weather clothes

[Melalvai]

I'm branching this off from the "How Was Your Commute Today?" thread.

Yesterday afternoon commute = soaking wet by time I got home. My old Goretex pants aren't quite totally waterproof anymore.

I was disappointed that my expensive Goretex doesn't seem to be as waterproof as when it was new. My rainpants & jacket aren't all that old, maybe 2 years, but I have worn them a lot. But, they're better than anything else, and I carry dry clothes to change into.

I have to get some big ziplocs to keep my clothes dry in my non-waterproof panniers. I did put them in some cheap trash bags for these two rides.

I have ziplocks of every size, including very big! Typically I put my clothes in a plastic grocery sack, and then double-bag it. I use the ziplocks to carry papers and books.

I do not want to have to tell my students "The rain killed your homework" OR "The cat ate your homework". Both scenarios are quite plausible.

[Melalvai]

Oh, one more thing--my merino wool shirt that I bought last year, the one that made me choke at spending $70 on something labeled "undershirt", has developed holes! I am SO bummed about that.

The polartec fleece pants have a couple little holes too.

So much for thinking that spending money on clothes would mean they'd last a long time.

[hoffsquared]

Yeah. Next trip to the grocery store I plan on getting those giant size freezer ziplocs.

I noticed two holes in the merino wool top I picked up from the thrift store. Since I was just looking to use this for biking, I'm not too bummed. But I imagine the original owner was since it's got the Bloomingdale label.

I haven't bought much of my sport gear brand new - it's mostly from eBay or thrift stores. I do cave in at races (like MCM) and have some of those running skirts.

All of my outer gear I got used and then it gets very well used by me & my daughter who is the same size!

[OakLeaf]

Gore-tex and any breathable fabrics need the water repellency renewed every so often. NikWax is the treatment of choice, recommended by most manufacturers. Also remember never to wash breathable fabrics in detergent. Use soap such as Dr. Bronner's, shaved castile soap or NikWax Tech Wash. If you've already used detergent on it, you can remove the residues by washing once or twice in soap.

[OakLeaf]

Also, I had great success darning a couple of small holes that appeared in my expensive Ibex crew. I was a little nervous about trying it since I hadn't darned anything in 30 years and couldn't find darning yarn as fine as the original material. After a couple of washings, I can't even see the repair if I don't look for it - even though the color wasn't a perfect match. Be sure to repair the holes, either by darning or by patching, or they will get larger.

[Biciclista]

I've noticed that the really fine merino undergarments are really fragile. I put a big hole in the long janes that i bought. good thing they're for wearing UNDER stuff.

back to weather wear, if you're really working out, you're going to still be wet underneath; that's my biggest problem. I can stay warm as long as I'm uphilling, but then I'm fogging glasses and then getting cold when the pace changes. It's tough for sure.

[malkin]

I mend and mend the wools and always put them in a lingerie bag to wash, and keep them in ziplocks.

We have had critters and it's heartbreaking.

I have also stopped buying dubious woolens secondhand and even new ones take a wash right away.