Softening Oilskins?? (Drizabone)

Hiya Shaker

i just bought a rider full length drizabone with an akubra cattleman hat,trying really hard to look the part...When they drive past my block there probably saying look at this wanker LMAO....

Anyway i'll be interested in some of the replies,i was out in the rain with it all day last week and got a fair bit of dirt and light mud on it.

Just read the instructions,drizabone have a garment dressing which would i guess bring life back too it,dont use any detergents and dry in shade ...

I once saw a childs one just like your describing and i put a hat on it and took a photo...Looked like a midget was wearing it....lol but i cannot find the photo..

Cheers

take it outside mate,hang it from a tree,and floooggggg fu%k out of it!!!!!!!!
THEN...apply GY bought from saddle shops................this wiil do the trick//

G"day mate,

what i find is critical, is that when not in use, store it rolled up. It is nice to see hanging up I know but they will "stiffen up."

maybe you have done this in the past, but if not....

simply lay the coat down, front up. Fold the arms into the middle but still along the length of the coat, not across from side to side. Then fold the sides of the coat inwards as per the arms. Then, starting from the bottom, roll the coat up all the way to the collar, and bring the shoulder/back flap over to tuck the rolled coat into.

i have a Drizabone oilskin and this works.

kind regards,

Jeremy.

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My wife and I where in Chicago at Christmas time about 20 years ago now on our way to the UK via the states.
It was -25 C not including the windchill factor.
We therefore had every piece of clothing we owned on with our driz-a-bones on top of it all.
Every time we went outside it was like walking in a cardboard tube.
No amount of super dressings would have made them stay flexible in that temperature.

Lloyd B.

The only way to soften them I have found is to wear them. The only time they will get truly subtle is about 5 minutes before you discover they aren't waterproof any more ;-).

They will soften up, you just have to wear about 1/2 the dressing off the fabric. They also get a little more flexible after your body heat warms the inside.

Shaker,

I've been throught all this myself and have given up on the venerable oilskin, no matter how 'bushy' one may look in them, along with the old Akubra.

Simply there are now so many better options than these old things that it's not funny. Personally, I find them cold, damp on the inside, particularly when the lining gets a little damp from sweat (it is cotton after all). Also they are very difficult to actually get them on when things are a little damp.

I have been using the layering principle whilst in the outdoors for many years now and I'm much more comfortable. Thermals as base layer, followed by various 'weights' of polartek/fleece type material and on top of that a 'shell' layer that is totally waterproof, windproof and breathes. These 'shells' make from such material as Goretex or a dozen other similar materials are far superior to oilskins. More waterproof, breathe better, dont get soaked, more flexible and ultimately warmer.

Perhaps the oilskin may be OK if riding a horse in inclement weather and not being very active and sweating....given that this is what they were made for, but honestly, for everything else, get a proper waterproof shell....you won't look back.

I taught outdoor education for many years and I wouldn't permit kids to bring these things on lightweight trips due to the factors mentioned above, as well as the excessive weight of these typer of coats.

Just my .02

Cheers,

Mark

Thanks for all the help!
Another suggestion made was to hot wash it & then re-oil it.