Norwegians have a saying about weather and clothing: “Det finnes ikke dårlig vær, bare dårlige klær” (There is no bad weather, just bad clothing). Appropriate clothing allows the wearer to function comfortably and effectively outdoors under a wide range of weather conditions. This makes selecting weather-appropriate clothing an important consideration for those who work and spend leisure time outdoors.
I recently tested Nikwax Wax Cotton Proof. I found that it can significantly enhance the water resistance of certain garments while still allowing them to breathe. This makes those garments much more effective in wet and rainy conditions. A 10-ounce bottle is large enough to treat two garments, and was available for $13.25 a bottle at www.nikwax.com at the time of this writing.
The Backstory
My wife and I went to one of our favorite thrift stores about a year ago. On the shelf we found about two dozen bottles of Nikwax Wax Cotton Proof for the price of one dollar a bottle. That seemed like a great price, but we were not familiar with the product. It was hard to know whether we were getting a great deal or throwing our money away. We finally decided to compromise by buying three bottles. After testing the product, I wish we had bought them all.
For many years, I wore a tightly woven green cotton jacket while working around the property during moderate temperatures. I had treated the jacket with Kiwi Camp Dry, and found it to shed water quite well without sealing in water vapor.
Eventually, the years of rough use began to take their toll. The jacket began to fall apart. I replaced it with another jacket that I had purchased at a thrift store.
The problem with the newer jacket was that it had a looser weave. It did not repel rain as effectively as the older jacket. I decided to see if Nikwax Wax Cotton Proof could help to make the new jacket more water resistant.Continue reading“Nikwax Wax Cotton Proof, by Thomas Christianson”
