How to Care for Your RoamCoat So It Stays Waterproof for Years

How to Care for Your RoamCoat So It Stays Waterproof for Years

The RoamCoat is built to last. Constructed from Sympatex Vitoria — a 680g recycled stretch fabric certified to both Bluesign and OEKO-TEX standards — it's one of the most technically considered travel jackets on the market. Designed in the USA and manufactured in Taiwan, it uses a PFAS-free, DWR-free waterproofing system that relies entirely on the inherent properties of the Sympatex membrane rather than chemical coatings. That's a meaningful distinction, and it changes how you should care for the jacket over time.

If you want to know how to maintain a waterproof jacket that uses membrane-based waterproofing rather than a traditional DWR finish, the approach is slightly different from what you might be used to. Here's exactly what to do — from washing and drying to re-proofing, storage, and field repair.

Understanding How the RoamCoat's Waterproofing Actually Works

Most waterproof jackets use a Durable Water Repellent (DWR) coating sprayed onto the outer fabric. That coating degrades with use and washing, which is why most jackets eventually need re-proofing treatments. The RoamCoat takes a different path entirely. There is zero DWR and zero PFAS in its construction. The waterproofing comes from the Sympatex Vitoria membrane itself — a dense, hydrophilic film that blocks liquid water while remaining breathable. Because no surface coating is doing the work, there's no coating to wear off.

What this means in practice: the jacket's waterproofing doesn't degrade in the same way a DWR-coated jacket does. But the outer fabric can still accumulate dirt, oils, and contamination that affect how water beads and sheds. Proper washing is still essential.

How to Wash Your RoamCoat Correctly

Dirt and body oils embedded in the outer fabric can cause water to "wet out" — spreading across the surface rather than beading and rolling off. Even without a DWR coating, keeping the fabric clean helps the membrane perform at its best.

Wash the RoamCoat in a front-loading machine on a gentle cycle using cool or warm water (30–40°C). Use a technical fabric cleaner such as Nikwax Tech Wash or Grangers Performance Wash. Avoid standard detergents, fabric softeners, or bleach — these can compromise the membrane and degrade seam tape over time. Make sure the jacket is zipped up before washing to protect the zipper teeth and seams.

After washing, tumble dry on low heat for 20–30 minutes. Heat helps reactivate any remaining hydrophobic properties in the fabric structure and removes moisture from inside the layers. Air drying alone is fine if a dryer isn't available, but tumble drying gives better results.

Does the RoamCoat Need Re-Proofing?

This is where the RoamCoat differs most from conventional waterproof jackets. Because it uses no DWR coating, you don't need to re-proof it the way you would a standard hardshell. There is no coating to restore.

If after washing and drying the jacket you notice water is no longer beading on the surface but is instead spreading and soaking into the outer fabric, the most likely cause is residual contamination — not coating failure. In that case, re-washing with a technical cleaner usually solves the problem. If you want to add an extra layer of surface water resistance over time, a PFAS-free spray-on treatment such as Nikwax TX. Direct Spray-On can be applied to the outer fabric without affecting the membrane's integrity. This is optional, not required.