End of season: How to reproof your jacket.
With the game season at a close, your trusty shooting coat is now retired to the wardrobe until next Autumn, having kept you warm and dry all winter. It hasn’t let you down, but to get the best performance from your garments it does pay to give them a little bit of attention. Thus, the rewards will be tenfold.
NikWax manufacture an extensive range of care products which not only restore your jacket to its former glory but often even improve the original waterproofing and breathability.
Firstly, ensure your jacket is clean. Dirt on the outer fabrics will encourage the material to hold water. IMPORTANT: Do not use washing powders, they can actually damage the waterproofing and leave UV brighteners on the fabric which glow bright blue to many of our quarry species. NikWax provide a pure liquid soap which cleans your garments perfectly with none of the side effects of normal washing powders.
With your garments now clean, NikWax have a range of products to restore the water repellency of a wide range of materials. Most modern sporting garments are constructed using synthetic materials which have a Durable Water Repellency (DWR) finish.
Scientific jargon aside, the DWR coating causes any water that comes into contact with the outer material to bead and roll off. DWR finishes fade over time, resulting in the fabric starting to hold and sponge surface water.
The two Nikwax proofing products likely to be most relevant to shooting garments are either Polar Proof or TX-Direct Spray. In order to keep them silent in the field, the majority of hunting garments are finished with a ‘peached’ face which, like the skin of a peach, has a slightly furry finish. Polar Proof is intended for fabrics with this furry finish while TX-Direct is for fabrics with a smooth face.
These proofing products are very easy to use. For Polar Proof, simply add to either a machine or hand wash, while TX-Direct literally just sprays from the provided dispenser onto the fabric. Due to the clever formulation of the NikWax range, heat is not required to activate the DWR so tumble drying, which can damage some fabrics, is not required for best results.
For the full range of clothing care products available please Click Me.
Until you have given your clothing the NikWax treatment, it is hard for words to do justice to the transformation in performance this little bit of aftercare will give your shooting garments. Try for yourself and see the results come the new season in Autumn. For extra protection of your shooting garments, then read these top tips of aftercare advice for your boots.
