How long do pants remain waterproof?

[Tunahunter]

I bought these pretty expensive Revit bike pants (Cordura I think) nearly two years ago and until recently they have been totally satisfactory and absolutely waterproof - including a very very wet run from Wgtn to Napier and one through Haast Pass - as well as biking to work every day.

Shock horrow the other night when I got home from work with a wet crutch (no I did not piss my pants!). There were no buttons undone and the zip was secure.

I'm guessing that after a couple of years of riding that the part of the pants that interacts with the seat somehow wears out and loses its waterproof integrity.

Should I expect more from these pants


Any comments

[Mom]

Should I expect more from these pants Any comments

Have you washed them? Is there a fluffy seam? I had my codura pants for 5 years without a leak. Reason my pants leaked, a seam had let go.

Time for new ones or wear a pair of plastic pants over them for now.

[reemit]

Inversely proportional to how close to China they were made.

[Rogue Rider]

I bought these pretty expensive Revit bike pants (Cordura I think) nearly two years ago and until recently they have been totally satisfactory and absolutely waterproof - including a very very wet run from Wgtn to Napier and one through Haast Pass - as well as biking to work every day.

Shock horrow the other night when I got home from work with a wet crutch (no I did not piss my pants!). There were no buttons undone and the zip was secure.

I'm guessing that after a couple of years of riding that the part of the pants that interacts with the seat somehow wears out and loses its waterproof integrity.

Should I expect more from these pants


Any comments



I here you, well I have a similar querry.... My cordura pants also have started the same leaking after about 2-3 years. As I understand they do require some waterproof treatment after a period of time. A spray or something?
Does anyone have ideas on what to do.
my gear like most here are imported from Pakistan. It's amazing how many wholesalers import from the same manufacturer and just brand them with cool labels.

[Cloggy]

My Strada Giro jacket has started developing a leak on one elbow in heavy rain. This is after two and a half years of daily use. Before that it was perfectly waterproof.
I have tried several water proofing sprays and tried the wash in water proofer. None of them work. I guess the fabric has a limited lifespan. After a certain amount of time, UV rays and bug guts must take its toll on the fabric and it will eventually leak especially in areas where there is a lot of bending / movement action on the fabric.
So now I wear a PVC rainsuit over the top when it really pours down.

[scumdog]

I bought these pretty expensive Revit bike pants (Cordura I think) nearly two years ago and until recently they have been totally satisfactory and absolutely waterproof - including a very very wet run from Wgtn to Napier and one through Haast Pass - as well as biking to work every day.

Shock horrow the other night when I got home from work with a wet crutch (no I did not piss my pants!). There were no buttons undone and the zip was secure.

I'm guessing that after a couple of years of riding that the part of the pants that interacts with the seat somehow wears out and loses its waterproof integrity.

Should I expect more from these pants


Any comments

REVIT?

That's where you went wrong, the incorrect spelling did it!

I use RIVET waterproof pants from the Warehouse, last for 4 years or so depending on how often you use them..And they're cheap as chips, $25 maximum, on special they're obviously quite a bit cheaper.

The constant flapping around the knee area weakened the waterproof lining and that's where they first leaked after about three or so years, later the crutch went too.

And the roll up into quite a compact bundle but make sure you buy a size or two larger than you think you need, they then don't lift up around your boot tops and are easier to get on and off.

[The Baron]

I spray my jacket and pants once a year with waterproof spray. It seems to help.

[davebullet]

Depends how full your bladder is.

[Gareth51]

Have you washed them? Is there a fluffy seam? I had my codura pants for 5 years without a leak. Reason my pants leaked, a seam had let go.
.

Was that from the inside out

[Mom]

Was that from the inside out

When I saw your quote I thought you were going to post one of them pics again :lol:

[Gareth51]

When I saw your quote I thought you were going to post one of them pics again :lol:

Your lucky I'm sitting with my in my Greenlane Motel with my old laptop which can't upload pics he he

[Toaster]

Cordura is not waterproof, it is water resistant.

[Gone Burger]

Cordura is not waterproof, it is water resistant.

If you're lucky!

[skinman]

I wear overtrousers if expecting a soaking as cordura wont stop the water for long. Thats from new as well.

[Grubber]

I have Rev It gear and they have a waterproof membrane inside them. They will keep the water out as long as you don't rip the membrane. As in fall off etc. Usually they are pretty good i'd have to say. Spraying them with waterproofing doesn't help a whole lot as you can only cover the cordura on the outside. The actual membrane in most cases is sown in to the internals of the jacket and can't be seen.
I also have a 1 piece rainsuit that is also Rev It and i wear that over my leathers when it rains. Swear by it! Awesome gear.

[Crasherfromwayback]

The only way I've ever stayed 100% dry is by wearing my one piece telly tubby suit!

[Ronin]

The only way I've ever stayed 100% dry is by wearing my one piece telly tubby suit!

Will no one think of the children?

[Paul in NZ]

There are 2 types of fabric clothing (I think).

1 type relies on a waterproof membrane under the textile outer layer. The other relies on the material being watertight.

Both types degenerate over time which is why I won't buy another uber expensive jacket like my SPIDI NT Tour. I'll go cheaper and replace often. SPIDI admitted (eventually) that 2 to 5 years is expected but that the later materials last longer.

To help you need to wash the outer layer in sports wash. This is a low phosphor detergent that restores the loft of the fabric and removes the grime between the fibres (water wicks in via the dirt) and then use a waterproofing agent. With the membrane types this seems to stop so much water getting through and overpowering the membrane.

Wither membrane jackets a good fit is essential to allow the water to drain via the gutters at the bottom edge. If you want to see how this works, tuck your gloves OVER your sleeve in a downpour.

[FatHead]

I have DriRider jacket and Macna pants and they both started to leak late last year so I did a bit of research and found out that (as posted by someone else here) as grime builds up it reduces the waterproof qualities of the material. I refreshed using Nikwax Tech wash and the waterproofing spray that goes with it. Has worked a treat and has been fine through some pretty bad rain since. Hope this helps.

[pritch]

To help you need to wash the outer layer in sports wash. This is a low phosphor detergent that restores the loft of the fabric and removes the grime between the fibres (water wicks in via the dirt) and then use a waterproofing agent.


That's good advice. Sportwash is good. The Nikwax(?) equivalent and their proofing product are generally available from Kathmandu shops.

[Ratti]

cordura is NOT waterproof/resistant. Only the coating on the back of the fabric makes it resistant. This wears off pretty quickly due to abrasion when you move. SOme cheap cordura gear is rubbish, low denier cordura and crap backing.

The other way to waterproof cordura is by adding a seprate layer of waterproof fabric under the cordura. Alpine Stars do it this way. Again, its only as good as the coating on the fabric, abrasion wears it away and you get cracks in the coating and from there its a short soggy ride to a wet crutch.

My option will continue to be cheap yellow plastic gear a la WareWhare. Who cares if you look like a tellytubby if your option is to be wet and uncomfortable? Wet, cold riders are not looking out for themselves, brain/body functions drop once you get past a certain temp. end of rant. Do what you want to do, in the end its your choice.

[DangerMice]

I have some cordura 1tonne sport pants which are about 5 months old. With all the rain the last week I got a very wet crotch and the hems at the bottom were pretty wet, but my thighs and lower legs were pretty dry. Not too bad I thought seeing as it's only supposed to be water resistant. Chuck some cheap overpants on and I'll be sweet for winter I reckon.

[2wheeldrifter]

Don't get it wet.... be waterproof forever :)

my informative 2c worth

[crazyhorse]

Don't get it wet.... be waterproof forever :)



What he said :laugh:

[one fast tl1ooo]

What he said :laugh:

:stupid::lol:

[Berries]

Like Scumdog, I use non bike overtrousers. Got a pair of Marmots from R&R or Rebel sports and have been using them without a leak for over three years, not that it rains much in Dunners. Probably cost about $60, so when they leak I will chuck them out. Five or six years ago I splashed out on a Dainese waterproof jacket, mainly because it didn't look like your standard, in black, motorbike jacket. Worn that every day apart from the one hot summer month each year and it hasn't leaked once. Best bike related buy I have made actually. Scared to wash it.

[2wheeldrifter]

HA HA your with stupid.... :rofl:



goin get my ass kicked for that one.....:innocent:

[cc rider]

The only way I've ever stayed 100% dry is by wearing my one piece telly tubby suit! I look like the evil telly tubby :Punk: wif my black textile gear on. Both waterproof & been in some fun rain & hail.
Usually have water seep up jeans leg (they stick out the bottom of textiles :slap: )

[slofox]

I use Rainbird overtrousers. I just replaced my eighteen year old pair because I ripped them on the bloody door jamb of the garage. They didn't leak in that eighteen years.

[NordieBoy]

I use Rainbird overtrousers. I just replaced my eighteen year old pair because I ripped them on the bloody door jamb of the garage. They didn't leak in that eighteen years.

My Rainbirds were always too bloody short.
The top was fine though.

[Mudfart]

my nordic cordura pants leaked in the crotch the other night, but i found that giant shred after about only 1500kms of wear. the missus says take em back, but meh its a 250km ride into central dauckland, its winter and they were cheap as shit.
you get what you pay for aye?
my dri rider jacket also leaked through the zip area, so it looks like i gotta chuck a raincoat over the top. which is lucky i got a real good quality pants and top.

[grbaker]

Stopped buying expensive Cordura pants for this very reason.

PVC pants keep you dry and don't cost very much to replace when they do start to leak (which depends mostly on how often you wear them).

Wear whatever you like underneath to keep warm and skin-on, but the rolled up PVC pants are always in my bag (just incase).

[imdying]

So we're all agreed then... motorcycle wet weather gear is nothing but a cruel joke, and PVC over trousers/jackets can't be beat. They're impervious to even the worst rain storms, cheap, and roll up small enough to put under your seat. Nice :yes:

[Supertwin Don]

So we're all agreed then... motorcycle wet weather gear is nothing but a cruel joke, and PVC over trousers/jackets can't be beat. They're impervious to even the worst rain storms, cheap, and roll up small enough to put under your seat. Nice :yes:

and they don't leak from the inside out when you make a total cock up !!!

[Muppet]

So we're all agreed then... motorcycle wet weather gear is nothing but a cruel joke, and PVC over trousers/jackets can't be beat. They're impervious to even the worst rain storms, cheap, and roll up small enough to put under your seat. Nice :yes:

Yep you've hit the nail on the head. My two cents worth is buy quality pants with armour for protection when it is dry and carry some PVC gear with you on long distances. I have done two 600 odd km trips in driving Westcoast rain with the best quality gear and a PVC oversuit and the rain still wicked it's way inside via my polar fleece neck warmer. Even the liner in the helmet above my eyes was soaked:blink:.

[george formby]

The dreaded puddling has taken its toll. All the trooser seems meet at your crutch making it the least waterproof area, the moldiest, the most humid & suffers the worst wear & tear. The water runs down your jacket & pools round the family jewels. I'm still looking for a perforated seat...
A cheap pair of overtrousers with welded seams fixes the problem.

[buellbabe]

Yep! I am another who has also had no issues with Revit gear...so far...but i also agree with the view that Cordura is not water PROOF and when I tour I carry an over-jkt and trou that roll up to next-ta-nothing, just in case:yes:

That said I recently bought a new pair of boots that are supposed to be 100% waterproof. A week later I was riding home from work in torrential rain and my feet were wet within 10 mins... being somewhat un-impressed I have returned them to the shop and am awaiting a satisfactory outcome :gob:

[SMOKEU]

My synthetic pants haven't managed to spring any leaks yet.

[Coldrider]

My jacket puckers up in the front holding a pool of water that eventually flows down, leading me to believe my pants leak, but they do not.

[FruitLooPs]

my spike cordura pants held the water out for years until I ripped the internal membrane in the crotch area after using them snowboarding :Oops: Still work well for the most part, bar the obvious uncomfortable damp.

RJays cordura jacket has held up to all except west coast rain for the last 4 years, it's starting to get shoddy velcro and suspect pilling in a few places tho.

[Genie]

I have recently purchased Rev-it rain/wind pants and jacket, reasonable price (pants $68 - Jacket $120), they're both awesome. Wear them over my leathers, got velcro from here to Africa for easy access and firmness in the wearing. They look good too, didn't make my butt look huge! Very important.

I've been out in a couple of heavy duty wind and rain situation and they passed muster with flying colours. I returned home warm and dry plus they fold up real small to fit in my backpack....I must say I'm loving this Rev-it gear, almost as much as I love my bike:love:

[Ghost_Bullet]

I had a dririder kit, and to be honest it was not to bad at all for a weeee while, then when it rained I became wet rider. It let go around the kness, crutch, shoulders and stomoch areas.
I now wear a stretchy bib pants over my Dragons in the wet and remain dry http://www.nzsafety.co.nz/servlet/Srv.Ecos_Signon?CN=15366&AC=185E7D4D361E7D4D&UC=NZSGUEST

As for top half, now wear leather jacket, and when the water falls, throw on a jacket that keeps me dry, of "I cant remember brand"

[jack_hamma]

So if you pants are waterproof... you could piss yourself and no would know? just have squishy boots when you walk lol

[rina]

i bought some revit tribe ladies 'waterproof' pants. i thought they were ok until the next big downpour i got a wet crotch and down my leg following the seam. theres a membrane in them that is shittily heat sealed and looks as if its delaminated, in the space of a few weeks. they were about $170. i still have to wear them. oh and they make my butt look huge.

[davebullet]

So if you pants are waterproof... you could piss yourself and no would know? just have squishy boots when you walk lol

Wear your pants over your boots. Run your trouser snake just beyond the lip of the boots on the outside. You can take a leak on the outside of the boot. Problem solved!