Ben - by "old-school shaggy" I mean like a 1980s Helly Hansen fleece jacket - they looked like a real sheep's fleece. (before your time, mate...)
lol

Denser ones are where you can't see through the fibres to the other side and both sides are dense fleece, there isn't a 'knitted effect' liner (think like the inside of old fleece toys). Yes, Polartech 200-stylee.

You can't lose by trying it but a denser fabric won't have so many holes in it to let moisture through.

I was thinking that soft-shells ("soft-shell" in the purist, one layer of a tightly woven fabric sense) are pretty dense, and presumably they are fully impregnated with the Nikwax when they are re-proofed. Apart from the fact that cotton is more absorbant, the TX should work in a similar way, though perhaps more of it is needed. Im not expecting a miracle... though if one happens im going to start selling water-resistant rugby shirts, Yvon Choinard stylee.

Nikwax Cottonproof is the stuff for cotton and polycotton clothes. It certainly drastically reduces water absorption. I once treated a cotton tea towel with it by mistake (it was in the machine already and I forgot to check) and it was astonishingly water resistant afterwards. Useless as a tea towel of course.

Not that I own a hoody (honest), but Cotton Proof does work wonderfully on cotton/polycotton jumpers etc.

In fact, there are not many items in my wardrobe that aren't waterproof.

:D

Thats great Dave. I was thinking of trying it just to see how effective it would be, my soft shell is being returned to TNF so I won't have anything remotely protective to wear when walking to college in occaisionally dodgy weather. My girlfriend won't let me wear my Patagonia shell when she's around :-(

dave. nice try with the concentartion but the instructions for hand washing just say in a bowl or sink. doesn't specify how much water.
i couldn't have made up the half load thingy. didn't "old" instructions used to say this. they don't now.

yes! proof any cheap fleece with the appropriate product. wonderful result. fleece-pertex combination - quite superb!!!! paramo on the cheap (well! - not quite but pretty damn close depending upon what you want it to do)

I've never seen Nikwax Cottonproof. Where can I get hold of it?

Any outdoor shop? They tend to sell it if you ask

I suppose I've never seen it because I didn't know of its existence and therefore never looked for it. It's probably been staring me in the face every time I've been in Up and Under, Blacks, Millets and co.
I shall definitely look out for it now. Thanks.

Re: Cotton Proof. Hopefully any Nikwax stockist should carry it. If they don't simply ask and they may be able to order some for you.

If all else fails, phone us on 01892 786400 and you can order by mail.

Went to Millets in Cardiff.......never heard of Nikwax cotton proof. As the only other outdoor stores in the centre of Cardiff are Blacks and the old Scout Shop (now taken over by Millets) I'll probably have to buy on line and end up paying half its cost again on P&P.

Mac Up and Under should have it,

If not they'll probably order it for you

Of Course! What am I thinking? Thanks for reminding me Dave.
Oh! I forgot, there is a new, small outdoors shop near to where I work, Hike Kit just off Crwys Road by the Police station (take note Cardiffians). I'll try there first, the owner is very helpful and as he's just starting out I'll give him all the custom I can.

a good way of buying nikwax stuff is a "bulk" buy when one of the "large" stores has a free postage offer.
bought four litres from cotswolds earlier this year.

A good way of acquiring Nikwax stuff is to work in an outdoors store.

So far this year i've been given a bottle of techwash by Salomon and another bottle by Nikwax... Still got training sessions with mountain hardware, schoffel, Berghaus...

Over the past couple of weeks, my feet have NEVER been dry since I spent every day wading through deep mud and long, wet grass. However, since I was using B&Bs I managed to get my footwear dry overnight almost every time, and I always regard it as a bonus when the B&B proprietors take the initiative and offer to dry stuff before I even ask.

One old lady went further than that, and in the morning my footwear was returned to me bone dry, and liberally daubed with dubbin. No-one's ever done that before!

But the thing is... would it have sounded mean and ungrateful to suggest that she used Nikwax in future?

Well, having tested my newly-proofed Pertex shell (Montane Litespeed) in Wales last week, I can confirm that it is now very water resistant indeed. As are my Peter Storm trousers. My mates resorted to full-on Gore-tex/Paramo jackets and trousers, and I stuch it out with just the Pertex and no over-trousers. Result: slightly damp trousers where the wind-blown rain splatted through the fabric, but no ingress on top.