Out on the hill, up a rock face or just venturing out around town, your outdoor kit needs to be ready to face the extremities year after year. Nikwax, our favorite fabric treatment solutions, will help your active apparel last longer and perform better over time.
Your performance outerwear and apparel will last longer and perform better when you wash and treat it properly
Why these fabric products instead of the grocery store standbys you use on the rest of your laundry? Because those will remove the technical coatings that your activewear need to perform, or clog the pores specifically designed to make the fabrics breath –the reason you bought technical apparel in the first place.
You’ll know your garments are damaged when you notice:
Condensation during heavy activity (when relative humidity and temperature are high inside the garment, condensation will form on the inside face of the membrane). This can produce enough water inside the garment to convince the wearer that the membrane or coating is leaking.
Reduced breathability: water in the fabric next to the membrane / coating significantly reduces the rate at which body moisture is able to pass through the membrane to the outside air.
Increased garment weight: saturated outer fabrics adds weight to the garment. Condensation within the garment contributes to a noticeable weight gain, especially in garments that have wicking linings.
Nikwax has products specifically designed to care for Gortex, Entrant, eVent, wool, fleece and all the rest and they’re favored by the brand name apparel manufacturers we stock including Spyder, the North Face, Burton, and all the others.
Tech Wash cleans outdoor clothes and will get rid of chalk marks (for you climbers). TX.Direct will renew the waterproofing abilities of your favorite water repellant clothing. For Alpine adventures make sure your insulated clothing is washed with either Tech Wash or Down Wash, and re-proof with Polar Proofor Down Proof. TX.Direct spray-onis also the perfect companion for on-the-hill/rock/mountain DWR renewal. BaseWashand Wool Wash will take care of your baselayers.