Online: www.REI.com
URL for this product:

From the U.S. and Canada — Call 1-800-426-4840
Mon. through Sun., 4 a.m. through 11 p.m. PT.
International — Call 1-253-891-2500
Mon. through Sun., 4 a.m. through 11 p.m. PT. English language only.

Nikwax Hard-shell Outerwear Care Kit

$20.75

(10)

Item # 783563

100% Satisfaction Guaranteed
Gear and Advice You Can Trust

Orders of $50 or more ship for free.
Learn more

To view videos or use the zoom feature on REI's websites, please download the latest version of Adobe Flash Player.

NOW PLAYING

Maximize the performance of waterproof, breathable outerwear and skiwear with this Nikwax care kit.

Nikwax water-based products are nontoxic and contain no harmful solvents, fluorocarbons or propellants
Tech Wash cleans and revitalizes breathability and water repellency
TX.Direct wash-in waterproofing restores the water-repellent finish
Extends life and enhances performance of Gore-Tex®, eVent® fabric, REI Elements® and other waterproof, breathable coatings and laminates

Imported.

Item 783563

$4.15

with coupon code ANNV13
May 17-27 Details

Not a member? Add a Membership

View all Nikwax products

REI Membership

REI Membership $20.00

Nikwax Hard-shell Outerwear Care Kit Customer Reviews

REVIEW SNAPSHOT®

by PowerReviews

Nikwax Hard-shell Outerwear Care Kit

4.6

(based on 10 reviews)

100%

of respondents would recommend this to a friend.

Pros

Easy to use (6)
Improves performance (4)
Protective (3)

Cons

Best Uses

- Reviewer Profile:
- Casual/ recreational (5), Enthusiast (4)
- Was this a gift?:
- No (10)

Reviewed by 10 customers

Sort by

Displaying reviews 1-10

Feb

2013

5.0

Works like a charm

By VR6eric

from Marlton, NJ

About Me Avid Adventurer

See all my reviews

Pros

Easy to Use

Cons

Best Uses

Revitalize Waterproof

Comments about Nikwax Hard-shell Outerwear Care Kit:

Easy to use.

Comment on this review

Jan

2013

4.0

Good Product

By DC Legg

from Bakersfield, CA

About Me Casual/ Recreational

See all my reviews

Pros

Easy to Use

Cons

Best Uses

Comments about Nikwax Hard-shell Outerwear Care Kit:

Product used when washing waterproof jackets or pants. Does a really good job keeping the texture in the clothes.

Comment on this review

Nov

2012

5.0

Don't buy a new jacket

By BlaineStreetSteps

from Seattle, WA

About Me Casual/ Recreational

See all my reviews

Pros

Um It Works

Cons

Best Uses

Hard Shell Outerwear

Comments about Nikwax Hard-shell Outerwear Care Kit:

In short: It will revive your rain jacket.

The longer: Alas, my six year-old REI elements rain jacket (I think it's a hard shell) had failed. Walks home from the bus in a steady rain (15-20 min) had me soaked.

Instead of buying a new jacket, I dropped the (by comparison) paltry $ for this treatment, followed the directions and now water beads up on my jacket just like when it was new. 20 minutes standing in a downpour at an unsheltered bus stop this morning waiting for the reliably late route 48, I was completely dry underneath.

To use: I washed this and another jacket with the Tech Wash (3 capfuls in warm water, low water level, extra rinse cycle), immediately followed with the Tx.Direct (the whole bottle, warm water, low setting). Let it dry overnight on a rack. Done.

Both, but the Tech Wash especially left the inside of the washer a bit smelly with some residue, so I ran it again empty with just some laundry detergent. Seemed to clean it right out.

Comment on this review

Jun

2012

5.0

This stuff works!

By Good Guy

from Portland, OR

About Me Casual/ Recreational

See all my reviews

Pros

Easy to use
Improves Performance
Protective

Cons

Best Uses

Comments about Nikwax Hard-shell Outerwear Care Kit:

The cleaner got the jackets spiffy and then the waterproofing added repellency. Easy to use and just two cycles in the washing machine. This morning's rain just slid off! Wow!

Comment on this review

Sep

2011

(0 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

4.0

A great combo

By shnoodle

from Boulder, CO

About Me Enthusiast

See all my reviews

Pros

Easy to use
Works

Cons

Best Uses

Outerwear

Comments about Nikwax Hard-shell Outerwear Care Kit:

It's great when products you need come in sets or pairs. Usually the price is better this way. However, it seems the quantities of these are a bit outmatched. I always seem to need one of them before the other has run out. Nikwax products are expensive, but they work great and are easy to use. Just wish they came in larger quantities at better prices.

Comment on this review

Apr

2011

(11 of 11 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

Works. Easy to Use.

By Great Falls Kam

from Great Falls, VA

About Me Casual/ Recreational

See all my reviews

Pros

Easy to use
Reconditions
Safe Cleaner
Waterproofer

Cons

Directions

Best Uses

Recondition Rain Gear

Comments about Nikwax Hard-shell Outerwear Care Kit:

Works great! Easy to use.

After a year, I noticed my REI Taku rain jacket absorbing some water. The water penetrated only the outer layer. After checking with REI customer service, they informed me that waterproof rain gear requires periodic reconditioning; including eVent and Gore-Tex. News to me. Anyhow, they recommended using a kit from NikWax (a cleaner and waterpooofer).

I elected to wash my REI Taku jacket by hand in a 30 quart size plastic tub and letting it drip dry. I did not want to take any chance with a washing machine or dryer. Also more controlled environment.

Although, you can use either of the Nikwax products by themselves, I elected to use the Nikwax Tech Wash to get my Taku clean before waterproofing it with the Nikwax TX-Direct WASH-IN. If you hand wash and dry your gear, add 6 liter of water (1.58 gallons) to appropriate Nikwax solution. If I recollect, you need about 100-150 ml. (about 2-3.4 oz.) of Tech Wash per 2-3 item of clothing. Although, my Taku jacket did not look dirty, I was surprised how much dirt the Nikwax Tech lifted.

The second step is using the Nikwax TX Direct WASH-IN for waterproofing. You don't need to dry out your gear between the Tech Wash and TX Direct WASH-IN. Everything is going to get wet again anyhow. I had to run an errand, so I let my Taku drip dry over the tub between the two Nikwax applications.

I let my Taku jacket drip dry overnight. I tested the fabric over the sink. The water rolls off. I tried pooling the water on my fabric for a minute. Still no water getting through the fabric. So, the Nikwax TX Direct WASH IN works as advertised. Magic! I have not had a chance to see how long the reconditioning (waterproofing) will last. However, seems like a great product.

I had to download the Nikwax product instructions online.

Comment on this review

Jan

2011

(1 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

Revive your jacket!

By Hike

from Seattle, WA

About Me Enthusiast

See all my reviews

Pros

Easy to use
Environmentally friendly
Improves Performance
Money saving
Protective

Cons

Small quantity

Best Uses

Waterproofing

Comments about Nikwax Hard-shell Outerwear Care Kit:

By reviving the waterproof finish on your hard shell, pants, gaiters or other fabric with DWR finish you extend the life of your gear. With the Tech Wash I removed food and bike grease stains, the nasty odor from hiking and restored the waterproof abilities with the TX.Direct. Plus it's biodegradable!

Comment on this review

Dec

2010

(1 of 5 customers found this review helpful)

3.0

Just Okay

By briman4031

from Salt Lake City, UT

About Me Enthusiast

See all my reviews

Pros

Cleans Adequately
Leaves Pleasant Scent

Cons

Waterproofing Subpar

Best Uses

Comments about Nikwax Hard-shell Outerwear Care Kit:

bought this product and washed my wifes soft shell ski pants, my Hyvent ski pants, Mine and my wifes Columbia Omni-Shield shells. Went skiing today and there was a heavy wet snow. No luck with waterproofing on jackets. Within one run on slopes the jackets started saturating. I'll try a different spray waterproofer.

Comment on this review

Oct

2010

(2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

Super Awesome! Heck yes!

By benthebackpacker

from Spokane, WA

About Me Enthusiast

See all my reviews

Pros

Improves Performance
Maintained Breathability
Protective
Restored Water Repellency
Works

Cons

Best Uses

Comments about Nikwax Hard-shell Outerwear Care Kit:

I used this stuff after my wife put my REI rain gear through the wash with detergent. It restored my gears water repellency and maintained breathability. Used my jacket and pants the very next day in a heavy rain storm and stayed dry (after my gear went through the machine the first time, with detergent, I got soaked in a similar situation). This stuff works and lives up to it's claims! Worth every penny!

Comment on this review

Sep

2010

(2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

Great stuff!!!

By danoeltico

from Durham, NC

About Me Casual/ Recreational

See all my reviews

Pros

Improves Performance

Cons

NO CONS

Best Uses

Reconditioning

Comments about Nikwax Hard-shell Outerwear Care Kit:

Product worked great! Reconditioned my goretex jacket and pants perfectly. Came out of the wash and used it that night taking the dog out in the rain. Before my jacket wouldn't bead water and just soaked it up. That night it beaded right up and kept me dry even in a pouring rain. I will get this again next time my jacket needs to be reconditioned.