Nikwax?..I can surely pick ?em can?t I.. (Hiking/Walking Equipment in general)

Member Name: Muddy250

Product:	Hiking/Walking Equipment in general
Date:	27/01/04 (1034 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: It Works, It's environmentally friendly and cheap

Disadvantages: None!

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Nikwax?..I can surely pick ?em can?t I...another exciting product...

Prepare to be excited?

I don?t know why this popped into my head, probably something to do with the fact that I?d been desperately plastering my motorbike boots in the stuff to try and stop the latest biblical downpour getting through on the way home. I do have Gore-tex boot liners but my feet get very heavy when the huge boots I wear soak up a bucket load each and it can be difficult to get my leg over (steady) the bike seat after a hard ride (through the rush hour traffic?stop that!!) of an evening. Enough! It sounds like a ruddy Carry On Op! Carry on Opiniating there?s an idea for a film anyway, I checked the product list and there it was waiting for me! Nikwax.


Foul Weather anyone?

For those of you who have never ventured out in foul weather voluntarily and have never felt the need to waterproof footwear, this may well be a product you have never heard of and feel you will never have a use for so please feel free to leave now before it?s too late!

Off you go then?

I on the other hand, mainly as a result of masochistic tendencies, have used literally gallons over the many years I have ridden motorbikes and gone out walking, regardless of season or weather, to keep feet warm and dry when the outside world has been trying its level best to make them cold and wet.


Anybody left? The Products!

Whilst studying for his degree in 1977, Nick Brown began to try to find an environmentally friendly method of waterproofing walking boots, eventually managing to produce a blend of different waxes which fit the bill and importantly, unlike other waterproofing agents available, contained no hydrocarbons. Building on this initial success Nick began to develop the Nikwax water based range, all environmentally friendly, to waterproof clothing as well as footwear.

The Wax

The original wax products are avail
able as either solid paste, (like shoe polish and used in the same way) or as liquid wax (like runny shoe polish...and, er not) but both do the job equally well although it?s easier to use the liquid version on leather gloves. Just put ?em on, pour yourself a handful and rub them together, done! The wax also has the added benefit of conditioning the leather so it doesn?t crack or wear as quickly as untreated leather so should last longer as well. Either way, simply spread your chosen weapon onto your leather, rub it in a bit and there you go!



TX10 Elastomers

These are the latest products in the Nikwax range of environmentally friendly kit. The water based TX10 products can also be used on leather and are especially good when the leather is still wet. You wash off the muck, apply the Nikwax, wipe it over and allow it to dry naturally. DON?T put then in front of a raging fire, you?ll dry them too fast and ruin them, you knew that right? Theory goes that the water-based emulsion is drawn into the wet areas and waterproofs most where the boots are wettest! Perfect! Even better than that?.it works! There are many different versions of the water based product available for different waterproofing applications, from down filled jackets to horse blankets and saddles, tents, sleeping bags, walking clothing and equipment and climbing ropes to name just a few.


Application.

You can wipe it on, brush it on, spray it on, put it in the washing machine (best option for jackets and the like) safe in the knowledge that it will do no harm to the environment even if you slosh it all down the drain as it contains no nasties at all! I wouldn?t drink it though..


What can I use it on then?

There?s not a lot you can?t have a go at with Nikwax nowadays and they list the following as activities where Nikwax is useful, Hiking, Running, Backpacking, Sailing, Climbing, Mou
ntaineering, Skiing, Snowboarding, Cycling, R
owing, Kayaking, Equestrian, Golf, Motorcycling, Hunting, Fishing, Rowing, Family Camping, Snowmobiling, Snowshoeing, Outdoor team sports: football, soccer etc., walking and working. Didn?t mention sleeping or eating but I?m sure they?re working on it! In fact waterproof sheets may be of interest to?let?s not go there eh.

There are also huge numbers of footwear and clothing manufacturers who endorse the use of the stuff but if you want to read about that you can visit the Nikwax website. I?m sure you can work the URL out for yourselves. When you do you?ll find a useful page where you can tell them what it is you want to waterproof and they?ll tell you what to use!

Overall

Proofed jackets laugh in the face of torrential rain and proofed boots tweak the nose of?well you get the idea. Prices vary depending on the product and where you?re buying but expect to pay between £4 and £7 for most of the products, a small price to pay for the smug satisfaction of knowing that your feet are warm, dry and comfy when all around is utterly drenched, AND you did it without petrol, aerosol propellants or organic solvents! It?s not just for lumberjacks either (no singing) and lets face it, in the UK, even if you only trail the city streets on your way to work in commuter hell you are bound to encounter the wet stuff aren?t you? (Unless you?re reading this from the Bahamas in which case I hate you...no really, I do?)


Well were you excited?

Thanks for reading
Chris

Summary: