DWR
Durable Water Repellent — a chemical finish applied to outerwear that makes water bead up and roll off.
What is DWR? Durable Water Repellent — a chemical finish applied to outerwear that makes water bead up and roll off.
DWR is the spray-on or factory-applied coating on the outer face of waterproof and water-resistant jackets. It causes water to bead and roll off rather than soak into the fabric. DWR wears off in 6-12 months of regular use. When DWR fails, the face fabric wets out — meaning it soaks up water — and even an intact waterproof membrane stops breathing. Refresh DWR every season or two with wash-in (Nikwax TX.Direct) or spray-on (Nikwax Spray-On) products. Heat (dryer or iron) activates the new DWR.
DWR in our guides
DWR appears in the following WhetherWear guides:
- Best Hiking Boots by Season: A Complete Buying Guide for Every Trail
- Best Rain Jacket Buying Guide: Waterproof, Breathable, and Worth the Cost
- Best Winter Coat Buying Guide: How to Choose by Climate, Activity, and Budget
- How to Care for a Down Jacket: Washing, Re-lofting, and Storing for Maximum Warmth
- How to Dress for Rain Without Overheating: A Practical Guide to Wet-Weather Layering
- Spring Wardrobe Essentials: The 10 Pieces That Handle Any Spring Day
- What to Wear in Fog: Outfit Guide for Damp Cool Conditions
- What to Wear in Portland in Fall: Month-by-Month Outfit Guide
- What to Wear in Portland in Spring: Month-by-Month Outfit Guide
- What to Wear in Portland in Summer: Month-by-Month Outfit Guide
- What to Wear in Portland in Winter: Month-by-Month Outfit Guide
- What to Wear in Spring Rain: Layering for the Most Unpredictable Season
- What to Wear in the Rain: A Complete Wet-Weather Outfit Guide