REI.com
  • Online: www.REI.com
  • URL for this product:
  • From the U.S. and CanadaCall 1-800-426-4840
  • Mon. through Sun., 4 a.m. through 11 p.m. PT.
  • InternationalCall 1-253-891-2500
  • Mon. through Sun., 4 a.m. through 11 p.m. PT. English language only.
Nikwax Hard-shell Outerwear Care Kit

    Nikwax Hard-shell Outerwear Care Kit

    • $20.75
    5
    (10)

    Item # 783563

    Product size and color
    • 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

    REI Membership

    Nikwax Hard-shell Outerwear Care Kit Specs
    Specification
    Description
    Best use
    Multisport
    (Each) 10 fluid ounces
    Volume

    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

        Back to top

         
        5.0

        Works like a charm

        By VR6eric

        from Marlton, NJ

        About Me Avid Adventurer

        See all my reviews

        Verified Buyer
        Site Member

        Pros

        • Easy to Use

        Cons

          Best Uses

          • Revitalize Waterproof

          Comments about Nikwax Hard-shell Outerwear Care Kit:

          Easy to use.

          • What Is Your Gear Style:
          • Comfort Driven
          • Was this a gift?:
          • No

          Comment on this review

           
          4.0

          Good Product

          By DC Legg

          from Bakersfield, CA

          About Me Casual/ Recreational

          See all my reviews

          Verified Buyer

          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.

              • Was this a gift?:
              • No

              Comment on this review

               
              5.0

              Don't buy a new jacket

              By BlaineStreetSteps

              from Seattle, WA

              About Me Casual/ Recreational

              See all my reviews

              Site Member

              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.

                • Was this a gift?:
                • No

                Comment on this review

                 
                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!

                    • Was this a gift?:
                    • No

                    Comment on this review

                    (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.

                      • Was this a gift?:
                      • No

                      Comment on this review

                      (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

                      Site Member

                      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.

                      • Was this a gift?:
                      • No

                      Comment on this review

                      (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!

                      • Was this a gift?:
                      • No

                      Comment on this review

                      (1 of 4 customers found this review helpful)

                       
                      3.0

                      Just Okay

                      By briman4031

                      from Salt Lake City, UT

                      About Me Enthusiast

                      See all my reviews

                      Site Member

                      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.

                        • Was this a gift?:
                        • No

                        Comment on this review

                        (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

                        Site Member

                        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!

                            • Was this a gift?:
                            • No

                            Comment on this review

                            (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

                            Site Member

                            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.

                            • Was this a gift?:
                            • No

                            Comment on this review

                            Displaying reviews 1-10

                            Back to top

                            How are we doing? Give us feedback on this page.

                            REI Anniversary Sale May 17–27. Plus, members SAVE 20% on 1 full-price item with coupon code ANNV13. Details

                            • Join REI today!
                            • REI Membership
                            • REI member benefits include an annual refund (typically 10% on eligible purchases).
                            • Join REI today!
                            • Sign up for REI Gearmail®
                            • and get 15% off selected items!
                            • Store Locator
                            • Locate an REI store near you.
                            • Find a Store

                            Find REI on: FacebookTwitterYouTubeFlickr