Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Backpack Hunting Nikwax Map Proof

Has anyone had experience with this product? Does it really work? Or do you have other recommendations to "water protect" your paper maps?

Are you using maps you ordered form USGS, or maps you printed yourself?

I have used it on purchased maps.

It worked just fine regarding water, and I could still write on the map.

No complaints.

John

I've never heard of it before. Is it new on the market? I checked a doz sites and NONE had any reviews.
I would like to know if it works on home made maps as that's the only kind I use any more. Printer ink is notoriously easy to wreck with water.

I think it has been out for at least 10 yrs, I've used it for at least 7

it works, makes paper maps a lot more waterproof

the folds seem to get a bit weaker after applying it, and I've had some tearing at the folds (this is probably because it's a water-based product and you rub it onto the paper with a sponge applicator) but overall it's a significant plus over a non-waterproofed paper map

I would be using it on purchased USGS maps

My son and I are doing this now preparing for his Philmont trek this summer. Last summer on his 50-miler, we downloaded and printed tiffs of USGS quads from Libre Map Project and waterproofed them with several coats front and back of clear acrylic spray. This worked very well and was cheap. Never used the Nikwax stuff.

What we're struggling with right now is the best way to join the edges as its 4 sheets of paper per quad. Tape is no good when you get the acrylic spray on it. It starts to peel up.

Since the Nikwax is waterbased, I wonder if it will run printer ink as it's applied.

I have used Aqua Seal's Map Seal on USGS maps that I purchased with good success. Apply it to the front first, then the back because the second side won't take the product as well because the water-proofing works. It made the USGS map more pliable and durable. It ruined the maps I printed myself.

I used Map Proof for the first time last year, and followed Shawn's instructions. I also thumb tacked my map to plywood for ease of application and drying. The map ended up pretty weather proof, a little heavier, and kind of wavy and crinkly. Very good insurance for the back country IMO.