Washing cordura...

[Ragingrob]

Ok so it's summer time, my jacket inner is in my wardrobe, typical under-jacket clothing = singlet, typical summer riding = sweat = jacket smelling, typical method to wash = ??? You tell me!
:sweatdrop:argh::crazy:

[tri boy]

Bike shops sell single packet Cordura wash. Don't use laundry powder. (it blocks the breathable fabrics.
Larger quantities also available.
You may wish to re waterproof the jacket with appropriate agents. (can't remember its name, too many Bourbons consumed, hick!).

[Blackbird]

Nikwax Tech wash for cleaning, followed by Nikwax TX Wash-in for waterproofing. Superb products. Available from motorcycle and accessory shops and outdoors/camping outlets. As Tri-Boy says, NEVER use detergents etc

Have a look at their website: http://www.nikwax.com/en-us/activity/index.php?activity=MOTORBIKING

[Ragingrob]

Cheers I'll look into that!

[Swoop]

Cordura in summertime is why I went with leather... The cordura was getting a wash every week - PHEW!!!!

I just hand-washed mine in the tub with a bit of whatever detergent (cold water surf mainly) was on hand. It never affected the waterproofing (onto the 4th winter this year with the same cordura jacket).

[Grub]

It never affected the waterproofing.

No but it does stop the breathing of the jacket to let your thweat out. That's why it stinks, silly.

The cortex membrane and cordura are quite hi-tech in that the wet stuff on yer body can get out whilst the larger rain drops don't get in. Don't ask me anymore, that's as technical as I know.

What the detergent does is blocks the breathing ability of the fabrics

[Swoop]

No but it does stop the breathing of the jacket to let your thweat out. That's why it stinks, silly.

What the detergent does is blocks the breathing ability of the fabrics
It only gets worn on winter days and I'm more concerned with keeping rain out at that stage!:laugh:
It was a sweaty, smelly bastard from the beginning and needed to be tortured with washing on a regular basis.:headbang:

Good greif I love leather!

[Macktheknife]

Another product is called 'sportwash' and can be obtained from many M/C stores and also hunting and fishing shops, no residue and no perfumes, restores waterproofing in Cordura to original levels.

[howdamnhard]

Sounds like its time I washed my,Dryrider gear as its more like wetrider at the moment:argh:.Got soaked in the one and only downpour of the day riding to work.Spent the rest of the day in damp clothes:angry2:

[Ragingrob]

Yeah I'm gonna be getting leathers when I grab some cash ay, correct me if I'm wrong but leathers are NOT waterproof right?

[Blue Velvet]

Ok so it's summer time, my jacket inner is in my wardrobe, typical under-jacket clothing = singlet, typical summer riding = sweat = jacket smelling, typical method to wash = ??? You tell me!
:sweatdrop:argh::crazy:

Hoses are FTW :2thumbsup

Minimal effort and all that...

[vifferman]

Yeah I'm gonna be getting leathers when I grab some cash ay, correct me if I'm wrong but leathers are NOT waterproof right?
My new jacket is.


Hoses are FTW :2thumbsup

Minimal effort and all that...
Nah, I just chuck my gear in the washing machine. It makes a lot of noise, but it saves my back and arms.

[007XX]

Nikwax Tech wash for cleaning, followed by Nikwax TX Wash-in for waterproofing. Superb products. Available from motorcycle and accessory shops and outdoors/camping outlets. As Tri-Boy says, NEVER use detergents etc

Have a look at their website: http://www.nikwax.com/en-us/activity/index.php?activity=MOTORBIKING

+1...this is really awesome stuff. Hubby and I use it on our gear because it doesn't cost the earth, a bottle does last a few washes (depending on how much gear you have of course) and the waterproofing of your gear will last so much longer.

[Blue Velvet]

...it saves my back and arms.

How do hoses hurt? If you set up right, you don't even have to hold it...

Oh let me guess, being an unco you get tangled in it huh? Or is it something to do with Satan?

[Ragingrob]

My new jacket is.



Really?? What brand!

[vifferman]

How do hoses hurt? If you set up right, you don't even have to hold it...
I meant that washing it in the machine was the easiest option. Road spooge won't wash out with just a hose.
Maybe a waterblaster and detergent might work though....


Oh let me guess, being an unco you get tangled in it huh? Or is it something to do with Satan?
Yes, and yes!
How did you guess? :confused:

[vifferman]

Really?? What brand!
Macna.
I haven't tested it in the rain yet.
You can waterproof leather - the hard part is the seams (apply lots of SnoSeal or beeswax) and any zips (unless they're self-sealing ones like on the Macna and my old Teknic), but the Macna also has a waterproof liner.
The Teknic has leather panels on the shoulders and lower sleeves, and to ensure their waterproofness, I had to spray them thoroughly with silicon. Not the best for longevity of leather, but the jacket's now 7 or 8 years old, so meh!

[jrandom]

I cherish the years of accumulated bug corpses, dried sweat molecules and road spooge that enstiffen the cowhide of my riding attire.

Shame on you all for your candy-arse 'washing' practices!

Shame on you, I say.

[Blue Velvet]

I cherish the years of accumulated bug corpses, dried sweat molecules and road spooge...

My bugs and road spooge wash off in the rain :(

[jrandom]

My bugs and road spooge washes off in the rain :(

Would you like to borrow some of my spooge?

It's obviously stickier than the norm.

[Blue Velvet]

Would you like to borrow some of my spooge?

Maybe just send me your weta so I can mash him up and spread him :eek:

[pritch]

You can waterproof leather -

I like your optimism, but it is sadly misplaced.

"Waterproof" leather is fine in a shower of rain but in a deluge for any length of time it will get soaked, it will weigh a ton, and will take almost forever to dry.

There are (relatively inexpensive) nylon oversuits which make leather a better proposition in the rain, but Gore Tex still has the big reputation.

I'm not biased, I have both, the jury still out as to the efficacy of Gore-Tex but I'm hopeful. Then again my optimism may be equally misplaced...

[Blackbird]

I like your optimism, but it is sadly misplaced.

"Waterproof" leather is fine in a shower of rain but in a deluge for any length of time it will get soaked, it will weigh a ton, and will take almost forever to dry.

There are (relatively inexpensive) nylon oversuits which make leather a better proposition in the rain, but Gore Tex still has the big reputation.

I'm not biased, I have both, the jury still out as to the efficacy of Gore-Tex but I'm hopeful. Then again my optimism may be equally misplaced...

Well said - completely agree:niceone: Leather is supposed to breathe and loading it up with Sno-seal or similar reduces this ability. Somewhere in the world, there must be Gore-Tex available which actually delivers in a south island west coast deluge for hours on end but neither my Tecnics nor Arlen Ness jackets quite make it. My cheap Spool 2 piece plastic suit does, however; deliver in full. It might not look all that stylish and flaps a bit over 110 km/hr, but that's a small price to pay for being warm and dry.

[vifferman]

I like your optimism, but it is sadly misplaced.

"Waterproof" leather is fine in a shower of rain but in a deluge for any length of time it will get soaked, it will weigh a ton, and will take almost forever to dry.
Yes, I've had that experience (had two leather jackets before the Teknic). Most (many?) leather garments (and gloves and boots) now come treated with a water-resistant coating, but of course, that only works when they're new, and gradually loses its effectiveness. Plus (also) it depends on the seams being treated after the garment is assembled, as the stitching acts as a wonderful conduit to suck water inside.

Frankly, I'm not a fan of waterproofing via a membrane - I prefer to keep the water on the outside. My pants have a breathable membrane (non-removable), and it is clammy and breathes very poorly, IMHO. Plus when it does rain, the water pools in places and runs down the membrane, the cooling effect making it feel exactly like it has got through if I don't have the thermal liner in.

The Teknic was much better - the external fabric was itself waterproof and breathable via a coating on the inside surface. Unfortunately, the fabric itself wasn't as abrasion-resistant as it could have been, and also the water wicking down through the fabric ended up in pockets etc. In the end, I just gave up and put two or three coats of silicon spray on it. It might have 'ruined' the breathability, but breathability at a microscopic level is not very effective if you are really hot and need macroscopic cooling.

It's a compromise, innit? :spudwhat:
I've tried it all: waterproofed leathers; oilskins; Line7 PVC bike gear (100% waterproof, but so's a giant plastic bag); leathers with cheap jacket and pants over it; leathers with a rainsuit over the top (waterproof, but the worst! Any hints of solar radiation, and I broiled!); and waterproof jacket and leather pants with Motoline waterproof nylon overpants (the best, but the pants were slipperyish on the seat).

[Pixie]

No but it does stop the breathing of the jacket to let your thweat out. That's why it stinks, silly.

The cortex membrane and cordura are quite hi-tech in that the wet stuff on yer body can get out whilst the larger rain drops don't get in. Don't ask me anymore, that's as technical as I know.

What the detergent does is blocks the breathing ability of the fabrics

It doesn't stop the breathability.Phosphate deposits make the breathable membrane water permeable - it leaks

[Pixie]

Another product is called 'sportwash' and can be obtained from many M/C stores and also hunting and fishing shops, no residue and no perfumes, restores waterproofing in Cordura to original levels.

Better value for the money

[Pixie]

Macna.
I haven't tested it in the rain yet.
You can waterproof leather - the hard part is the seams (apply lots of SnoSeal or beeswax) and any zips (unless they're self-sealing ones like on the Macna and my old Teknic), but the Macna also has a waterproof liner.
The Teknic has leather panels on the shoulders and lower sleeves, and to ensure their waterproofness, I had to spray them thoroughly with silicon. Not the best for longevity of leather, but the jacket's now 7 or 8 years old, so meh!
This is an on going misunderstanding of textile gear.The waterproof bit is the breathable membrane (Goretex,H2out etc)
The outer shell (cordura,nylon etc)will allow water through-the membrane stops it.It will feel cold and wet but check your inner clothing and it will be dry.
Spraying silicone and soaking the outer shell will risk damaging the membrane.
If the gear leaks the membrane is dirty or rooted

[vifferman]

Well said - completely agree:niceone: Leather is supposed to breathe and loading it up with Sno-seal or similar reduces this ability.
Meh - let it breathe from the inside.


My cheap Spool 2 piece plastic suit ...might not look all that stylish and flaps a bit over 110 km/hr, but that's a small price to pay for being warm and dry.
Yeah.
Like I said, I don't think there's a perfect solution - it's all compromise. I thought I had the perfect compromise with the Teknic (loaded up with silicon) and the leather pants. It was so easy to slip on the Motoline pants over the top, and they took up very little room, being waterproofed nylon (PVC treated and seam-sealed). But... I had to stop wearing them, as after I added better armour to the knees, they cut off too much circulation. Plus, as I said, they were slippery on the seat - not treacherously so, just annoying.

I like the technical "4 season" suits, and was perhaps dazzled by the apparent versatility they seem to offer, given our unpredictable maritime climate. In hindsight, I think maybe a plain leather jacket with a Motoline or similar jacket to keep the water out would've been better. But at least I don't have to cart extra stuff around with me to avoid getting caught out by the weather.

[vifferman]

This is an on going misunderstanding of textile gear.The waterproof bit is the breathable membrane (Goretex,H2out etc)
The outer shell (cordura,nylon etc)will allow water through-the membrane stops it.It will feel cold and wet but check your inner clothing and it will be dry.
Spraying silicone and soaking the outer shell will risk damaging the membrane.
If the gear leaks the membrane is dirty or rooted
I think you misunderstood me, Mr Pixie.
The Teknic has an unusual fabric, which is Cordura with the membrane actually bonded to the inner surface. (So it looks dull and Cordura-like on the outside, and shinyish on th inside). Like you said, the water wicked down through the Cordura, but not through the inner surface. However, because it had abrasion holes in the sleeves, I'd had leather patches put on. So now the fabric's modus operandi if you will, was effectively circumvented by rows of needle holes in many places. Also, the fabric was tired (too much road spooge and too many washes), so the membrane was effectively fookt. Soaking the fabric with silicon so it repelled water, rather than wicking it away, was my only option. Apart from getting wet.:crazy:

[Pixie]

I think you misunderstood me, Mr Pixie.
The Teknic has an unusual fabric, which is Cordura with the membrane actually bonded to the inner surface. (So it looks dull and Cordura-like on the outside, and shinyish on th inside). Like you said, the water wicked down through the Cordura, but not through the inner surface. However, because it had abrasion holes in the sleeves, I'd had leather patches put on. So now the fabric's modus operandi if you will, was effectively circumvented by rows of needle holes in many places. Also, the fabric was tired (too much road spooge and too many washes), so the membrane was effectively fookt. Soaking the fabric with silicon so it repelled water, rather than wicking it away, was my only option. Apart from getting wet.:crazy:

That is a different fabric,then.I have only seen that type of cordura used for luggage.
Needle holes are bad - 'tis why membranes are HF welded

[vifferman]

That is a different fabric,then.I have only seen that type of cordura used for luggage.
Needle holes are bad - 'tis why membranes are HF welded
Yeah, it's the only bike jacket I've seen like that, and like I said it wasn't the greatest for abrasion resistance. My first 'off' wearing it was a lowside at about 30 km/h, resulting in a coin-sized hole in one sleeve. This had to be fixed by gluing a patch over the inside with rubber cement to effect a waterproof (albeit non-breathable) repair. Once it had the leather over the top on abrasion-prone areas, it became and almost-ideal jacket, apart from requiring occasional drowning in Scotchgard.