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If you discover that your waterproof is leaking, then we would first suggest cleaning and reproofing your jacket. 

Jackets that have not been regularly cleaned will often appear to be leaking. Dirt and oils from your skin can clog the pores in your jackets membrane; this prevents the transfer of moisture vapor out of the jacket meaning that it will feel damp inside without actually leaking.

Alternatively, your DWR (Durable Water Repellency) may have worn off. If water is not beading and running off the outside of the jacket anymore then it's time to reproof your jacket. Without its DWR the jacket will wet out, causing water to soak into the outer fabric and prevent the membrane from breathing properly. If you are using your waterproof regularly, then RAB recommends cleaning and reproofing roughly every six months.

Down should be stored uncompressed and out of direct sunlight in a dry, cool place. If your down product gets damp, air it out thoroughly and make sure it is completely dry before putting it back into storage. If the product is still damp after airing, a short cycle in a tumble dryer on a cool setting should help to complete the drying and restore the loft.

You can use our Rab Wash Service to have your down jacket/sleeping bag professionally cleaned. To find out more about this service please click HERE

While we would always recommend having your down item cleaned professionally (as it is a fairly difficult process), if you do wish to wash your down item yourself, please follow the below instructions.

• Hand or machine wash on a gentle 30ºC cycle with a specialised agent (such as Nikwax Down Wash Direct or Granger's Down Wash),
• Rinse to make sure there is no soap residue present within the product. If you are cleaning a box walled product, when removing it from the washing machine ensure that the weight of the item is supported by cradling it in a bath towel or similar. Failure to do so may result in damage to the down compartments,
• Immediate tumble drying should commence in a front-loading dryer on a cool setting.
• Remove the item from the dryer every 20-30 minutes, manipulating the down within the baffles to restore loft,
• Avoid the temptation to remove the item from the dryer too soon. Although the outer fabrics may feel dry and warm to the touch, the down contained within the baffles can still be clumped by moisture,
• Drying time varies depending on the jacket style and size but can take anywhere from 4 - 5 hours,
• When finished it is advisable to store your jacket or sleeping bag uncompressed in a dry, cool place. Airing should continue for two days before use.

Generally, for any oily stains, we recommend spot cleaning the area with a small amount of pure soap or a special agent such as Nikwax Tech Wash or Nikwax Down Wash Direct and then putting the jacket in the wash following the wash instructions.

There are many reasons why people choose a down filled jacket: it has a superior warmth-to-weight ratio, it is highly compressible, it has excellent heat retention and with proper care it can last a lifetime. Unfortunately, down has a weakness: moisture will cause it to lose its loft and all of its insulating properties leaving you feeling cold and wet. Drying down takes a lot of time and effort and when done incorrectly it can become damaged.

Washing

We would advise you to run your washing machine without detergent and softeners for one cycle before washing your waterproof garments to ensure the machine is completely clean, as well as removing any residue left in the washing machine tray.

Ensure all zips, hook and loop fastenings are closed,

Hand or machine wash your garment using non-biological liquid detergent, pure soap or a technical cleaner such as Nikwax Tech Wash on a gentle 30ºC cycle,

Avoid biological detergent and fabric softeners. Do not dry clean or iron the garment,

Unless stated on the product label, we would also recommend you tumble dry your garment on a low setting to help maintain the DWR treatment. 

Reproofing

Your waterproof garment contains a durable water repellent finish (DWR) on the exterior of the fabric that serves as the first barrier to penetration of the fabric by external water. This DWR finish degrades over time and will occasionally need to be replenished. Even though the waterproof membrane is still keeping the water from passing through the fabric, performance will be increased if you maintain the DWR finish with regular treatments.

Once the garment has been washed we recommend using a re-proofing agent such as Nikwax TX Direct to completely restore surface water-repellency. We recommend using a spray-on product rather than a wash-in one as this will have less impact on the items breathability.