Nikwax Hydrophobic Down – Now at Least 15 Times More Water Resistant
Nikwax Hydrophobic Down, used in sleeping bags and clothing by manufacturers worldwide, is raising the bar for water-resistant down – now 15 times better than untreated.
Nikwax Hydrophobic Down, used in sleeping bags and clothing by manufacturers worldwide, is now raising the bar for water-resistant down.
Nikwax Hydrophobic Down is far more resistant in wet conditions than untreated down. Untreated down quickly loses fill power and insulating properties in damp conditions, while Nikwax Hydrophobic Down helps maintain loft and fill power even when the outer fabric becomes soaked through.
Previously, Nikwax claimed that Nikwax Hydrophobic Down (NHD) was up to 10 times better than untreated down. With new tests backing them up, they now dare to claim it’s 15 times better. Tests show that NHD can reduce water absorption by up to 26 times! The down has also survived 150 minutes in the industry’s IDFB 18A Down Shake Test (down and feathers are placed with water in a one-liter container and shaken until all down and feathers are soaked through). Untreated down averages 22 minutes.
Nikwax managed to get a sleeping bag filled with NHD, with Luis Brown lying inside (son of Nikwax founder Nick Brown), to float across a lake in the UK late last year. The event was witnessed by outdoor journalists from across Europe.
– We have worked hard to improve the performance and reliability of NHD. After achieving 150 minutes in the industry test, we’re now working toward achieving 200 minutes and in the near future 300 minutes. At that level, a down jacket with NHD will resist several hours of rain, says Nick Brown, CEO and founder of Nikwax.
Nikwax has pioneered the transition away from polluting PFC water repellents and has shown that good water resistance can be achieved with minimal environmental impact.
