What is the difference between water repellent, water resistant?

I want to buy an instant pop up canapy. I have already bought 2 but they are too small. One we did not get wet when it rained hard. The other one we did. The material absorbed some of the water dripped on us from inside the canapy!





I want to make sure my next one will repel the rain but I don't know which term is more waterproof.


water REPELLENT or water RESISTANT





I know that water PROOF is the best but they don't seem to make these waterproof. Thanks.What is the difference between water repellent, water resistant?
It is so very important to read carefully before purchasing something, and to really consider what they are saying.





Here is an excerpt taken from an article I found at: http://missourifamilies.org/quick/materi鈥?/a>





'; Water-Resistant fabrics shed water because of their weave or because they have been treated. They will soak through in a heavy rain, however.





Water-Repellent fabrics are more effective than water-resistant fabrics. They are either very tightly woven or coated with a finish that causes the water to make little beads when it hits the fabric rather than going through. The finish may wear off over time or come off in drycleaning. Read the label to determine whether drycleaning is allowed. A silicone spray may rejuvenate the finish.





Water-Proof fabrics can not be penetrated by water and should keep you dry, even in heavy rains. They may be extremely tightly woven, such as a fine polyester/nylon blend, rubber or plastic or other non-porous material, or coated with a finish that makes them breathable but closed to water. Be sure to read the care label before laundering. ';





I also found this one helpful: http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/waterp鈥?/a>





Here is what it says:





'; waterproof and water-repellent fabrics materials treated with various substances so as to make them impervious to water. Permanent waterproofing is achieved by first coating fabrics with rubber or plasticized synthetic resins, then vulcanizing or baking them. Fabrics so treated lose porosity and lightness and when rubberized are subject to cracking. Water-repellent fabrics, sprayed with or immersed in synthetic resins, metallic compounds, oils, or waxes, tend to remain porous and to retain their natural characteristics. Earlier treatments, such as tarring the surface (as for tarpaulin) or oiling (as for oilskin), have been supplemented by highly technical and varied processes and by the method of coating the fibers prior to cloth construction. Some woolen fabrics, especially Navajo blankets and tweeds and other napped textiles, are naturally water repellent. ';





Hope this is helpful, and I hope you find the one your looking for.





sincerely, andrewWhat is the difference between water repellent, water resistant?
Water resistant is defined as treated with a finish that is resistant but not impervious to penetration by water.





Water proof is defined as 1. Impervious to or unaffected by water.


2. Made of or coated or treated with rubber, plastic, or a sealing agent to prevent penetration by water.





As an older camper I remember that one can undo the waterproofing could be undone when touching the tent while inside the tent when it is raining. Perhaps it has changed with modern technology, but I don't know.





gatita_63109
I have one and it is an Ozark Brand, a 12x12 and is supposed to be water resistant. It is for the most part, but where it is sewn together it does leak a little bit. I got some water proofing spray that you use on tents and it worked. I actually got two types of spray. I got one can from the local Wal-Mart and it didn't work very well. I went to the Sport and hunting store and bought some, it was at a higher cost, but it worked. The spray is for water proofing tents. I was also told that you can get a spray from the RV dealers that they use on Pop-up campers, I guess they don't leak. So that's another avenue to explore.





Just for future information, insectisides used in or around the canopy, direct contact, can take the water Repellent, resistant away from the fabric.
if something is water repellent, it punches water in the face.





if something is water resistant, it runs away from water...





:) haha jk
the best 1 as u have mentioned is waterproof then theirs the water resistant and finally water repellent
Repellent - tends to drive away





Resistant - capable of





I think that repellent is stronger than resistant
water proof would have the qualities of both lol.





You probably want the first one.
One repels and one resists.
There is no clear answer to your question. These days even watches are never deemed waterproof because there really is no such thing as a waterproof watch. Watches are rated for water resistance based on the depth where water penetrates the casing. Eventually everything will leak. With regard to fabrics there is no law in the United States or international agreement that defines the terms water repellent or water resistant so manufactures may use these terms in various overlapping ways. Therefore, you need evaluate the fundamental properities of the fabric you are considering and the job you want it to do.





Water repellent generally means that the material is going to be impervious to water in its ideal state, but there are many factors that may make this a less than ideal solution. For instance a thin sheet of plastic me be water repellent, but it might rip easily. Plasitic may also leak at seams. A water repellent fabric such as canvas or wool will shed water even though it is not water repellent and will eventually absord some water and leak. Canvas has been the traditional material of choice for awning makers due to its durability. Modern wedding tents are usually made out of a tough plastic coated material. Maintenance, cost and longevity are also big issues to consider.





To summarize, you cannot rely on the labels repellent or resistant. Generally, repellent means something not penetrable by water and resistant means that the weave sheds water. Resistance is often a feature of more breathable fabrics, whereas repellence is more easily attained by plastic like fabrics that do not breathe. Expensive fabrics like Gortex offer both high repellency and breathability. The different materials have various strengths and weaknesses. If you want to be completely dry, you generally need to stay inside or spend a lot of money. Hope this helps.