| Author | Message | ||
     Fltwistygirl |
Alright, forget some of the glowing things I said about the Frogg Toggs horney toadz high viz raingear. Today the frogg toggs let me down. Spent the weekend in the twin ports and opted to ride back to the twin cities this morning instead of fighting the Sunday night city bound traffic. Traffic was light this morning but the forecast was ugly and it started sprinkling as I was loading up the XT. Was prepared for the ugly weather, or so I thought: Frogg Toggs-check, Guidegear waterproof boots-check, Aerostitch bright orange three fingered glove covers-check. As I left town, rain was getting heavier, the wind picked up, and pretty soon it was torrential. By the time I was forty five minutes into the trip, the cold wet seepage and subsequent grumbling in my helmet began. Upon observation, it appears the leak came from the seam right at the crotch. It appears that whatever was applied at the factory wore off, no obvious rips or anything like that. I was checking out one of the boy scout sites my son is familiar with for raingear repair and a product made by McNett for seam repairs was mentioned. Apply when fabric is flat, let dry overnight, and good to go. Looks like there are a few dealers in the metro area. Anyone here familiar with it or similar products? I've liked the Frogg Toggs so far, they have been great for coaching, but I need my raingear to also function in heavy rain at road speeds for occasions like today. My previous raingear failed at the same point, if this seam repair stuff works, may be able to resurrect those as well. | ||
| Etennuly |
Same thing my HD rubberized gear does to me. It seems the water piles up in the frontal crotch area on the seat and soaks through the thread holes. I have seen that stuff you are talking about, I think Wally world has a similar tent seam product. I have not tried it yet. Isn't that embarrassing to get out of your rain suit to have only ONE area wet?  I hate it when that happens! | ||
| Paul56 |
I bought a tent seam repair fluid from a local sporting goods store and used it on my Rocket riding pants for the same reason: water soaking through the stitching holes at the crotch. So far it has lasted through 2 rainy seasons (I know, not much for So Cal, but I never let it stop me- 20" last year). Now I just have to get the broken leg zippers fixed! | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
You have to stand up on the pegs periodically to pour out the crotch-full. Of course, I never remember to do this until my crotch is already soaked through  | ||
| Fltwistygirl |
"Isn't that embarrassing to get out of your rain suit to have only ONE area wet?" Yeah, it sux. I was lucky today, had layers underneath and my final destination was my sisters house, aka civilization (washer/dryer, places to hang things). I've had this happen during a class...whatta bummer. "Hey, can y'all pay attention to what we are talking about and the DVD, not my soggy britches?" "I bought a tent seam repair fluid from a local sporting goods store and used it on my Rocket riding pants for the same reason: water soaking through the stitching holes at the crotch." Good to know there are options out there! Was telling my niece about this site this weekend and how awesome it was. Using stuff for its not intended purpose...I call it the MacGuyver factor. HD just labelled us a bunch of tinkerers....fair enough. My ski buddy said R.E.I. or similar places would have repair stuff like this also. I'll keep you all posted on the results, tomorrow I get to give it a try then wait for the next rain to try it out. | ||
| Ratbuell |
I've also had good luck sealing seams with good ol' RTV silicone sealant. | ||
| Fltwistygirl |
Guess I don't get out much, or maybe just don't go to the right places. Where do u get RTV silicone sealant? Either it's raining more, I'm riding more, or my raingear choices as of late just stink! | ||
| Pnw_uly |
Once you come to the actualization that "There is no such thing as Waterproof" you'll enjoy riding in rain much more... Not trying to enrage those who have spent thousands on gear and will claim they have never been wet, more of comment on "Shop Class as Soulcraft" for riding gear. . . Ride year-round in the wet part of Washington State, and other than my TCX (formerly Oxtar) boots, all my gear eventually lets in water. And besides, you're really not wet until you feel that first trickle of water heading south of your butt crack. P.S. Wear dark pants. . . (Message edited by PNW ULY on June 28, 2011) | ||
| Fltwistygirl |
"Ride year-round in the wet part of Washington State, and other than my TCX (formerly Oxtar) boots, all my gear eventually lets in water." We can definitely learn from PNW-ers. Same experience here with the oxtars. Mine kept my feet bone dry while teaching in one of the back to back tropical storms in Florida during August of 2008. Six inches of standing water, they did not let a drop in. Gore tex is amazing stuff. "And besides, you're really not wet until you feel that first trickle of water heading south of your butt crack." Ick! Maybe I need to layer up with a wet/spring suit as the underlayer. Bummer in the FL heat though. "P.S. Wear dark pants. . ." That FL sun takes a toll on everything, even pants. Amazing how fast the sun fades clothing. Bright Orange work shirts look peachy/pink in no time flat. Thinking I need bigger bags on the Uly to carry more spare dry clothes, or just get it over with and get my hack!!! | ||
| Ratbuell |
RTV is at most auto parts stores; it's a gasket-maker like toothpaste. DON'T get it on your hands unless you have something to wipe with that you don't care about (i.e. paper towels). It won't hurt your skin...but it does NOT like to let go of rags or towels. | ||
| Fltwistygirl |
Thanks, Ratbuell. Taking a breakfast ride with my son this gorgeous summer morning, will make a point of stopping by an autoparts store while we're out and about. | ||
| Tootal |
+1 on oxtars. Rode 3 hours in the rain, on the way to homecoming, and had dry feet. My latest attempt at rain gear worked well also. The Triumph Chevron rain suit did great. Arrived dry. It's a one piece suit that you put on like a duster. It has a tail between your legs that you pull through and up to your chest and start zipping the two zippers all the way to your ankles. Then it's folding a rain flap and a velcro flap all the way back up. It takes a little practice but once learned it goes pretty quick. | ||
| Fltwistygirl |
Got the RTV at NAPA. It was way thicker than toothpaste, but got it, and applied to the crotchular intersection of seams. It is drying overnight, will see how it looks tomorrow. Add more if needed I guess. Want to make sure it is working properly before I find out on the road. Not sure I'll have the chance to try it out on a moderate rainy ride beforehand, so I've been threatening to put on the rain gear and run thru the sprinkler system to try it out. Might be having some fun horrifying my son with that thought.  | ||
| Hangetsu |
You may have been better off with the tent seam sealer, or any seam sealer that's designed for waterproof garments and tents. This stuff is far more fluid than RTV and will penetrate and uncoated fabric and stitch holes, creating a completely waterproof seam. I honestly don't think RTV will hold up to all the bending and movement that will occur in clothing. I wish you luck with it, but my guess is, it will start pulling away from the fabric before long and water will seep in. | ||
| Fltwistygirl |
"You may have been better off with the tent seam sealer, or any seam sealer that's designed for waterproof garments and tents" Probably so. Seam sealer was our first choice and we stopped at two places that may have had the seam sealer before we hit the auto store for RTV, but neither had have any on hand. We're planning to venture way north soon and options for picking stuff like this up there are more limited than here. OTOH I do know a seamstress up there who may be able to jump in and help if I really screwed the pants up with the RTV. | ||
| Jphish |
As a PNW guy (Western Wa - E Wa is relatively dry) I've tested every kind of water "proofing" concoction known to man & womankind. Thru trial & error here's what I've found works: Once a year I wash my TPG gear in the Nikwax techwash and then follow with the Nikwax direct wash in repellent. While still damp, (NOT dripping wet) follow with TX direct spray-on in crotch & wear area seams. Works great for about a year - Hasnt leaked yet anyway (4 years so far). Today ? yep its raining - just got back from wet ride to coast. PS; I wash / treat in a 10 gal tub - not washing machine. Use very warm water & necessary to allow the wash in repellent to contact fabric for 30 mins - agitate by hand. Here's to the sun... We've had 7 days above 70* F since Nov of 2010. For you folks in "Heat Belt" - I'm not complaining. Besides... I'm weird, I like rain. | ||
| Hangetsu |
Nikwax makes great products that work really well if applied as they are designed for. Belinda, the kind of seam sealer you're looking for is best found at a store that specializes in outdoor recreation goods; not hunting, fishing, & camping, but climbing, backpacking, etc. REI or an equivalent store will have what you are looking for. They usually carry a full line of the Nikwax products Jphish was mentioning as well. Good luck! P.S. - for seams however, the actual seam-sealer that's designed for tent seams and waterproof laminate clothing is the way to go. The stuff comes in a tube and looks like model airplane glue. (Message edited by Hangetsu on June 29, 2011) | ||
| Jphish |
Belinda - Hangetsu is right - REI or other like retailer. AEROstitch also caries full line of Nikwax & Grainger. Tent Seam sealer DOES work - but it turns white & flakes off over time, (folks attention does seem to be drawn to it when applied to ones crotch - real 'date magnet' for you single folks) & prevents other waterproofing from penetrating & doing it's job. It's all a compromise. | ||
| Hangetsu |
Jphish - the seam sealer goes on the INSIDE of the seam. No white, flaky crotch!  | ||
| Fltwistygirl |
Thanks for all the advice. If I am having these issues, I am sure others are as well. Shared knowledge is a wonderful thing. "It's all a compromise". In all honesty, these pants, albeit expensive, were not my end all be alls. I had concerns with them from the get go, there were others I would have chosen if Frogg Toggs were a mix n match type company (they are not...you get what you get and you don't pitch a fit). "it will start pulling away from the fabric before long and water will seep in." If more leaking in torrential rain on long ride, maybe it will be a time to take a page from the Lisa Marie Nowak playbook, get some depends and wear them over my jeans/under the raingear. | ||
| Johnboy777 |
FG, McNett makes some great products for sealing seams - lot of tutorials, as well (see repair guide top right of page). LINK: http://www.mcnett.com/SilNet-Silicone-Seam-Sealer- P143.aspx Here's a YouTube vid: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2doJ92EgTN4&feature =player_embedded#at=18 ... | ||
| Jphish |
Hangetsu - Well hell...probably accounts for my messy looking tent fly! Thanks for the tip. j | ||
| Johnboy777 |
Here's a response from McNett regarding a pair of FirstGear HT overpants I have (and love) that had a leaking crotch, due to slight seam separation on the WP liner while seated. McNett is a great company. McNett responds: Hello John, Thanks for reaching out to us. That’s a great pair of pants, sorry to hear that the liners are leaking, but we have a great product that will fix the problem. The Firstgear inner liner is made of nylon fabric. That being said you would want to use or Seam Grip product. Seam Grip is similar to Aquaseal; Seam Grip is a thinner viscosity, purpose-built for seam sealing and repair. Once cured you should have no problems with the crotch pulling apart as this is a permanent fix. I hope that helps! Gerald Craft Customer Service Representative | ||
| Johnboy777 |
Forgot the LINK Seam Grip: http://www.amazon.com/Seam-Grip-Sealer-Choice-Size s/dp/B001ETLPPU | ||
| Hangetsu |
Hey J- Well, let me clarify something. slothing is sewn with flat seam techniques which allow you to get a good seal from the inside. However, a rain fly is just two sheets of fabric butted together and some stitching run down the inside of the seam. This creates a small trough on the outside where the two sheets are butted together. To effectively seal a rain fly, sealer on both sides of the seam is a good idea. | ||
| Jphish |
Hey Hang' - So far no leaks on the rain fly...but it dont travel down the road at 70mph either. (I usually try to get it disassembled before I take off)  The clothing has lots of other forces working on them - so more leak vulnerable I think ?? j |
