The 12 Best Waterproofing Sprays of 2023, Tested and Reviewed

Other Waterproofing Sprays Tested

303 Fabric Guard for Outdoor Fabrics: This was one of the best-performing sprays we used. But it was also the most expensive. And it didn’t perform that much better than others to justify adding it to our list above. Still, if you’re looking to get a little spendy or want something specific for outdoor furniture, we highly recommend the 303 Fabric Guard for Outdoor Fabrics.

The Crep Protect Spray-U: This spray has thousands of reviews on Amazon, and most are very good. It wasn’t that this spray didn’t perform well; it just didn’t perform as well as the others we named best for boots and best for shoes. This product, in particular, is designed for boots and shoes.

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Nikwax Nubuck & Suede Proof: This product’s sprayer made it very difficult to apply evenly to the surface of a pair of nubuck boots, and after drying, the boots were no more water-resistant than they’d been before starting: The first drops of water that hit them soaked into the outer material immediately.

Scotchgard Outdoor Watershield: We tested this spray on a backpack that’d lost all water repellency, and the backpack was essentially the same before and after the spray was applied. Our tester gave it one more chance after that, but on the pair of boots we tested it with, it performed marginally better but not well enough to warrant inclusion.

Gear Aid Revivex Durable Water Repellent: Perhaps we had too high of hopes for this one. It was one of the few we tested that claims to be made specifically for outdoor gear and technical fabrics like Gore-Tex. But from the moment we opened the packaging, it was general frustration. First, our tester couldn’t get it to actually spray, then accidentally broke the spray cap with very little pressure, so it was almost impossible to apply. And the waterproofing didn’t seem to work well—especially when compared to others.

Atsko Silicone Water-Guard: There really wasn’t anything we disliked about this spray. There just also wasn’t anything that drew us to it. It was easy to use, and it sprayed and applied fine, but the waterproofing just seemed average. However, it is one of the least expensive options and has good reviews on Amazon. So, to each their own.

Otter Wax Heavy Duty Fabric Wax: Like the Atsko above, it wasn’t necessarily that we disliked this wax; we just liked the one from Fjallraven a bit better. This wax definitely left some discoloration on the materials we applied it on at first, but it went away after being sprayed with water a few times. But on a down jacket, it created a sticky surface on the material that is tough to get off.

Rust-Oleum Shield H20 Outdoor Fabric Spray: This product did a good job of taking an old backpack that never was fully waterproof and making it mostly waterproof. That’s something. It just wasn’t enough for us to put it into any of our superlative categories—still, a solid and good product.

Product Selection

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We spent hours researching the most-reviewed waterproofing sprays on Amazon, REI, and other e-commerce sites. We also tapped into our own experience using various waterproofing sprays. Many of these sprays have been around for a long time and have already been thoroughly used by TripSavvy writers, editors, and others.

Once we had an idea of products we’d like to test based on our own knowledge and favorable online reviews, we ensured we’d test multiple products designed to waterproof different clothing and gear. For example, we wanted to be able to test products designed for tents and other rain gear but also high-end leather and suede products.

Lastly, we considered the cost and environmental issues like aerosol and PFCs. We wanted to ensure we tested and considered sprays in a range of costs and included sprays that are easy on the planet and people using the product.

How We Tested

Waterproofing sprays were tested in Oregon and California and on a wide variety of products and gear items. We meticulously followed the application directions of each spray. When it was raining, products were tested in the rain. We got creative when it wasn’t raining, mainly using backyard garden hoses to simulate rain by spraying down products. Testing took place during February and March.

What to Look For in Waterproofing Sprays

Sprays vs. Alternatives

Whether you decide to use a waterproofing spray, wash-in, or wax comes down to the product you’re waterproofing and your personal preference.

Sprays give you the most control over the finished product since you’re applying the product yourself, and you can ensure it goes where you need it. Some gear you must spray because the item in question, such as a tent or a pair of hiking boots, can’t go in the washing machine.

If your jacket has a wicking liner or some other type of multilayer liner noted by manufacturers, you don’t want to use a wash-in product since it’ll coat the liner in addition to the exterior, and the liner won’t work as effectively.

Waxes and wash-ins can be applied indoors—a benefit if it’s raining or snowing or if you don’t have an outdoor workspace where you can apply the products. Wash-ins are easy; they only require using your washing machine, and some can even be done by hand-washing. Wash-ins are especially popular for down items since the waterproofing product is also meant for the feathers inside the item and the outer layer.

A wax will require application by hand and then heating (by iron, hairdryer, or campfire) the product to seal it. Waxes are generally only used on canvas, denim, and some cotton materials, so they’re not helpful for most technical gear.

Silicone vs. Non-Silicone

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We’ll spare you an in-depth look at how waterproofing products work. (It might take you back to high school chemistry with terms like “surface tension” and “molecular weight.”) But it’s still possible to get a general understanding of silicone versus non-silicone waterproofing.

For water-based products like those made by Nikwax, water carries waterproofing elastomers.

“They actually kind of adhere to the individual fibers, like an old-fashioned telephone cord—they wrap around the fibers,” says Heidi Allen, the vice president of marketing at Nikwax. “They have a little stretchiness to them.”

The spray acts like a protective layer on top of the fibers for silicone-based products, though they still allow for some breathability. Before you choose a spray for technical gear, you’ll want to carefully read the manufacturer’s instructions for waterproofing that item; some recommend against certain types of products.

Environmental Concerns

Some sprays contain perfluorochemicals (PFCs), a group of synthetic chemicals the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) warns remain in the environment—and in the human body—for years, so you’ll want to be especially careful using any of those, especially around pets and children. (Or just avoid them in general.) And aerosol sprayers, though they work well for consumers, also have a negative environmental impact. If you’re seeking to prevent those issues, choose a non-aerosol spray that doesn’t contain PFCs.

Gear vs. Clothing

If you’re waterproofing a backpack, you don’t have to worry about the breathability of that finished product, whereas the breathability of a jacket or pair of boots can significantly impact your day in the outdoors, so you’ll want to make sure you look for a waterproofing product that creates a porous seal; most labels indicate if the product is meant for waterproof/breathable technical items or not.

Why Trust TripSavvy

Author Lisa Slade is a runner, hiker, cyclist, Nordic skier, and backpacker based in notoriously rainy Portland, Oregon. She spends most of her afternoons and weekends exploring often-muddy trails all over the Pacific Northwest with the help of plenty of waterproof and water-resistant gear.

Nathan Allen, TripSavvy’s Outdoor Gear editor, also helped with testing. Allen has spent decades using and testing outdoor gear. While he’s always appreciated highly-waterproof gear, he became particularly smitten with it after a self-supported bikepacking trip from Vancouver, British Columbia, to his home in Berkeley, California, when it rained on him all but two days. Those two days were glorious.

All items were tested before waterproofing products were applied and then again afterward to assess their effectiveness, with copious notes taken on all aspects of the products. We also consulted the following experts when choosing the best waterproofing sprays:

• Heidi Allen, the vice president of marketing at Nikwax
• Steve Nagode, an innovation engineer, and former REI test engineer

Source: https://gardencourte.com
Categories: Outdoor