HydroFoil™ Rainwear Care

HydroFoil™ is a laminated fabric comprising a waterproof/highly breathable membrane sandwiched between an outer fabric and inner liner. This is coupled with a factory-applied water repellent treatment that helps water bead up rather than wet out the fabric.

This technology along with Ground Effect's cycle-specific design features help you stay drier and more comfortable in nasty conditions. But like the drivetrain or expensive components on your bike, proper care and maintenance is essential to extend your garment’s life and optimise its performance over time.

Wash Regularly

• Accumulated dirt, body oil, sunscreen and sweat degrade the water repellant treatment.
• So wash after about half a dozen outings, or a particularly grubby ride.
• No need for kid gloves - just machine wash at 40º with a plant based detergent. Full instructions on our FAQ page.

Recharge and Restore

• After washing, line dry or preferably give it a spin in the dryer on a warm (not hot) cycle - this helps ‘recharge’ the water repellency.
• The factory treatment does wear off quite quickly. When the fabric starts to rapidly wet out - generally after about four washes - you’ll want to restore with a water repellent solution.
• Ground Effect recommends TX Direct. It is easy to apply and each bottle is good for a few applications. At just $29 NZD ($10 off the usual retail price), it’s a small and worthwhile investment to keep your expensive jacket or pants humming through the winter.

Sweat Management

• Although HydroFoil™ is highly breathable, it won’t actually stop you sweating. Dampness from sweat can easily be misconstrued as a leaking garment.
• Wear a Lightwave™ Merino or HyperActive™ top against your skin. This helps disperse sweat - to keep you feeling drier and more comfortable.
• Long sleeves are best under your jacket - bare arms can cause condensation where your warm skin contacts the cold outer shell.
• Avoid cotton or 100% merino against your skin - they can quickly get wet and cold.

Store Dry

• A damp jacket left to fester for an extended period of time in your bag will suffer.
• Hang it on a hook or coat hanger in a dry place between rides.

Take care of your gear and it will take care of you.