Nikwax products have always worked for all of my dogsledding gear, but I can never decide if I can put my garment in the dryer afterwards. I think they last about 4 years, so you may want to check that if yours has been on the shelf for awhile. Apply a boot waterproofing treatment before you start to get soggy toes and this will also help keep the leather in better condition for longer. The treatment adds a DWR coating to the surface of the boots. Protect working surface and lay clean wet fastened garment flat. For large items apply in sections. Required fields are marked *. Although a wax treatment may be the best product for waterproofing leather boots, it can be a much more time consuming process than the cream or spray options. A little help from a boot waterproofing treatment can help revitalised the breathable properties of Gore-tex as well as maintain the stability of the fabric or leather. ISO Certified. Click HERE to learn how to waterproof fabric hiking boots. Nikwax’s sponge-on and spray-on waterproofers for footwear can be used on fashion, leisure or sport boots and shoes and will add water-repellency to all types of leather and textiles. The first spray is by Nikwax, the Softshell Clean and Wateproof sprays, which come as a duo pack. For waterproof breathable jackets and pants, such as my North Face ski jacket and an old pair of rain pants, I used the Nikwax Tech Wash and Nikwax TX Direct. This is enough to wash 6 garments, if you hand wash. Rather than add it to my washing machine, I decided to hand wash it, using gloves to protect my hands. 2. If you wear waterproof breathable shells, regular detergent just doesn’t cut it. Once you’ve cleaned your boots, it’s important that you don’t leave the leather boots to fully dry. I use the Tent and Gear Solarproof spray on waterproofing on my bike cover to help keep it from leaking. I used a paper waterproofing product on a paper USGS topo map several years ago, I *think* it was a Nikwax product. However, most nubuck leather treatments require the boots to be damp to improve the uptake of the spray or cream. You wouldn’t be the first to question why hiking boots with a Gore-tex membrane need re-waterproofing. Nikwax makes it really easy to figure out which of their products to use for specific gear. With the TX Direct Waterproof Spray from Nikwax you can do all of this whilst avoiding ruining your clothes in the unpredictable weather. Nubuck leather is not smooth and shiny like full grain leather but it has a brushed effect from being buffered down — similar to suede. I even used a Nikwax that was meant for waterproofing boots. We always have our reusable water bottles, Fast, Fresh Water: Hiking Lady’s Sawyer TAP Water Filter Review. Your email address will not be published. Spray Nikwax Tent & Gear SolarWash™ evenly to outside of fabric. Using wax will ruin the soft, brushed finish and may also stain the boots, so a specially designed treatment should be used. STEP 1: Wash with Nikwax Tech Wash (after rinsing out any remnant regular detergent residue from the detergent drawer) according to the care label instructions. Once you waterproof an item with a Nikwax proofer, you should always maintain its waterproofing performance by cleaning regularly with an appropriate Nikwax cleaning solution (for clothing and footwear). (Nikwax also makes a spray … It’s WaterBased. So a faffy process puts you off a boot waterproofing session altogether then go for the easier option. No propellant gases, non-toxic, no fluorocarbons, environmentally safe. Nikwax TX Direct Spray-On Waterproofer is the easiest way to re-waterproof your outerwear and keep you dry while skiing in the rain. There are a ton of different products for waterproofing hiking boots, each of which is specially designed with a particular boot material in mind. Simply spray on, wipe off any excess, and allow to dry to reinstate that barrier. No need to dry item (s) before waterproofing. Nikwax is the global leader in safe, high performance cleaning and waterproofing products for outdoor clothing, footwear, and equipment. This is a great way to save money and have your gear last a lot longer! The Nikwax Visor Proof is a small spray that works very well for keeping the rain running off your visor. Mine sure get a lot of abuse on the trail! One question, is that specifically for breathable clothing, or does it work on solely-coated clothes as well? By using Nikwax you can renew your gear and reduce the impact. Step 2: Use Nikwax TX Direct. Non-leather hiking boots are known as synthetic. I've used Nikwax for smooth leather with great results before. However, with use and wear, the waterproofness of hiking boots starts to deteriorate. Gore-Tex, HyVent, eVent, and any other synthetic fiber garment with a durable water repellent (DWR) or polyurethane (PU) coating will eventually allow moisture to seep through the outer fabric. As with leather boots, most products for synthetic boots require the boots to be wet or damp when applying treatments, but check the instructions first. NOTE: Wax, grease or oil shouldn’t be used as a boot waterproofing treatment on Gore-tex as it can have a negative effect on the breathability of the membrane. Assuming you want your boots to last more than a couple of years of use, you should be applying a boot waterproofing treatment at least a couple of times in a hiking season. I had to squeeze fairly hard many times during application. The Spra I applied the TX-Direct and Spray-On to a Marmot Precip and some Asolo boots. How to Wash & Revitalize Waterproof Clothing, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window). You can also hand wash your apparel if the care instructions don’t allow for machine washing. Waterproofing spray is best for multi-layered garments in which you only want to waterproof the outer layer — this applies to items like your rainwear, tent, backpack cover, and just about anything comprisefd of Gore-Tex or eVent. You can treat gear with Nikwax in your washing machine, by hand or by using our spray-on products. Clean the boots thoroughly as outlined above. Wax is excellent at conditioning and lubricating full grain leather without softening it. You may need to give synthetic boots an extra scrubbing to get dirt and dust out of the seams and joins. One more thing to consider when choosing the best products for waterproofing hiking boots, is convenience. It coats the individual fibers of the fabric and leather with a DWR treatment that is flexible and maintains breathability. In order to maintain and enhance the waterproofness of you Gore-Tex, eVent, and other waterproof apparel, you need to use a Nikwax wash product, such as the Nikwax Tech Wash, paired with Nikwax TX Direct to revive water repellency and breathability. Clean your boots well, being careful not to soak them in water. 5. Nikwax have a fairly huge range: I ended up with the Nikwax TX Direct Wash In Waterproofer as it had overwhelmingly positive reviews and a 300ml bottle was only £7.