You know that moment when you’re halfway up a Norwegian fjord and realise your “waterproof” jacket is basically a very expensive sponge? Yeah, we’ve all been there.

That £300 jacket you bought three years ago isn’t broken – it just needs some TLC. Here’s how to restore waterproof jacket performance and keep your gear out of landfill – without buying a whole new kit.

Woman on a rock during hiking in a forested mountain valley, wearing a blue outdoor jacket outdoors.

Why Waterproof Jackets Lose Their Effectiveness

Your waterproof jacket works through a clever combination: a waterproof membrane (like Gore-Tex) sandwiched between layers, plus a DWR (Durable Water Repellent) coating on the outside that makes water bead up and roll off.

The problem? DWR coatings wear off with use. After months of stuffing your jacket in and out of backpacks, washing with regular detergent, or general adventure wear, that outer coating stops working. Water starts soaking into the fabric instead of rolling off.

The good news: The waterproof membrane underneath is usually fine. You just need to refresh that outer coating – saving you money and keeping functional gear out of the bin.

Woman in a blue waterproof jacket smiling in a rainy mountain landscape

The Reality Check

Before we dive in, let’s be honest – not every jacket is worth saving. If your jacket is:

Older than 5-6 years and heavily used
Has visible tears or worn areas
Was a budget purchase to begin with

You might be better off investing in something new. But if you’ve got a quality jacket that’s just lost its water-repelling powers, keep reading.

Woman hiking on a misty mountain trail in a hooded rain jacket and backpack

What You’ll Actually Need

Here’s what works:

Wash-in treatment: Nikwax TX.Direct or Grangers Performance Repel (about £8-12) Spray-on treatment: Nikwax TX.Direct Spray-On for targeted areas Tech wash: Nikwax Tech Wash to clean without damaging the membrane

Nikwax TX Direct wash-in waterproofing for rain and snow clothing bottle

Nikwax Tech Wash waterproofing cleaner bottle for re-waterproofing jackets

The Step-by-Step (No Faff Version)

1. Clean First, Reproof Second

Your jacket needs to be clean before you can make it waterproof again. Regular detergent leaves residue that blocks the treatment, so use a technical cleaner.

Chuck your jacket in the washing machine
Use tech wash according to bottle instructions (usually 100ml)
Wash on 30°C synthetic cycle
Don’t use fabric softener – it’ll coat the fabric and stop the reproofer working

2. Choose Your Treatment Method

Wash-in (easiest): Best for full jackets, especially if the whole thing needs treating Spray-on (targeted): Good for high-wear areas like shoulders and cuffs, or if you only want to treat specific spots

3. Apply the Treatment

For wash-in:

Put your clean, damp jacket back in the machine
Add the reproofer to the detergent drawer
Run a 30°C synthetic cycle (no spin if possible – it can damage the treatment)

For spray-on:

Hang your clean jacket up
Spray evenly over the surface (outside only)
Pay extra attention to seams and high-wear areas
Wipe off any excess with a damp cloth

4. Heat Activate (This Bit’s Important)

Most people skip this step, then wonder why their treatment didn’t work. Heat helps the reproofer bond with the fabric:

Tumble dry on low heat for 20 minutes, OR
Hang dry, then iron on low heat with a cloth between the iron and jacket, OR
Use a hairdryer on cool setting

When It’s Working Again

A freshly reproofed jacket should make water bead up and roll off the surface like it did when new. You’ll see the difference immediately – water forms little balls instead of soaking in.

How long will it last? Depends how much you use it. Expect to reproof annually if you’re out regularly, every 2-3 years for occasional use.

Women hiking along a rocky mountain trail in thick mist, wearing waterproof jackets on a foggy hillside

The Harsh Truth About Maintenance

Here’s what nobody tells you: even the best waterproof jacket needs looking after. If you want gear that performs when you’re getting hammered by Norwegian rain or Scottish sleet, you need to maintain it.

Pro tips that actually work:

Wash your jacket more often (seriously – dirt breaks down DWR)
Store it hung up, not stuffed in a bag
Don’t use fabric softener, ever
Reproof before big trips, not after your jacket fails you halfway up a mountain

Woman hiking on a misty mountain trail through rocky terrain in the UK countryside during bad weather

When to Call It

Sometimes a jacket is beyond saving. If reproofing doesn’t work, or you’re still getting wet after following all the steps, it might be time to invest in a new kit. A failing waterproof membrane can’t be fixed at home.

But for most jackets that have just lost their water-repelling mojo? Twenty minutes and £10 worth of reproofer will get you back to staying dry on your adventures.

Woman hiking a trail through lush green mountains in a valley outdoors

Planning your next adventure? Check out our packing guides for what kit actually works in the field, tested by women who use it properly.

Bookings Team

We are a small team of women who plan the trips, host them, answer your emails and walk, ski and paddle the routes ourselves. When a post has no single name on it, it usually means several of us had something to add.

Kit & Gear

10th July

5 Min Read