How to Waterproof Your Snowboarding Gloves at Home

Nothing ruins a good run faster than that creeping, icy dampness in your gloves. Wet hands get cold fast, and cold hands end your day early. Sure, the best defense is a solid pair of waterproof gloves from the start. But we all have that favorite pair we want to revive — maybe they've seen a few too many seasons, or they're just starting to lose their bead. The good news? With a little care, you can often restore their water-shedding powers right in your garage or mudroom.

First, a crucial piece of advice: Always check the manufacturer’s care label first. Some modern membranes and treatments can be damaged by certain methods. If the label is gone or unclear, the processes below are generally safe for most snow sports gloves made of nylon, polyester, or leather synthetics.

Here’s your at-home, step-by-step guide to getting your gloves mountain-ready again.

Step 1: The Critical Clean

You can’t waterproof a dirty glove. Dirt, body oils, and salt from sweat clog the microscopic pores of the waterproof membrane and outer fabric, causing water to soak in instead of roll off.

1. Brush Off Loose Dirt: Give the gloves a good smack and use a soft brush (an old toothbrush works) to remove caked-on mud or grit.
2. Machine Wash (Gentle!): Use a front-loading washer or a top-loader without an agitator. Agitators can tear gloves apart. Close all velcro straps and zippers.
3. Use Technical Detergent: This is non-negotiable. Regular detergents and especially fabric softeners leave residues that permanently degrade waterproofing (DWR) and can ruin breathable membranes. Use a cleaner specifically designed for technical outerwear.
4. Settings: Use warm water on a gentle, slow cycle. Do not use bleach.

Step 2: The Re-Waterproofing Treatment

After cleaning, the durable water repellent (DWR) coating on the outer fabric needs to be replenished. This is what causes water to bead up and roll off.

You have two main options:

A. Spray-On Treatment (Most Common & User-Friendly)

This is ideal for most people and works on most materials, including insulated gloves.

1. Wash and Dry: Ensure gloves are clean and slightly damp. The fibers need some moisture to best absorb the treatment.
2. Apply Evenly: In a well-ventilated area, hang the gloves and spray an even, light coat over the entire exterior surface, holding the bottle about 6 inches away. Pay extra attention to high-wear areas: fingertips, palms, and the back of the hand.
3. Let it Soak In: Allow the treatment to soak in for the time specified on the bottle (usually 5-10 minutes).
4. Heat-Activate: This is the magic step. Tumble dry on low heat for 20-40 minutes. The heat evenly distributes and bonds the treatment to the fibers. If you don’t have a dryer, you can use an iron on a low, no-steam setting with a towel between the iron and the glove.

B. Wash-In Treatment

This is great for gloves that are uniformly worn or have insulation you want to treat throughout.

1. Add to Wash: Pour the recommended amount of wash-in waterproofing solution into your washer's detergent dispenser instead of detergent.
2. Run a Cycle: Run a gentle, warm wash cycle with your clean gloves.
3. Dry with Heat: Again, tumble dry on low heat to activate. The wash-in method can sometimes slightly reduce the breathability of the membrane, but it provides a very thorough application.

Step 3: The Leather-Specific Note

If your gloves have leather palms or panels (common for grip and durability), they require a different, additional product.

1. Use a Leather Conditioner/Wax: After the general waterproofing process, apply a leather conditioner or wax (like beeswax-based products) specifically made for performance leather.
2. Rub In Thoroughly: Work the product into the leather thoroughly. The leather will darken as it absorbs the conditioner.
3. Heat to Set: Use a hairdryer on a low setting to warm the leather, helping it absorb the wax deeply. This nourishes the leather and creates a superb water-resistant barrier.

Step 4: The Final Test

Once your gloves are completely dry, it’s time for the trusty shower test.

• Hold a glove under a gentle stream of cold water from a faucet, or spray it with a shower head.
• Watch the water. It should bead up and roll off the surface like rain on a freshly waxed car.
• If the water soaks in or spreads out into a dark patch (called "wetting out"), the DWR application was insufficient. You may need to repeat the spray-on treatment.

Prevention is the Best Medicine

While re-waterproofing is a fantastic skill, the real pro move is extending the time between treatments. Here’s how:

• Never use regular detergent or softener.
• Store your gloves away from direct heat (like a radiator or heater vent), which can bake out the DWR and dry out leather.
• After a wet day, dry them slowly at room temperature. Stuff them with crumpled newspaper to absorb moisture from the inside out — this helps maintain their shape and pulls dampness away from the insulation and liner.

We believe in smart care to extend the life of your equipment, so you can spend less time maintaining and more time out there sharing the wild. Sometimes a little at-home TLC is all it takes to get your trusted gear ready for the next big descent or the next silent, snow-covered trail.