PSA: My "waterproof" jacket failed me in a 10 minute downpour last Tuesday

I was walking home from the bus stop in Portland when the sky just opened up. Paid $85 for this jacket at REI because the tag said it could handle heavy rain. I got absolutely soaked through the shoulders before I even made it three blocks. Has anyone else had luck with a specific spray-on waterproofing treatment that actually works?

3 comments

3 Comments

kimmurphy1mo ago

Honestly just get some Nikwax wash-in. Works way better than the spray on stuff.

spencer_coleman1mo ago

Gotta agree with @kimmurphy on the Nikwax wash-in - my jacket looked like a sponge after a similar Portland surprise (and I definitely did not look cool standing dripping wet at the bus stop). Spray-on stuff just seems to bounce off after one wash for me.

jennifer8331mo ago

Ugh YES exactly! That bus stop drip is the WORST way to start your day. I think the spray-on stuff is a total scam honestly. It just sits on top of the fabric and then flakes off after a few washes. The key with the wash-in is you gotta really work it into the seams and zippers. I usually run my jacket through a full cycle with the Nikwax, then let it air dry for like 24 hours. Makes all the difference in the world for that Portland monsoon season.