several waterproof jackets and the best performing is a 13-14 year old Gore-tex Pac-lite. The reason it’s the best is I’ve actually washed and reproofed it a couple of times
Homer Sep 2020 5:19pm, 30 Sep 2020 13,781 posts	0 Homer I have a very large (in the opinion of others!) collection of waterproof jackets and each gets a go in the machine with Grangers and a thorough tumble dry after every 3 or 4 drenchings. Like DT, I have a Pac-lite jacket that use be nearly 15 years old and worn often that is still going strong. As soon as the water stops beading on the surface, I get them in the machine
rf_fozzy Sep 2020 5:19pm, 30 Sep 2020 11,755 posts	0 rf_fozzy Have a look at Alpkit too (https://alpkit.com/), their stuff is usually half the price for comparable specification kit.
Homer Sep 2020 5:20pm, 30 Sep 2020 13,782 posts	0 Homer Good call fozzy, Alpkit are very good
Homer Sep 2020 5:23pm, 30 Sep 2020 13,783 posts	0 Homer My oldest one still going is one of these that is 25 years old. Wouldn't wanna run in it tho' berghaus.com
cackleberry Sep 2020 8:41pm, 30 Sep 2020 1,880 posts	0 cackleberry Larkrim, your wife sounds like a lady after my own heart: 100 quid jacket that lasts 15 years. Perfect. I've never yet been successful in re-proofing a water proof jacket 😞
Homer Oct 2020 10:52am, 1 Oct 2020 13,784 posts	0 Homer Reproofing is a funny thing. for most coats, the waterproof layer is usually the middle layer of 3 and unless the outer or inner layer are damaged, all will be well. What you often see over time is the inner layer wearing away as it rubs on clothes or the outer layer 'wetting out' and looking really wet. Once the outer layer starts soaking up water, the jacket stops breathing and the sweat builds up inside, making folk thing the jacket is leaking when it probably isn't. So the re-proofing is actually reapplying a DWR coating to the outer layer to try and stop the outer layer from wetting out. I just chuck one jacket in the machine with a load of grangers wash and repel and put it on a wash and tumble dry and ensure I tumble gently until all is dry
um Oct 2020 9:44am, 2 Oct 2020 3,426 posts	0 um When Storm Alex moves on, I'll venture out to the car and check mine. I suspect it is an Adidas one, but I'll check the model. I typically go for Sportsshoes 'last year' models, ie the £150 ish version being sold for £20 - £30. But it's a basic, single layer, but thick 'meterial' and has lasted me quite a few years so far. Sold as a running jacket, but used as a walking jacket. And will screw up (with only limited resistance) to cram in a rucksack.
ChrisHB Oct 2020 10:13am, 2 Oct 2020 19,795 posts	0 ChrisHB I have a £10 Aldi one about 20 years old - nylon outer with mesh lining - that gives me enough. Perhaps I should up my required comfort levels. "enough" means I can run, cycle or walk in it as much as I choose to in the rain, so cycling and walking means a trip to town and back or similar; running as long as I want provided I finish at home or at least the car. But I generally don't mind getting rained on while I'm running. Like so many others, I hesitate to start running in the rain but once I'm out there it doesn't matter. I fancy a great deal of money can be saved by moderating the amount of comfort one demands.
um Oct 2020 10:27am, 3 Oct 2020 3,436 posts	0 um Just tested my jacket for you larkim ... probably 5+ years old and still waterproof. Adidas Terrex Goretex (green). Looks single layer to me - but may be 3 welded together?