You’ve been on the mountain all day, and suddenly your thighs feel damp and cold. Your ski pants—whether they’re high-end burton ski pants womens or any other quality brand—have stopped repelling water.
The snow that used to bead up and roll off now just soaks in. This is called “wetting out,” and it happens to everyone eventually. The good news? You can fix it.
What Does “Wetting Out” Actually Mean?
When your ski pants wet out, the outer fabric absorbs water instead of repelling it. You’ll notice dark patches where the material looks saturated.
The pants feel heavy and cold against your skin. This doesn’t mean your pants are leaking—the waterproof membrane inside is probably still working fine. The problem is with the outer layer.
Your ski pants have multiple layers working together. The outer fabric (called the face fabric) gets treated with a coating that makes water bead up and roll off.
Behind that sits a waterproof membrane like Gore-Tex or a similar material. Then there’s an inner lining for comfort.
When the outer treatment fails, water saturates the face fabric. Even though the membrane blocks water from reaching your skin, the wet outer layer makes you feel cold.
The fabric can’t breathe properly anymore either. Your sweat gets trapped inside, making you feel clammy and uncomfortable.
How Does DWR Coating Work on Ski Pants?
DWR stands for Durable Water Repellent. It’s a chemical treatment applied to the outer fabric of your pants. The coating creates a microscopic texture on the fabric fibers that water can’t grip onto. Think of it like a lotus leaf—water forms perfect beads and slides right off.
The treatment bonds to individual fibers in the fabric weave. When it’s working correctly, water droplets sit on top of the fabric in little spheres instead of spreading out and soaking in. This keeps the outer layer dry, which helps the whole garment breathe and function properly.
But DWR coating isn’t permanent. Every time you ski, you’re wearing it down. Friction from snow, sitting on chairlifts, and general movement gradually removes the coating. Dirt and body oils also break it down faster than you’d expect.
What Causes DWR to Fail Faster Than Expected?
Several things speed up the breakdown of your pants’ water repellency. Dirt is probably the biggest culprit. When particles stick to the fabric, they create spots where water can penetrate. The DWR coating can’t work if there’s a layer of grime covering it.
Body oils and sunscreen transfer to the inside and sometimes migrate through to the outer fabric. These oils attract dirt and compromise the coating. Studies on textile performance show that oils can reduce water repellency by up to 70% even when the DWR coating itself is still intact.
Heat damages DWR too, but in a different way. Excessive heat from dryers set too high can break down the chemical bonds. Interestingly though, moderate heat actually reactivates some DWR coatings. You need to know the right temperature—which we’ll get to.
Washing with regular detergent leaves residues that block DWR function. Most household detergents contain fabric softeners and brighteners that coat fibers. This residue prevents water from beading properly even if the DWR is still there.
The table below shows common factors affecting DWR longevity:
| Factor | Impact on DWR | How Fast It Happens |
| Abrasion from snow/chairlifts | Physically removes coating | Gradual (15-20 ski days) |
| Dirt and debris buildup | Blocks coating function | Fast (3-5 ski days) |
| Body oils and sunscreen | Compromises chemical bonds | Medium (7-10 ski days) |
| Improper washing | Leaves coating-blocking residue | Immediate after 1-2 washes |
These estimates assume regular use in typical conditions.
Can You Actually Restore DWR on Women’s Ski Pants?
Yes, and it’s usually easier than buying new pants. The first step is always cleaning. You need to remove all the dirt and oils that are blocking the existing DWR before you do anything else.
Wash your pants in a front-loading machine if possible. Use a technical wash designed for outdoor gear—not regular detergent.
These special washes clean without leaving residue. Run the pants through twice: once with the tech wash, then again with just water to remove any remaining residue.
After washing, you can try reactivating the existing DWR with heat. Put the pants in a dryer on low-to-medium heat for about 20 minutes. Or use an iron on low heat with a towel between the iron and fabric.
The heat causes the remaining DWR molecules to stand back up and spread out across the fiber surface. This works if the coating is just flattened down rather than completely gone.
Check the results by spritzing water on the fabric. If it beads up nicely, you’re done. If water still soaks in after the heat treatment, the DWR is depleted and you need to reapply it.
How Do You Apply New DWR Treatment?
DWR products come in two forms: wash-in and spray-on. Both work, but they have different pros and cons.
Wash-in treatments coat the entire garment evenly, including hard-to-reach seams and pockets. You add the product to your washing machine and run a cycle. The downside is that it coats everything, including the inner lining, which can affect breathability slightly.
Spray-on treatments give you more control. You apply them only to the outer fabric layer. This method works better for touch-ups or treating specific worn areas. But you need to apply it carefully to avoid missing spots.
For either method, make sure the pants are clean first. Apply the treatment according to the product instructions.
Then you need to heat-activate it—either in a dryer or with an iron. This step is crucial. The heat cures the treatment and bonds it properly to the fibers.
How Long Will the Restored DWR Last?
Factory-applied DWR typically lasts longer than anything you add at home. The original treatment is baked on during manufacturing at high temperatures. Your home restoration won’t be quite as durable, but it still works well.
After reapplying DWR, you can expect it to last 5-10 ski days before needing another treatment. Heavy, wet snow conditions wear it down faster than cold, dry powder. If you ski hard and spend lots of time sitting in snow, you might need to retreat more often.
You can extend DWR life by washing your pants more frequently. This sounds counterintuitive, but remember—dirt destroys DWR faster than washing does. Keeping the fabric clean actually preserves the coating longer.
What’s Different About Women’s Ski Pants?
The wetting out process works the same regardless of the cut or fit of your pants. But women’s ski pants often have different fabric weights and constructions than men’s versions. Some are designed with lighter-weight face fabrics for better mobility.
Lighter fabrics can be more prone to abrasion because there’s less material to protect the DWR coating.
The trade-off is better comfort and movement. You might need to retreat these pants more frequently, but the maintenance process stays the same.
Women’s pants also tend to have more fitted designs around the hips and thighs. These areas get more friction from movement, which wears down DWR faster in those specific spots.
You can do targeted spray-on treatments just in high-wear areas rather than treating the whole garment every time.
Should You Just Buy New Pants Instead?
New pants come with fresh DWR, but that’s literally the only advantage. If your pants fit well and the waterproof membrane is still intact, there’s no reason to replace them just because the DWR failed.
Restoring water repellency costs around $10-15 in products versus $200-400 for new quality ski pants.
Check your pants for actual damage before deciding. Look for delamination (where the layers separate), torn fabric, or failing seams.
If the membrane is compromised—meaning water leaks through to your skin—then yes, you might need new pants. But if it’s just the outer layer wetting out, restoration makes way more sense.
The environmental impact matters too. Textile production uses significant water and energy. Extending the life of your current gear by even one season makes a real difference.
How Can You Prevent Wetting Out in the First Place?
You can’t completely prevent DWR from breaking down, but you can slow it way down. Brush off excess snow before you get in your car or go inside. This removes the moisture before it has time to work into the fabric.
Wash your pants after every 3-4 ski days, even if they don’t look dirty. Use proper tech wash and skip the fabric softener completely. Hang them to dry rather than cramming them into a gear bag while still damp.
Store your ski pants loosely hung or folded gently—not compressed in a tight space. Pressure on the fabric can flatten the DWR coating over time. When you pull them out next season, give them a quick heat reactivation in the dryer before your first day out.
What Actually Matters for Ski Pants Performance?
The DWR coating is just one part of how your pants perform. The waterproof membrane does the heavy lifting of keeping you dry. The insulation (if your pants have it) provides warmth. The fit affects how you move.
But here’s the thing: when the DWR fails, all the other features work less effectively. The wet outer layer conducts cold directly to your body.
The membrane can’t breathe properly. Your movement feels restricted because the fabric is heavy and saturated.
Maintaining that outer coating isn’t about perfection—it’s about keeping all the layers working together like they’re designed to.
Your ski pants can last for years with basic care and occasional DWR restoration. You just need to understand what’s happening and address it before you’re miserable and cold on the mountain.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do my ski pants soak up water even though they’re supposed to be waterproof?
Answer: That’s “wetting out.” The waterproof membrane is still working, but the outer DWR coating has worn off, allowing the face fabric to absorb water. This makes the pants feel cold, heavy, and clammy.
Can I restore the water repellency on my ski pants at home?
Answer: Yes. First wash them with a technical cleaner, then use low–medium heat in the dryer to reactivate any remaining DWR. If water still soaks in, apply a new DWR treatment (spray-on or wash-in) and heat-activate it.
What causes DWR to fail so quickly?
Answer: Mainly dirt, body oils, abrasion from snow/chairlifts, and improper washing. Dirt alone can block DWR within 3–5 ski days, even if the coating is still there.
Should I buy new pants if mine are wetting out?
Answer: Not usually. Wetting out doesn’t mean they’re leaking—it only means the outer coating needs restoration, which costs $10–15. Replace your pants only if the waterproof membrane or seams are damaged.
How long will a restored DWR treatment last?
Answer: Typically 5–10 ski days, depending on snow conditions and abrasion. Light women’s pants may need touch-ups more often, especially in high-wear areas like thighs and hips.
