Waterproof clothing test

Scillypete

Scillypete

Well-Known Member
Joined
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Isles of Scilly
www.peteandspamgosailing.blogspot.com
Of late I have discovered the hard way that some so called hi tech waterproof clothing basically isn't. Since the drought was declared I have had the opportunity to test several that I have purchased over the years whilst having to go out and walk the dog.

Compass marine breathable/waterproof offshore suit, purchased five years ago, leaks like a sieve . . . it was cheap but quite probably a waste of money.

Musto, coastal jacket now reaching the ten year mark and has done sterling service over the years and now also leaks like a sieve . . . . not so cheap but had good wear out of it before it deteriorated to the sad state it is now in.

a high street brand coat, breathable/waterproof, purchased last year, leaks badly, very unimpressed total waste of money.

This morning we have had fairly steady fat rain so having been disapppointed by all the others I reached for my trusty plastic yellow suit, purchased 1990, cost IRO £30 iirc, result dry as a bone if a little sweaty. The make of this wonder garment . . . . GUY COTTEN . . .
Not bad for a suit that was bought 22 years ago and has been used for dog walking, sailing, fishing and is now borrowed regularly by my son for all sorts of horrible work.

Am I expecting a little too much from sailing clothing or any clothing that is supposedly breathable/waterproof, I know Guy Cotten is hardly breathable.
 
Out of interest, what maintenance have you done to each over the years? I believe the hi tech ones need washing etc to remain effective but I've been a little scared of washing mine so far!
 
Always worth asking if they'll honour the goretex lifetime guarantee - I got 3 replacement jackets (annually) from Berghaus before I chickened out of sending them back. Berghaus did a similar thing with one of the mountain rescue teams who came for a factory visit - ended up replacing every single one!
 
armchairsailor said:
Always worth asking if they'll honour the goretex lifetime guarantee - I got 3 replacement jackets (annually) from Berghaus before I chickened out of sending them back. Berghaus did a similar thing with one of the mountain rescue teams who came for a factory visit - ended up replacing every single one!
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I see now why this stuff is so expensive.
 
lustyd said:
Out of interest, what maintenance have you done to each over the years? I believe the hi tech ones need washing etc to remain effective but I've been a little scared of washing mine so far!
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The compass and the musto were both washed following the instructions but it just seemed to make the matter worse

The Guy cottens only ever need a downpour to get 'em clean

Armchairsailor - The Musto has just about reached the end of its guarantee and I doubt that Compass even give a guarantee or use goretex for that matter.


I have also recently lashed out on a Musto MPX offshore suit which cost mega bucks and they say it will last for 10 years. That I only use for sailing not dogwalking and fishing, perhaps I should to give it a more thorough test but I am reluctant to ruin it as it is very comfortable and still waterproof.
 
I 'acquired' a Musto Ocean Goretex MPX all-singing etc. one-piece drysuit ( ! ) some time ago. It even has a rubber tube for the shoulder-holster gin and tonic! It's so 'chi-chi' that I daren't wear it in public.... ;)

What's sailing coming to....?
 
sailorman said:
Google
musto lifetime promise ;)
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Or contact Gore-Tex regarding their promise.

Check out this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9LoEMkl700

Especially at 4.50 mins

If that jacket is 20 years old, I'll eat it!

I had a reply to my query (sent via their website). They suggested that the DWR needed restoring. Well I look after my gear so that was nonsense. I can see delamination and even if DWR has failed, membrane should stop water penetration.

Gore-Tex is fragile stuff.

email address for the person that got back to me is:
wlgore@ddlgroup.com

As for Musto etc - I think their gear is over priced tat just for looking like you know what you are doing (all the gear and no idea type of thing).

I wore a 24 year old (plastic, PVC actually I think) outfit for dirty work at the boat yard the other day; proper wicking layers etc and I was fine AND it is 24 year old gear that has done heavy duty.
 
tim_ber said:
Or contact Gore-Tex regarding their promise.

Check out this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9LoEMkl700

Especially at 4.50 mins

If that jacket is 20 years old, I'll eat it!

I had a reply to my query (sent via their website). They suggested that the DWR needed restoring. Well I look after my gear so that was nonsense. I can see delamination and even if DWR has failed, membrane should stop water penetration.

Gore-Tex is fragile stuff.

email address for the person that got back to me is:

As for Musto etc - I think their gear is over priced tat just for looking like you know what you are doing (all the gear and no idea type of thing).

I wore a 24 year old (plastic, PVC actually I think) outfit for dirty work at the boat yard the other day; proper wicking layers etc and I was fine AND it is 24 year old gear that has done heavy duty.
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Does your 24year old PVC mac have the same service level and guarantee that the Musto does? Will they replace it if it leaks, or make alterations if the fit is not correct? Will they add pockets if you feel you need another?

In your opinion it may be overpriced but that may also be that you are underfunded. Many of us actually value the service that comes with these garments and are prepared to pay for it. That doesn't mean we have no idea, just that we expect more and are prepared to pay for it.

Also, you shouldn't post email addresses on the forum without permission, that's where spam bots get a lot of their targets so you have likely caused them to receive quite a bit of spam.
Cheers
Dave
 
lustyd said:
Does your 24year old PVC mac have the same service level and guarantee that the Musto does? Will they replace it if it leaks, or make alterations if the fit is not correct? Will they add pockets if you feel you need another?

In your opinion it may be overpriced but that may also be that you are underfunded. Many of us actually value the service that comes with these garments and are prepared to pay for it. That doesn't mean we have no idea, just that we expect more and are prepared to pay for it.

Also, you shouldn't post email addresses on the forum without permission, that's where spam bots get a lot of their targets so you have likely caused them to receive quite a bit of spam.
Cheers
Dave
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Wow, that's a bit shouty isn't it? Please accept my sincere apologies if I have offended you in some deep manner.

"All the gear and no idea" was not personally aimed at you. It was of course aimed at those that buy it to wear it around boat jumbles and don't go to sea.

I have a lot of Gore-Tex gear too - why else would I be contacting Gore-Tex regarding their promise.

If you have faith in Musto's after sales service I am happy for you.

I don't care if Gore-tex get spam, I was hopefully helping the other poster get satisfaction.

Does my "pvc mac" get the same service level.......... LOL over and over ! After 24 years of heavy work, it owes me nothing and has never let me down. It needs no after service......As do so many of the £400 plus garments (such as the one I am contacting Gore-Tex about). The pvc "mac" was made well to begin with.

Many of us actually value the service that comes with these garments and are prepared to pay for it. That doesn't mean we have no idea, just that we expect more and are prepared to pay for it.
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This implies your NOT underfunded garment requires servicing often?

Do you drive an alfa romeo too (or other such car that needs a lot of attention after the rain?)

I would prefer to buy something fit for purpose in the first place and have no need of after service sales.

I had a vivacity 20 years ago. Nice boat too.

Also, you shouldn't post email addresses on the forum without permission
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Please direct me to this rule.

If I were writing a reply to someone, I would not tell them what they should or should not do, (I don't think that is very polite and rather presumptuous) I would perhaps write something along these lines: "I have found it not a good idea to post email addresses on forums without permission as it can lead to spy bots etc etc, just in case you did not know this".

I recenlty bought a named brand outfit (not very good outfit) (because the colour matched my boat) that I will not rely upon for foul weather. It is only to make me look like I know what I am doing when I really have no idea. (I would add a smily, but icons are missing and I have no idea what the text code is for them)

I await your reply regarding the rule.
 
It's not a rule, I was just mentioning it because I hate spam and that's one of the bigger causes of it.
 
When I look at the trawler progs based off the Scottish coasts, I often wonder what they paid for their (PVC) heavy weather gear - a mere fraction of the amount paid by many yachtsmen on the S coast for their gear to be worn for a few dozen days in the summer.
 
reginaldon said:
When I look at the trawler progs based off the Scottish coasts, I often wonder what they paid for their (PVC) heavy weather gear - a mere fraction of the amount paid by many yachtsmen on the S coast for their gear to be worn for a few dozen days in the summer.
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It probably is cheaper, but then their boat is considerably warmer than mine what with the honking great big diesel engine and central heating system. They also don't need to move about in anything like the same way as a sailor. If I could dry my sweaty clothes (and wash them) after a hard day and sit by a warm radiator then I may buy the cheap but sweaty option too. These high tech garments are not designed for fishermen, they are designed for yachting. You'll find that almost no professional yachtsmen wear PVC heavy weather gear these days if you look at a yacht race. Of course if your boat is a fishing boat and your activity is fishing then you should use a fishing program as your guide :D
 
My longevity observations over over 10 years of UK sailing:-

Marine Pool (similar to Compass) - 3 years of hard use. The inner lining/surface started to come away. Affected by suncream I think. It was very heavy too.
Gill Key West - 2 summer seasons use, then the inner surface started to came away on the shoulders. Could not find the receipt to send it back.
Musto MPX - 5 years, inner surface starting to come away on the collar. Could have been sun cream that caused it.
Henri Lloyd TP2000 - more than 5 years. This jacket still looks fine and I don't recall that it leaks.
HenriLloyd new equivilent for TP2000 (cannot find the name on it) - 5 years and looks as it it will last a lot longer. Expensive but lovely to wear in all conditions.
My standby yellow Guy Cotten PVC thing is over 15 years old and is probably still water proof, and the elastic cuffs are still OK as well! I havenot worn it for a while now.

There was a noticeable correlation between price and performance, and certainly if I paid more then it seems to last longer as well.

The cheaper jackets were heavier and seemed to need a greater inside to outside surface temperature difference to push the sweat out, which was OK in cold weather but not so good in the summer.

I think if you sail in mainly coastal in cooler weather and you tend to run hot,the cheaper water proofs are OK but will not last so long. I would choose higher quality for: wet but warmer (Med') weather sailing, a normally cool body temp', very active on deck, offshore long watches in rain/spray/wind. For offshore the well designed features in some types of waterproofs around the neck, hood and cuffs become very important to me.For example can you prevent your glasses steaming up when the face flaps are in place, and does the rain get between the face flaps and drip down you front (the Musto MPX was very good to stop this)

I have a feeling the fabric construction with a silver layer bonded on the inside seems to last longer than construction with a kind of white rubbery finish as the inside layer. I am no expert on the fabrics but I'll guess the better (but dearer) stuff is the three layer all bonded together,whereas the cheaper stuff is two layer bonded and a loose lining. But bucking this idea is my very old TP2000 which has a loose lining and seems to be going on forever.
 
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rudolph_hart said:
After a serious soaking (rain not spray), I was moved to email Musto Customer Service a week ago about the leaking of my (lightly used) breathables and so far no reply :(
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I've learned through experience that if you want good service email is not the way to go. Phone them and you'll get better service. This isn't just for musto nobody seems responsive on email.
 
I bought an XM breathable coastal (?) suit in 2001. The jacket has had heavy useage , the gtrousers/ salopettes less so. The trousers are still going strong and the jacket was reliable until the tail end of last season.
I have now bought a Gill offshore jacket which seems very effective.
The only reason I didn't go for XM again is that I couldn't get one locally in my size.
 
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