Has it ever happened to you that a membrane jacket with high declared water resistance ratings began to repel moisture worse after two or three serious hikes? The raindrops no longer rolled off it, and it felt like moisture was being absorbed into the fabric. Or when, after walking in your favorite membrane boots through heavy dew, you were suddenly surprised to feel dampness in your feet? Or when, after sleeping in a good old tent the night under heavy rain, in the morning you discovered a leak in the outer tent, or even more than one?
If all these situations are familiar to you, or you want to protect yourself in advance from troubles with clothes and equipment, if you are thinking about the durability of your, frankly speaking, expensive modern membrane jackets, pants and shoes, then this article will undoubtedly be for you very useful. In it we will tell you what impregnations for equipment, clothing and shoes are, describe the principles of their operation and try to answer the question: does it make sense to spend money on such an accessory that is optional at first glance?
DWR - a mysterious three-letter word
First, let's understand the very principle of operation of modern impregnations for clothing, shoes and equipment. To do this, we will have to remember a little school physics, namely about the effect of surface tension and the so-called capillary phenomena.
If you convey their meaning in simple and understandable language, then the essence comes down to the fact that water molecules are mutually attracted to each other, forming drops. The less the material is able to absorb water, the larger the droplets on its surface, which means the larger the area freed from the water film.
In relation to hiking, skiing or snowboarding clothing, this means, firstly, that you will remain dry, and secondly, that the “breathing” properties of the fabric will be practically unaffected. And vice versa, in a material that absorbs moisture well, water will fill all the voids between the threads, the fabric will conduct body evaporation out much worse - you will begin to sweat a lot.
The heat-saving air layer between fabric fibers or, say, down feathers will be replaced by water, and you will freeze. In addition, wet fabric weighs much more - it turns out that you are carrying extra weight on yourself.
To prevent water from penetrating into the pores of the fabric, special impregnations are designed. They cover the threads, the water stops being absorbed and collects in drops, which simply roll down the surface without penetrating inside. Scientifically speaking, with the help of impregnation we reduce the wettability of the material and give it hydrophobic, that is, water-repellent properties.
Since ancient times, people have used beeswax and animal fat to protect clothing and equipment from moisture. Indeed, by spreading melted wax, fat, or, more often, a mixture of them on your trousers, boots or jacket, you can give them hydrophobic properties. Even now, many shoe polishes are made using wax. However, such impregnations are not suitable for treating membrane fabrics. The good thing about the membrane is that it allows the vapor coming from your body to be transported out. But wax and fat impregnations quite strongly prevent this, because they clog the pores through which steam is removed from the body.
Modern impregnations that are suitable for treating membrane fabrics mostly consist of two main components: an active substance (one or more) and a solvent. After application to the surface, the solvent evaporates, and the active substance penetrates into the fabric fibers and gives them water-repellent properties, without interfering with the movement of steam molecules. Such products are called Durable Water Repellent - durable water-repellent impregnations, or DWR for short.
How to choose a product? Main selection criteria
The main criterion is the composition of the water-repellent spray. Usually the list of ingredients includes mink oil, goose or seal oil with the function of creating an invisible repellent layer. A small amount of natural substances is concentrated in the products.
For example, impregnation for suede clothing must contain fluorocarbon resins. When replacing them in the composition with silicone, you should not expect great results. In this situation, the product will impede air movement rather than repel liquid.
An additional criterion is the purpose of the impregnation and what material it is suitable for. Possible options: for nubuck, for textiles, for leather, for patent leather, for daily use or not.
Also, when choosing, you need to pay attention to popular models and the best manufacturers. Nowadays, Collonil and Salamander are considered one of the most popular manufacturers.
The mistake when choosing is not to take into account the presence of all 3 criteria together.
Types of durable water-repellent impregnations
As for impregnations for membrane fabrics, it should be said right away that any membrane item already has such impregnation, by default. However, over time, it inevitably wears off from mechanical influences, rain, repeated washing and other factors unfavorable to it. For membrane-free tissues the situation is different. You yourself can give them water-repellent properties for a certain period of time. The duration of this period depends, first of all, on the operating conditions of the fabric. Thus, high-quality processing of a pair of ordinary trekking shoes without a membrane is enough on average for one hike in the middle mountains lasting 7-10 days. Under standard urban wear conditions, this period increases up to a month.
By the way, we have a detailed article about city shoe models from the Italian company Dolomite
Based on the type of solvent, DWRs are divided into water-based impregnations and fluorocarbon-based impregnations. The former are safe for humans and the environment; they can be applied to both dry and wet surfaces. The latter are only suitable for dry fabrics and skin, have a rather pungent odor and require careful handling. They should be sprayed either outdoors or in a well-ventilated area.
According to their areas of application, DWR impregnations are divided into three large groups:
- impregnation for clothing
- impregnation for shoes
- impregnation for equipment.
Impregnations for clothes
These include impregnations for fabrics both with and without a membrane, as well as impregnations for fabrics with insulation. The fundamental requirement for such products is that they do not reduce the vapor permeability of the products. Fortunately, modern high-quality impregnations successfully cope with this task.
There are two ways to use DWR for clothing: you can simply add such a product to the washing machine the next time you wash, for example, your membrane jacket or trousers, or treat the fabric after it has been washed. In any case, the material being processed must be clean. Otherwise, the impregnation simply will not lie smoothly, and the beneficial effect will not be the same. It is recommended to use special detergents to clean membrane fabrics. They take care of the structure of such fabrics and do not violate their properties.
Detergent GRANGERS performance wash 300 ml
790
Buy
Down Detergent GRANGERS 2021-22 clothing care kit 275 ml + 300 ml + 60 ml
2 590
Buy
Washing For Membrane Fabrics Sibearian tech wash 400 ml
599
The question often arises: how to properly wash sportswear in order to preserve its quality for as long as possible? We wrote a special article that tells you how to do this
Applying impregnation during washing or manually. What is better and how to use it?
As in the case of clothing, there are products that combine the properties of a cleaner and impregnation itself. They allow you to quickly and effectively not only clean a thing, remove excess odors, but also restore or even give, for example, water-repellent properties to your down sleeping bag.
In a special article we tell you how to choose the right sleeping bag?
For machine washing, impregnations are produced in ordinary plastic containers, and for manual processing, as a rule, in bottles with mechanical sprayers. Both options are good for use, but adding the product to the washing machine tray and pressing a button, you see, is somewhat easier than spraying the liquid evenly yourself, removing its excess with a sponge or clean rag and making sure that drops do not fly around.
Impregnation GRANGERS clothing repel pouch 100 ml
690
Buy
Impregnation GRANGERS clothing repel 300 ml
1 390
Buy
Impregnated Laundry Detergent Sibearian 2021-22 go! 250 ml
799
Buy
Washing For Membrane Fabrics Sibearian tech wash 400 ml
599
Impregnation GRANGERS 2021-22 performance repel plus eco refill 275 ml
890
Buy
Some manufacturers, for example, the English company Granger's, produce two-in-one laundry detergents - this is both a high-quality cleaner and impregnation, as they say, in one bottle. All you have to do is add it to the washing machine tray according to the instructions, select the appropriate mode and start the washing process.
Impregnation GRANGERS 2in1 wash & repel 1000 ml
2 590
Buy
Impregnation GRANGERS 2in1 wash & repel 300 ml
1 390
Buy
Laundry Detergent GRANGERS 2021-22 performance wash 300 ml
1 190
Buy
Before use, the manufacturer recommends closing all zippers, as well as Velcro flaps and pockets of your clothing. Two full caps of product are enough to clean and treat one large item such as a jacket or pants, and for each subsequent item you will need to add another full cap. For top-loading washing machines, double the dose. The recommended temperature for washing is no higher than 30 ° C. With such a warm wash, even the most fastidious membrane will not lose its properties, and, in addition, your energy bill will be lower.
Washing with impregnation of clothes with insulation
For products with down or synthetic insulation, other impregnations and washing agents are required, because they must be very careful about the structure of the insulation, preventing it from matting. A solution that may be useful here is to add special balls to the washing machine drum. They are designed precisely to break up the insulation and prevent it from sticking together in lumps. This solution allows you to most effectively clean the inner insulating layer of your down jacket or sleeping bag.
GRANGERS down wash kit 300 ml
1 590
Buy
detergent GRANGERS down wash pouch 100 ml
390
Buy
Down Washing Product GRANGERS wash + repel down 2 in 1 300 ml
1 690
Buy
GRANGERS down care kit (2 in 1 wash & repel) 300 ml
2 290
- All clothes with down in "Kant"
- All down sleeping bags at Kant
Washing with impregnation of woolen clothes, soft shell, sports equipment
There are also detergents for washing wool products on the market. They are designed taking into account the nuances and characteristics of washing such fabrics. For example, Granger's Merino Wash not only removes dirt and odors, but also contains cedar extract, which is a natural moth repellent.
Detergent GRANGERS merino wash 300 ml
790
Buy
Detergent GRANGERS merino wash
890
Buy
Laundry Detergent TOKO eco wool wash 250ml
290
Buy
Similar specialized washing products are available for softshell products and for sportswear and equipment (gloves, liners, helmets, etc.) where sometimes it is necessary to remove particularly stubborn odors and dirt.
Washing set GRANGERS activewear care kit 750 ml
2 490
Buy
new
Detergent GRANGERS active wash 750 ml
1 490
Buy
Impregnations for shoes
Before soaking shoes, just like with clothes, they must be thoroughly cleaned of dirt. To do this, it is better to use a special cleaning agent. It is guaranteed not to spoil the appearance of your boots or sneakers and will remove dirt efficiently.
Detergent GRANGERS footwear & gear cleaner 275 ml
790
Buy
Cleaner Sibearian 2021-22 bubble cleaning foam 150 ml
599
Buy
Detailed article about trekking boots. What are they? Differences, features, selection criteria
- All trekking boots at Kant
- All trekking shoes in Kant
For obvious reasons, products that must be added to the washing machine are not suitable for treating boots and sneakers. Water-repellent impregnations are applied to shoes in the form of a spray. Moreover, some manufacturers even divide their products according to the type of surface being treated. Thus, the Sibearian company produces impregnation sprays for shoes made of smooth leather and separately for shoes made of suede and nubuck.
Impregnation Sibearian 2020-21 protect hero impregneerspray
799
Buy
Impregnated Laundry Detergent Sibearian 2021-22 nano 150 ml
699
Buy
Detergent with impregnation Sibearian 2021-22 protect water-repellent 150 ml
599
Buy
Impregnated Laundry Detergent Sibearian 2021-22 protect hero 335 ml
799
Buy
Compact bottles of impregnation with a volume of 50 ml are convenient to take with you on a trip.
Impregnated Laundry Detergent Sibearian 2021-22 nano 50 ml
399
Buy
Impregnation Sibearian 2020-21 protect 50 ml
349
Buy
It’s worth noting that the idea of treating your shoes with a water-repellent treatment is not only good for hiking boots. Any city shoes experience heavy loads during the off-season and in winter from rain, snow, mud and road reagents. Impregnation significantly increases the service life of all your shoes, prevents stains and discoloration. This is especially true for suede shoes, which easily absorb moisture and get dirty.
You can successfully use impregnations to treat ordinary membraneless running sneakers and boots with shoe canvas uppers. This will protect your feet from splashing water, light rain and snow, while maintaining the breathability of the shoe.
Well, to provide traditional protection for your smooth leather boots, regular high-quality creams that are applied in the traditional way are perfect - using a shoe brush or a piece of cloth. For example, Granger's produces water-repellent impregnations based on natural beeswax. This protection does not contain any harmful chemical compounds. The wax simply needs to be applied with a soft napkin or cloth to a clean, dry shoe and rub a thin layer over the surface. It is better to do this two or three times as the impregnation is absorbed.
Such wax impregnations are an excellent option for preserving products made from smooth natural leather for summer or winter.
By the way, does everyone remember the rules for preserving shoes? If not, we will briefly remind you.
In order for your favorite boots to survive winter or summer without problems, you need to take a few simple steps.
Wash your shoes thoroughly before storing
Special cleaning products are best suited for this. They will easily remove dirt even deep from microcracks in the skin, without damaging either it or the moisture-protective membrane underneath (if there is one, of course).
GRANGERS 2021-22 footwear care kit 275 ml x 2 plus 100 ml x 1
3 090
Buy
Detergent GRANGERS footwear & gear cleaner 275 ml
790
Buy
Shoe Brush GRANGERS footwear brush
890
Buy
Tip: It is convenient to clean dirt that has become embedded in hard-to-reach places on your boots with a special brush.
After cleaning, shoes should be thoroughly dried.
If necessary, take the shoes to a repair shop for repairs and defect removal.
Dirt, outdoor deicing agents, mechanical abrasion - all these are factors that greatly influence the “longevity” of your boots. This is especially true for trekking shoes, because the loads and tests they are subjected to in the mountains, on screes of sharp stones and on glaciers are very great. Accordingly, if there are any minor damages, it is better to immediately repair them without delay.
Advice: be sure to check the integrity and strength of the laces; if necessary, replace them immediately, otherwise during the season you may not remember that everything is wrong with them, and suddenly discover this already on a hike.
Apply conditioner cream or wax to your boots
Shoe Wax GRANGERS waterproofing wax 100 ml
790
Buy
Shoe Cream GRANGERS leather conditioner 75 ml
790
Buy
Shoe Wax GRANGERS g-wax
590
Buy
They must be applied in a thin layer over the entire outer surface and polished with a dry soft cloth or rag. How to do this is shown in these videos.
Remember that not only the outside of the shoe requires care, but also the inside.
Before preservation, remove the insoles and dry them thoroughly, treat both sides with a product to remove bacteria and unpleasant odors. It is necessary to spray antibacterial deodorant on all sides of the insole, since it is often on its inner side that the lion's share of all harmful bacteria is formed. Pay attention to the lining of your shoes - just like on the insoles, apply the product to them. This will protect your boots from possible mold formation and prevent the growth of bacteria.
Persistent Odor Remover GRANGERS odour eliminator 100 ml
890
Buy
Odor neutralizer Helmetex shoes 100 ml
749
Buy
Helmetex Odor Neutralizer for sports shoes 120 ml
599
Buy
Odor neutralizer Helmetex pro (100 ml)
599
Buy
After all these steps, it is advisable to put city shoes on a form holder or special lasts
The most affordable ones in terms of price and quality are now made of foam, often with an additional soft coating. They are also sometimes treated with an antibacterial substance. Thanks to these pads, folds and creases in the skin are straightened out. It is important to straighten the top of boots and store them exactly like this.
Hiking boots are usually made of thick leather that is not prone to wrinkling. You can simply stuff them with thick paper.
Advice: do not throw away the printed paper that comes with your shoes - you will need it for preservation.
It is best to store shoes either in their “original” box, or, if the shoes or boots have natural fur or wool, in a separate sealed container - to protect them from moths
Particularly valuable boots are often placed in soft bags to prevent them from scratching or rubbing against each other.
A box or container with preserved shoes should be placed away from sunlight, dampness and heat sources such as radiators and heaters. A closet, a compartment inside the sofa, a wardrobe shelf or just a place under the bed will do. It is better not to put shoes on the balcony - changes in temperature and humidity can play a cruel joke on them.
Simple but effective treatment with special products, basic care and proper conservation will significantly extend the life of your boots and keep your wallet thick.
The protective layer you apply will not allow the natural leather to dry out, deteriorate, or lose its properties and appearance. In addition, such products not only protect boots from dirt, water and grease stains, but also, penetrating into the leather, soften and nourish it. It is important to remember that these impregnations and protective creams are, for obvious reasons, categorically not suitable for shoes made from fluffy leather, such as suede or velor.
Shoe Wax GRANGERS waterproofing wax 100 ml
790
Buy
Shoe Cream GRANGERS leather conditioner 75 ml
790
Buy
Shoe Wax GRANGERS g-wax
590
Buy
Special products stand out for cleaning and impregnating rubber shoes. If you are the owner of a pair of fishing boots, for example, then Grangers Rubber Boot Care will help you restore their glossy surface and effectively remove dirt and mold.
Impregnation for Rubber Shoes GRANGERS rubber boot care 150 ml
790
Buy
Impregnations for equipment
To treat tourist, mountaineering, and freeriding equipment, such as tents and backpacks, the third type of impregnation is used. Here, maintaining the vapor permeability of the material no longer plays a role: the durability and durability of the applied layer of impregnation itself, as well as giving the equipment maximum water-repellent properties, come to the fore.
The processing principle is still the same. First, we thoroughly clean the equipment, in the case of a tent, we assemble it, then, using a spray bottle and a sponge, we apply and evenly distribute a water-repellent agent. How often your tent needs to be treated depends on the conditions and how often it is used. With active use from heavy rains and mechanical friction when folded in a backpack, the impregnation wears off quite quickly, so it is advisable to renew it approximately once a year.
The same company Granger's offers a high-quality product in this segment.
GRANGERS 2021-22 Gear Care Kit tent + gear care kit 500 ml x 2
3 190
GRANGERS tent + gear cleaner 500 ml
1 190
Buy
Useful gear articles to help you better understand what's best for your adventures:
- How to choose the right travel mat. Options and solutions
- Super lightweight tents. Fabrics, volumes, accessories. What is “taken away”, what is “added”
- How to protect your eyes from the sun, cold air and dirt? New Alpina glasses for the Summer 2021 season: technologies and bestsellers
- TOP 10 little things that will make a tourist’s life easier
- How the knees had fun going to the mountains or the secrets of trekking poles
- How to choose the right camping stove
- Shoes with GORE-TEX® and Vibram®: double whammy for off-road use
- How to lighten a backpack?
- Petzl lights. Full overview of the entire 2022 collection. And even more!
Washing and processing of woolen items, soft shell fabrics, as well as sports equipment
Impregnated products for washing wool differ from others in that manufacturers have taken into account all the nuances of washing woolen clothes. Granger's Merino Wash not only removes dirt and odors, but also contains cedar extract, which is a natural moth repellent. There are also specialized compositions that are designed for washing sports equipment, gloves, helmets - where it is necessary to remove particularly stubborn dirt.
Is it necessary or not?
I think after reading this article no one has any doubts. Impregnations are needed! They preserve the breathability of your membrane clothing and shoes, make initially wet materials water-repellent, and help outer tents and backpacks last longer.
Jacket after water test. One half of the jacket was treated with a water-repellent treatment, but the other was not. © grangers.co.uk
Modern impregnations are safe for humans and the environment and easy to use. Among the world's manufacturers of care products for clothing, footwear and equipment, one of the leaders is the English company Granger's.
It was the first company of its kind to be awarded the Bluesign mark - a strict quality standard that requires respect for natural resources and human health. The Swiss Bluesign quality system was created to solve the problem of toxicity in light industry, and the Bluesign certificate confirms the exclusion of substances harmful and hazardous to humans from the production process. The products are widely represented in the Kant chain of stores.
Impregnations and washing and cleaning products from the Granger's brand, as well as from other companies such as Sibearian, perfectly clean and protect your clothes, shoes and equipment from moisture, providing you with comfort and safety both on the ski slopes, while traveling, hiking and mountaineering, as well as and in everyday urban use. They are easy to apply, have been tested for quality over the years, and meet high environmental standards.
- All impregnations and detergents for washing clothes
- All shoe care products
We highly recommend purchasing all the necessary shoe and clothing care products from Kant stores after a personal visit and consultation with our professional sales staff. However, if you are sure that the model will 100% suit you, then our online store is at your service.
When purchasing online, we offer various payment systems:
- cash to courier
- Bank transaction
- on the map
- by installments
- using a gift certificate
All details on different forms of payment
If you don’t have time to visit offline stores, then we can deliver the purchased clothes directly to you: by courier or transport company. We also organize delivery to legal entities.
All details about the delivery of purchased goods
We also offer curbside pickup from a store near you if that's more convenient for you.
What to look for when choosing a moisture repellent
Impregnation is chosen for specific products. For different materials you will need to buy different products. Some compositions are stated as universal and suitable for leather, suede, textiles, this is indicated in the product description.
If the shoes are made of artificial materials, impregnation can harm them, although it is safe for natural leather or suede. In this case, you should further familiarize yourself with the effect of this composition on the material of the boots.
Water-repellent effect on suede
Water-repellent impregnation with a large amount of silicone is often undesirable. This component forms a film in micropores on the surface of the shoe, which provides reliable moisture protection, but eliminates an important advantage of high-quality material - “breathability”. Closed winter shoes treated in this way become uncomfortable and get wet from the inside.
An abstract description of a water repellent without specifying specific components is a reason to choose a different composition.
New items at Kant:
- Temporary changes to store opening hours
- Cross-country ski equipment for athletes. Full set. Everything is ready for the 21/22 season
- New “winter” collections. Hurry before temporary closure
- Updated Thermos collection
- It's warmer with the Arctic
- Bobber thermoses. Record heat retention
- 10% discount on winter goods for Second Hand customers
- Seasonal bicycle storage with maintenance
- A clear victory for Deuter in independent research. Backpacks and sleeping bags are the best!
- Collection "Autumn 2021" from Petzl in "Kant". Flashlights and climbing equipment
- The best autumn adventures - with Salomon clothing
- Mizuno super-collection “Winter 21-22” is available in “Kant”
- The new Saucony collection “Winter 21-22” is in “Kant”... and Endorphin_2 too”!
- Running “rockets” from adidas exclusively in Kant!
- Everything for cross-country skiing 2022 -2022 already in Kant!
- There is no bad weather! The right Reima clothes for a child in the off-season
- New collection of KV+ ski poles
- Custom anatomical insoles in 15 minutes
