Important Information Regarding the Water Repellency of Products
While the Sympatex membrane is designed to make the garment waterproof, a water-repellent treatment is also applied. The purpose of this treatment is not to physically block water like the membrane does but to delay or even prevent water from penetrating the outer fabric of Sympatex's 3-layer technology. The Sympatex membrane is sandwiched between two protective fabric layers. The PFC-free water repellent gives the outer layer (the one you see when wearing the jacket) the ability to repel water, causing it to bead up and roll off rather than being absorbed, which would otherwise make the jacket heavier and less comfortable for the user.
As a result, a product can be:
Water-repellent but not waterproof
Water-repellent and waterproof
At Lagoped, we use a water repellent that does not contain fluorinated compounds (PFCs), which are endocrine disruptors. This water repellent is technically referred to as C0, where C stands for carbon, and 0 indicates the number of carbon molecules in the product. The traditional water repellent was C8, an environmental hazard, and legal standards now require brands to gradually transition to C0, which is cleaner and healthier for both nature and humans. However, this does not completely prevent water from penetrating the outer fabric because, at Lagoped, it is the membrane that stops the water.
Due to our refusal to use PFCs in our water-repellent products, the outer fabric of our jackets may become wet after frequent use or too many machine washes. To maintain the water repellency of your jacket or pants, you can use the PFC-free water repellent from the NST brand, available here.
We recommend applying the water repellent to your garment while it is still wet (but wrung out) after washing. Place it on a hanger, hang it on a support, and spray the product from a distance of 15 cm. This distance ensures even distribution of the product over the fabric's surface. Then, allow it to air dry. Once the garment is dry, you can put it in the dryer for about fifteen minutes to better fix the water repellent through a polymerization effect.
As a result, a product can be:
Water-repellent but not waterproof
Water-repellent and waterproof
At Lagoped, we use a water repellent that does not contain fluorinated compounds (PFCs), which are endocrine disruptors. This water repellent is technically referred to as C0, where C stands for carbon, and 0 indicates the number of carbon molecules in the product. The traditional water repellent was C8, an environmental hazard, and legal standards now require brands to gradually transition to C0, which is cleaner and healthier for both nature and humans. However, this does not completely prevent water from penetrating the outer fabric because, at Lagoped, it is the membrane that stops the water.
Due to our refusal to use PFCs in our water-repellent products, the outer fabric of our jackets may become wet after frequent use or too many machine washes. To maintain the water repellency of your jacket or pants, you can use the PFC-free water repellent from the NST brand, available here.
We recommend applying the water repellent to your garment while it is still wet (but wrung out) after washing. Place it on a hanger, hang it on a support, and spray the product from a distance of 15 cm. This distance ensures even distribution of the product over the fabric's surface. Then, allow it to air dry. Once the garment is dry, you can put it in the dryer for about fifteen minutes to better fix the water repellent through a polymerization effect.
Updated on: 20/08/2024
Thank you!