Does it Leak

So what happens when you buy waterproof breathable gear and after you own it for a while, let's say a year or two, you discover that it leaks? You probably won't realize the problem until you are drenched through on a mountainside camp. The trouble with waterproof gear is that we generally take it for granted, and forget to test it in wet conditions before we set off.

My friend hiked in Yosemite during a rain storm and later commented to me that the weight of his pack was pushing water through his waterproof jacket. I told him that is not likely and I thought that his jacket was no longer waterproof and had sprung a leak. After sending an e-mail to the manufacturer, he had his coat replaced without a hassle and his new one is waterproof.

I personally have purchased waterproof/breathable pants and shells only to find out a year later that they were not waterproof. In those instances, I've returned them for a quick waterproof replacement. Once I purchased some hiking boots that were advertised as waterproof. The first time I stepped in water that reached onto the tongue they leaked big time. I got my money back on those boots because they had a faulty design.

Although you can generally get refunded, save yourself the trouble and give your waterproof gear an at-home waterproof test before taking it into the wilderness. Some of it may leak, and it is best to find that out at home.

Upper Yosemite Falls

Half Dome

Mount Lyell