Nikwax TX.Direct Spray-On Waterproofing, 500ml

I've tried several DWR restoration products over the years, and Nikwax TX.Direct Spray-On is the one I keep coming back to because it simply works. I recently used it on my Rab waterproof shell, which had started to wet out after many miles in rain, wind, and regular use. The membrane was still performing, but the outer fabric was absorbing water instead of beading it off. After cleaning the jacket and applying the spray evenly, the difference was immediately noticeable. Easy to Apply The spray bottle gives good control, allowing me to treat only the exterior fabric where it's needed. I paid a little extra attention to the shoulders, hood, cuffs, and upper back—areas that see the most abrasion from backpack straps and constant exposure to the weather. Real Performance on the Trail Once the treatment had dried, I tested the jacket on several hikes in wet conditions. Water beaded up again and rolled off the surface instead of soaking into the face fabric. The jacket stayed lighter during prolonged rain, dried faster afterward, and remained noticeably more comfortable throughout the day. What I appreciate most is that it restores water repellency without compromising breathability. That's especially important during long climbs, where moisture from the inside can become just as uncomfortable as rain from the outside. Extends the Life of Good Gear Quality shells from brands like Rab are built to last for years, but even the best DWR finish eventually wears off. Rather than replacing an expensive jacket, this treatment restores the performance it was designed to have. For me, it's become part of regular gear maintenance, just like cleaning boots or checking trekking poles before a trip. Final Thoughts If your waterproof jacket is still structurally sound but the outer fabric is wetting out, I highly recommend giving Nikwax TX.Direct Spray-On a try before considering a replacement. It's easy to use, economical, and restores the water repellency that makes a good shell perform the way it should. For anyone who spends serious time in the mountains, it's one of those maintenance products that's worth keeping on the shelf.

I used this on a handful of older rain shells that had lost their DWR and were wetting out in light drizzle. One treatment each and water beads up and rolls off again like the jackets were new. It genuinely restores the repellency rather than just masking the problem for a couple of wears. Application is simple — clean shell, spray it on evenly while damp, wipe the excess. One tip worth knowing: do it outside on the grass. The overspray goes farther than you'd expect and you don't want it landing on a driveway, deck, or garage floor. Doing it out in the yard makes cleanup a non-issue. The 500ml bottle covered multiple jackets with room left over, so the value is solid. Does exactly what it claims for rain protection. Will keep it on hand.

Smells funny but it works. Don’t get it on your hands. It’s like liquid wax

I’ve had my favorite orange Marmot rain jacket for many years. Rain was beginning to soak into the fabric, especially on the shoulders. Otherwise the well-loved jacket was in pretty good shape. I washed it in the front loader Maytag washing machine with unscented HE Tide detergent. (I didn’t use the NixWax cleaning product…I did quite a bit of research that indicated unscented plain Tide “Clear” (hypoallergenic”) would work well and it’s our regular detergent. I actually let the jacket dry a few days to make sure the fabric was intact and not de-laminating after the washing but the fabric seemed fine. I wet the jacket down with a spray bottle of plain water and soaked it really well. Laid it on a tarp on the driveway. Sprayed the entire bottle of NixWax Spray on it, sort of sloshed it around in the residual amounts still on the tarp, hung it to dry in the shade for a few days. It’s really like new. The fabric is soft and pliable and feels “new”. I put it in the shower and wet it down to make sure it was water repellant and sure enough the water beads up nicely. I’m really pleased with the product and I think it will give me a couple of more years useful life.

I used it in a cushion outside and it works! It will still get somewhat wet in the rain but dries faster. Recommend

Good product but difficult to get an even coating. They should have a wide spray nozzle that allows you to use a back and forth painting movement to spread evenly. It did not really work per se, as parts of my rainfly leaked.

Works well on coat that was washed multiple times Follow the instructions Would buy again

This past winter I made the mistake of washing my wife's Oakley ski pants with regular detergent. After that, they absorbed water like nobody's business. Luckily, that was the last time she needed them. I bought some Tech Wash and Nikwax so we could try to recover her ski pants and also clean our other winter gear this spring. I finally did just that and after drying them in the dryer, tested every garment to ensure waterproofing by placing each one in the shower spraying cold water for 60 seconds. Not only did the Nikwax prove itself during my tests, but the articles of clothing felt lighter than they did before I washed them. It doesn't stop there. My winter jacket has a removable liner that turns the shell into a pretty nice lightweight jacket for cooler weather. Well, as it is with a lot of the US this year, we've had quite a few heavy rainstorms over the past few weeks (it seems we're always in a flash flood warning) and I took my jacket out a few times. I'm thoroughly impressed. Not only did the water bead and roll right off my jacket, but my torso stayed completely dry and warm despite heavy rain pounding on the seemingly lightweight fabric for several minutes. And the water droplets that beaded on my jacket were easily shaken off so my jacket could be put back in the closet without getting everything else wet. I applied the Nikwax indoors without any problem. Nikwax has kind of a mild vinegar odor (my best description), which on it's own isn't bad, but the Nikwax will get on everything and can be a pain to get off floors and walls. I will say, however, that a well-ventilated area is a necessity because of the small, but possible risk of inhaling nano particles. This is from the manufacturer's website: "Nikwax water-based consumer products are white opaque liquids with an average particle size usually between 1 and 2 microns. That is ten times bigger than the largest nanoparticle. However, a small proportion of the emulsion will be in the nano range. As soon as Nikwax is diluted with water, or the water evaporates from it, the emulsion particles aggregate, that is, join together and get bigger.. Therefore there is an extremely low risk with Nikwax products that novel nano particles will be dispersed into water or air through their use. "Nikwax water-based spray products are delivered from a trigger spray and are not gas driven. Therefore the particle size that is dispersed into the air is relatively very large compared to a gas propellant driven aerosol, and is not nanoparticle size. Nikwax trigger driven sprays therefore present low risk in terms of inhalation and the possibility of materials entering through the airways and into the lungs. Care should, however always we taken to avoid inhalation of any spray material, including Nikwax." I'm excited about next winter, trying out all of our refreshed gear on the ski slopes, playing with the dog in the snow, shoveling, etc. I have a feeling next winter is going to be awesome thanks largely to refreshing our snow gear to beat the elements with Tech Wash and Nikwax. Amazing stuff.

Works well on wet weather motorcycle gear.

Followed the instructions and sprayed in my garage. I have washed my jacket with the proper wash a few days before, so before using the waterproofing spray I wet my coat with a water sprayer and a damp rag to spread it even. There is a smell, not too strong, from the solution — like glue. After the low heat dry, any splashed water rolled off perfectly. Definitely a product I will keep using in the future.

Easy to apply and works quite well. I'm a fan.

Removed one star for the inherent odour!

Does what it says on the bottle, used it on patio furniture covers, and works as it should so all good