When Should I Waterproof My Jacket?

Have you noticed your once water-repellant hardshell jacket men’s now leaks moisture when caught in the rain?

While today’s technical outerwear stands up well to wet conditions, waterproof treatments do gradually wash away over time.

Knowing when to reapply a protective coating ensures your jacket performs as designed during storms or adventure travel.

This guide covers the signs, reapplication frequency, DIY vs professional treatment and products for optimal water protection.

Check These Signs Your Jacket Needs Reproofing

Don’t wait until you’re soaked to the bone to treat your shell. Be proactive by watching for these indicators:

• Dark saturated spots after light rain
• Loss of beading effect on fabric surface
• More frequent use of zipper garage to shield openings
• Longer dry times after exposure to moisture
• Feel of internal dampness through the outer layer

Any of these demonstrates the durable water repellent (DWR) finish has sufficiently worn off for reapplication.

How Often Should It Be Re-Treated?

Most waterproof-breathable fabrics need refreshed protective treatments every 1–2 years with average use. However, frequency depends on:

• Exposure to abrasive environments — Faster renewal needed for outdoor adventure use than urban wear
• Frequency worn — Heavy rotation depletes DWR quicker than occasional use
• Quality of initial application — Professional > DIY for longevity
• Fabric type — More porous designs like softshells require more upkeep than tightly woven hardshells

Ideally, waterproof your jacket when new so you begin its life cycle with max protection.

Additional signs to watch for

Can I Re-Treat It Myself at Home?

Before deciding whether to DIY or seek professional help, consider:

DIY Benefits

• Convenience
• Lower cost — $15 to $30 for spray/wash products

Professional Benefits

• Longer-lasting hydrophobic performance
• Restore DWR and breathability
• Remove dirt and oils embedded deep in fabric
• Revive garment interior water resistance
• Avoid oversaturation from amateur applications

Both routes effectively replenish water repellency. But for extreme activities, professional reproofing extends protection through advanced application methods unable to be replicated at home.

DIY: Follow These Steps

If opting to treat your jacket’s outer DWR protection yourself, carefully follow product instructions or:

1. Prep the jacket by cleaning interior, closing zippers and velcro
2. Select an appropriate DWR spray designed specifically for the shell’s fabric
3. Apply outdoor or in a ventilated area; avoid oversaturation
4. Allow to fully cure for at least 24 hours
5. Check water still beads and rolls off exterior shell

With the right products and application method, you can save money while still extending your hardshell jacket’s weather protection at home.

Professional Services: What to Expect

Seeking out professional re-waterproofing services brings these advantages:

Advanced Cleaning — Inner membrane gets deep cleaned from body oils and dirt that reduce breathability over time.

Precision Treatment — Commercial machines and chemical processes allow complete saturation not possible with DIY sprays for dramatically improved humidity barrier and water repellency.

Fabric Restoration — Heat and pressure reactivates interior coatings while composites get re-pressed to “like-new” performance.

Expert Evaluations — Professionals will inspect for signs of excessive wear and leaks so you know if it’s time to replace instead.

While costs run higher, the restoration maximizes how the jacket functions as originally designed.

Weigh Frequency of Use

Consider how often you actually rely on your jacket’s waterproof rating before assuming it needs immediate reapplication after the first signs of DWR decline. For example:

• Frequent extreme weather use → Renew ASAP
• Occasional light rainwear → Wait longer between treatments
• Mostly casual variable conditions → Check other indicators like feel and dry times

Match reproofing timing and methods to how and where you wear the jacket most. No sense over-maintaining an item living in your closet.

The Bottom Line

Re-establishing your men’s hardshell jacket’s hydrophobic shield periodically preserves dry comfort and wind protection during wet adventures.

Either DIY sprays or professional cleaning refreshes exterior durability. Pick the best route based on frequency of exposure, performance needs and budget.