How Waterproof & Breathability Ratings Work

What is Durable Water Repellent or DWR?

DWR stands for Durable Water Repellent. It is the DWR treatment that keeps the outer layer of your fabric from getting soaked by precipitation. Almost all outerwear exterior fabrics are treated with some sort of DWR. The treatment is meant to keep the fabric from becoming saturated with water which can make the fabric feel heavier, colder, and impacts its performance.

DWR causes water to bead-up and roll off the fabric and is affected by abrasion, dirt and body oils. Falls on the mountain, rubbing against your pack or the chairlift, and normal use can cause the factory DWR treatment to wear off. This is why, after some use, a garment will appear to no longer be waterproof. 

It likely means the fabric needs to be refreshed by smiply washing the garment, re-applying the DWR treatment, or both. Aftermarket DWR treatmens in roll-ons, sprays, and wash-ins are available from companies like Nikwax to re-condition your waterproof/breathable garment after washing. Try a fresh DWR coat if you notice water soaking into the face fabric of your Waterproof/Breathable garments and you have already attempted to refresh the DWR by cleaning your outerwear.

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DWR sprays are best applied to a damp garment after washing and thoroughly rinsing it (do a second rinse cycle without soap before you apply the DWR to make sure no detergent residue remains) and should be heat activated using a medium dryer or iron before use. Read the directions on both your garment and the DWR bottle before you start. We recommend spray DWR products rather than wash-in products, which deposit DWR on the interior of the garment as well as the face fabric and may interfere with the functionality of the membrane.

Note: Laws and regulations governing the use of DWR solutions continue to evolve, spurred by efforts on the part of the European Union and states like California to reduce the amount of PFAS (Perfluoroalkyl) chemicals being released into the environment. Originally, most DWR solutions were very effective "long chain" C8-based (8 carbon atoms in the molecule), but these have been largely banned worldwide due to the toxic "forever chemicals" they leave behind. C8's were replaced by C6 DWR formulas, but these too leave non-degradeable toxic compounds in their wake and are now being phased out in many parts of the world. 

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