Maintaining your Goret-tex Jacket
Due to the many waterproof components that make up a Gore-tex Jacket it is very likely at some point you will have to do some kind of maintenance.
While outdoor apparel is designed to be durable, there are certain things you can do to care for and maintain the function of these items such as patching holes, reapplying water repellent DWR and re-gluing, taping seams and Zips.
1) Treat with a durable water repellent (DWR) treatment on the face fabric. They can wear off over time, but do make a noticeable difference.
We recommend Spray-on options like the Nikwax TX.Direct Spray or ReviveX DWR spray are applied only to the face fabric exterior. Be sure to follow the instructions to get the best results. Washing older/ Vintage Jackets with DWR may cause damage so we prefer to use spray on options.
2) Reattach or re-apply Seam Tape
Seam tape is vital in that it covers seams and ensures that water can’t get in. So it’s important to reattach it if it comes loose. The simplest thing is to re-glue seam tape that has come loose. If you notice any seam tape peeling up or loosening, first clean the area well, then reattach it with a special fabric adhesive. Well-stocked outdoor and sport retailers have quite a bit of this tape on hand if you need more. Be sure to re-glue the tape before it completely unravels or frays and becomes unusable. With most fabric adhesives, it’s necessary to apply pressure to a newly glued area to allow it to set.
Re-gluing Zips/ Seams
Use a suitable adhesive: Aquaseal FD or Seam Grip WP adhesives are recommended for maximum durability. Aquaseal FD is safe for use on natural and synthetic fabrics, including GORE-TEX
Clean the area: Before gluing, clean the damaged area as much as possible
we recommend hand washing or washing on the hand wash setting - other settings may damage the jacket
Smooth out the material: Gently smooth out any wrinkles or folds in the outer material
Follow instructions on Glue Packaging for best results
Cinches
we recommend stitching the bottom Cinch if the glue fails as it is the best long term solution but Seam adhesive will also do the job
Washing your Jacket
we recommend hand washing or Machine washing on the hand wash setting - other settings may damage the jacket
Please note that most second hand jackets will need some kind of maintenance at one point in their lifetime, so if you are not prepared to do this we do recommend buying new