Rain Jacket Reccomendations ( Buyer Be Ware)

[polar]

As an aside, to those of you have Arcteryx products in general, or the Beta AR in particular, how often do you wash it and what procedure do you use?

I never wash my Arc’Teryx goretex shell now, because I never use it in Colorado. But anyway, if you do end up using yours, I’d just wash it once or twice a season or whenever you think it’s too dirty. Follow manufacturer’s recommendations, which is usually use a mild soap or something like Nikwax tech wash, cold water, then either use a spray-on or wash-in DWR on it, tumble dry on the lowest heat.

[JTOlson26]

As an aside, to those of you have Arcteryx products in general, or the Beta AR in particular, how often do you wash it and what procedure do you use?

I never wash my Arc’Teryx goretex shell now, because I never use it in Colorado. But anyway, if you do end up using yours, I’d just wash it once or twice a season or whenever you think it’s too dirty. Follow manufacturer’s recommendations, which is usually use a mild soap or something like Nikwax tech wash, cold water, then either use a spray-on or wash-in DWR on it, tumble dry on the lowest heat.

Thanks for the recommendation.

I didn't buy it as much for Colorado backpacking (or backing packing anywhere for that matter) as much as I did because as a track coach in NE Ohio in the spring, 8 hours of cold rain sucks and it sucks even more when your rain jacket wets out!

[nyker]

A lot of people knock TNF for selling out to the casual street clothes crowd, but I've used one of the original summit series gore tex lite shells on every hike for 12 years and its only recently started to become less waterproof and probably needs to be treated. My TNF soft shell is light, breathable, good fit and helmet compatible. You just have the choose the right gear there and it will last you. Millet also makes pretty good quality shells. I had a Tattoo brand shell which was also great, though heavier. I tried a Black Diamond shell which got me soaked through to the bone after two trips in the Adirondacks, not good.

[polar]

I didn't buy it as much for Colorado backpacking (or backing packing anywhere for that matter) as much as I did because as a track coach in NE Ohio in the spring, 8 hours of cold rain sucks and it sucks even more when your rain jacket wets out!

Well that makes sense. The only time I was glad to have my Arc'teryx shell was in Olympic National Park where it rained 25 hours a day. So if you live somewhere with lots of rain like the PNW or Ohio, I guess you can't go wrong with a goretex jacket.

[easyridertme]

As an aside, to those of you have Arcteryx products in general, or the Beta AR in particular, how often do you wash it and what procedure do you use?

I never wash my Arc’Teryx goretex shell now, because I never use it in Colorado. But anyway, if you do end up using yours, I’d just wash it once or twice a season or whenever you think it’s too dirty. Follow manufacturer’s recommendations, which is usually use a mild soap or something like Nikwax tech wash, cold water, then either use a spray-on or wash-in DWR on it, tumble dry on the lowest heat.

Thanks for the recommendation.

I didn't buy it as much for Colorado backpacking (or backing packing anywhere for that matter) as much as I did because as a track coach in NE Ohio in the spring, 8 hours of cold rain sucks and it sucks even more when your rain jacket wets out!

Elaborating on what polar said, dirt and oil from your skin/sweat can muck up the waterproof/breathable layer and the DWR so the article of clothing doesn't breathe as well and wets out quicker. So how often I wash it depends on things like how hard I've been sweating in it as well as the conditions that I've been using it (snow versus rain/mud). It still only ends up being a few times a season. Residual soap also can cause the same problems, so I always do a second rinse. I could probably stand to treat it more often, but I only reapply the DWR like once a year, at most. Mild soap, thorough rinsing, and tumble drying seems to keep the treatment in good condition for me.

[mtree]

Who washes a rain jacket? I can't fathom how you would get it THAT grimy when you wear it in the rain! And if you tell me you wear it on your naked body, that's just weird. Weird, but fun, maybe, depending on who's wearing it and why...hmmm?! But I digress.