wafflycat said:
"Peewiglet" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
Quoted message said:Quoted message said:What sort do you use? (I'm just wondering whether it's Paramo, with
the reference to reproofing.)
Quoted message said:Nikwax TX Direct.
I don't think quite the answer sought, as Paramo is the clothing branch
of Nikwax rather than a proofing product (though Paramo isn't
particularly more prone to reproofing in this way than many other brands
of more traditional coated or membrane waterproofs AFAICT).
Beyond that, switching into pedant mode, TX-Direct isn't waterproofing
asuch, it's a water repellency treatment. The actual waterproof garment
should be waterproof without it, but the face fabric surface will tend
to wet out easily which in turn reduces the breathability to round about
zip. If the garment is actually physically leaking through the
waterproof layer (Paramo aside that will very probably be a coating on
the inside of the face fabric or a membrane laminated to it) then it's
borked, and using water repellency treatments isn't really going to fix
it. It's actually quite difficult to tell a lot of leaks from
condensation build up, best way is to make a bowl with the garment over
a bucket or similar and make a static pool of water over the suspected
leak zone which will give a hydrostatic head. If drips come through
into the bucket it's leaking, any other dampness on the other side of
the cloth is likely to be condensation.
Next digression, onto Paramo waterproofs (see www.paramo.co.uk)... Okay
on cold days and short trundles at low speed, and garments like the
Velez are well suited to that, but otherwise the liner makes them a bit
warm for cycling (caveat here is I find them a bit warm, period, where
others don't, but enthusiasm amongst cyclists seems to be more muted
than amongst walkers and skiers). Paramo also doesn't keep stuff dry
with direct bodyweight pressure against it (why the trousers have more
conventional waterproof seats), so I wonder how it would do against a
recumbent seat.
Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/
