Care and repair

Fabric softener and standard powders clog the membrane's pores and ruin exactly what you bought the jacket for; there are special products for this. Waterproofing washes out over time and needs to be renewed: you can tell when water stops beading on the surface and the fabric “wets out” in the rain. You can fix minor tears with a patch right on the spot, before the edges fray. Maintenance extends the lifespan of a jacket more than the price difference between a cheaper and a more expensive model.