Waterproof Wading Jackets

[Bushy1]

I was fishing on Sunday in what was probably the heaviest rain I've encountered for some time and got absolutely soaked to the skin. The annoying thing was i was wearing my new Wilderness wading jacket that i only purchased in June. Has anyone in the forum had similar problems or can i expect it to leak like a sieve everytime the rain is heavy and persitant ?

G

[superscot]

very simple send it back ! Not doing the purpose it was sold for

[Pearly Invicta]

Breathables will always let water in eventually.  Oilskins are your best bet, but you'll get soaked by condensation on the inside!

[davy_virdee]

The annoying thing was i was wearing my new Wilderness wading jacket that i only purchased in June. Has anyone in the forum had similar problems or can i expect it to leak like a sieve every time the rain is heavy and persistent ?

http://www.grahamsonline.co.uk/product.php?ID=3691
Is this it?

Most "water proofs" are nothing of the sort, unless as others have said, it's an oilskin!
My other big "Hobby" is climbing and mountaineering, and even my  gore-tex jackets I have soak through in the heaviest rain.
Why don't they work?
As others said:
-Condensation - you'll stay dry but get soaked from sweat;
-All jackets have at least three big holes in them: one for for each arm and one for your head - water eventually soaks up your arm and down your neck, even with a hood up.
-Zips and stitching - jackets always leak abit around seems and zips and pockets
-Material - at the end of the day, was your jacket sold as fully water-proof jacket? Does it say "guaranteed water proof"? if it does - take it back; if not I'm sorry to say it's just not up to the job it's advertised or sold - again, take it back and moan you were mis-sold it.

For breathable water proofs (like gore-tex eVent and other things) it's important to *keep them clean* - they work by breathing, and as soon as they get dirty they "wet-out": the "pores" get clogged and the water-repellency fails and the jackets stop breathing effectively. Condensation builds up. Most breathable synthetic jackets can be washed in the machine - just follow the instructions on the label and don;'t use liquid cleaners nor fabric conditioners.


There's a good guide here:
http://www.gore-tex.co.uk/remote/Satellite?c=fabrics_cont_land_c&childpagename=goretex_en_GB%2Ffabrics_cont_land_c%2FWashingInstructionsLanding&cid=1148660785964&pagename=SessionWrapper

and also  Nixwax and Grangers make good cleaning and re-proofing products:
http://www.nikwax.co.uk
http://www.stay-dry.co.uk/

-although these products won't make a piece of clothing that isn't waterproof waterproof - it'll just improve the water-repellency.

On cooler and days I use a jacket like this to fish in:
http://www.montane.co.uk/productdetails.php?productid=99&rid=10
(but in a dark colour)
It's fantastic, warm, keeps me dry and light - although I do look like a climber who's taken up fishing, rather than a proper fisherman :-) (which I suppose I am!!)

Davy