Winterizing your gear

[Upright]

Thompsons water Seal

Posted this on the US forum and here

Its the only tip I have and I think its the roseta stone for commuting.
I buy 5 litres about 20urals should be cheaper in the UK

I put it in a squirty bottle and spray it on all my gear - textiles, leather even the parasol in the garden. It seems to coat the material and the water beads on it. Because I doesn't soak in the gear doesn't get saturated and so is dry in the morning.

Also it seem to stop the Sh!t sticking (to the outside that is - I'm fairly advance when it comes to bowel control)

Much cheaper than the aersol containers and much less chance of breathing in the product during application

I have no Idea what's in it and am not about to educate myself as I won't stop using it and in that case ignorance is bliss

I will admit to puting leather water proffing on A set of Spada extreams instead of the thompsons but that's cause they are so thick I felt it might make them more pliable - hand sore and all that

As I say I like it, but I buy cheap, heavy gear and give it the once over every few months.

If your a Klim or rukka wearer maybe you should - as they say - test on an inconspicous area first.

[Fatbelly]

Just a quick question. This sounds great but exactly which Thompson Water Seal product are you using? Is it the one they use on wood & brickwork etc?

I can see that on their US web site they do an aerosol can of water seal for leather & fabric but I can't see this on any UK sites or in 5 litre containers.

maybe they are the same stuff?

[Fatbelly]

Forgive me for answering my own question but I found a fishing website where they have been using it on clothing, tents etc., it is the same one they use for wood, bricks, & concrete!

They say it pongs a bit until you air it.

[Upright]

I pong a bit anyway

Its fine coz you don't put it on and then wear it straight away. its something I dod after waswhing the gear and drying it  every two months or so. Means I don't really have to buy top of the range for waterproofing anyways and Lidl/Aldi always have warm ger with liners etc.

Never had a problem yet

[Ptarmigan]

+1 for Thompsons...

I used to soak my old army surplus camo gear in the stuff then hang it in the garage to dry out. It didn't make them totally waterproof but took a heavy downpour to get through, more often than not it was the seams that were 'stretched' anyway!

[Locky]

My mate tried it on his fishing brolly last year , done mine now and seems to work a treat . Stopped it leaking and it just shakes dry .