Walking Equipment and Accessories

Storm Eco Wash and Proof | Review

Revitalise your kit without damaging the planet with Storm’s Eco wash and proofer

Why We Chose Eco Wash and Proof: Effective, easy to use, eco-friendly

Price: £16 (2 x 300ml)
Weight: n/a
More info: stormcare.co.uk

Over time, the durable water repellent (DWR) coatings applied to outdoor kit can degrade, especially if they get contaminated by dirt and oils. If your jacket seems to ‘wet out’ in the rain, rather than water beading and rolling off the surface of the fabric, then it’s probably time to wash and reproof it.

Storm Care’s eco-friendly wash and proof aftercare products are the ideal treatment, as they can revitalise DWRs and restore performance. The products work for a range of garments, from waterproof ‘hard shell’ jackets and trousers to soft shells, bringing back water repellency as well as adding an abrasion-resistant finish. That means you can bung various different garments in the same wash – a hassle-free solution that cuts down the time and effort needed to look after your outdoor kit.

Best of all, the Eco range is ph-neutral and free from harmful perfluorinated compounds (PFCs), which are now being gradually phased out across the outdoor industry due to their negative environmental impacts. This makes them a much greener option than some other aftercare products, which do still use PFCs in their chemistry. The fact that Storm Care washes are ph-neutral also means that they will work equally well in hard-water areas.

“It’s similarly positive to see that Storm Care has also moved from plastic packaging to easily recyclable aluminium bottles.”

Unlike other brands, these wash-in cleaners and proofers can be used in the same wash cycle – saving water and energy. You just put a capful of each product in the detergent and fabric softener compartments of your washing machine. Once the cycle is complete, allow the products to drip-dry. The proofer is then heat-cured for optimum results by a quick spin in a tumble dryer.

The products work effectively and should prolong the life of your outdoor gear, which means not having to buy new kit. That means less impact on your pocket and the environment, also a good thing.

It’s similarly positive to see that Storm Care has also moved from plastic packaging to easily recyclable aluminium bottles. Though producing new aluminium is still an energy-intensive process, aluminium has a much higher recycle rate than plastic, so this change should help to reduce the amount of disposable plastic waste going into landfill or ending up in the ocean.

Tester’s Verdict

Will Renwick, OM Editor

“Got a new jacket that you want to look after? Get yourself some of Storm’s eco-friendly Wash. Got an old jacket that you want to bring back to life? Get yourself the Wash solution and their Proof solution as well. You’ll be amazed at the difference these will make.

“A few years back, I don’t think I had any idea that you can’t use a normal washing detergent with a waterproof or insulated jacket. Little did I know, the damage I was inflicting to the original DWR on my garments. Now I’m older and wiser, I understand that a proper washing solution, like this by Storm, is 100% needed.

“I wish I could give a performance comparison between these two washes and the equivalent options from rival brands, however, that’s such a difficult test to conduct fairly and effectively – perhaps we’ll think of some quirky way to do it here at OM at some point. One edge Storm do notably have, however, is that they’re the only ones to offer this easier to recycle, and thus eco-friendlier aluminium packaging. A downside to this is that there’s no measuring cap, but that’s a pretty small gripe to be fair.”