---
product_id: 4990730
title: "Tent & Gear Care"
brand: "nikwax"
price: "$56.18"
currency: USD
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 9
category: "Nikwax"
url: https://www.desertcart.us/products/4990730-tent-and-gear-care
store_origin: US
region: United States of America
---

# Spray-on water repellency UV protection shield Fabric strength boost Tent & Gear Care

**Brand:** nikwax
**Price:** $56.18
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock

## Summary

> 💧 Stay dry, stay ahead — protect your gear like a pro!

## Quick Answers

- **What is this?** Tent & Gear Care by nikwax
- **How much does it cost?** $56.18 with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.us](https://www.desertcart.us/products/4990730-tent-and-gear-care)

## Best For

- nikwax enthusiasts

## Why This Product

- Trusted nikwax brand quality
- Free international shipping included
- Worldwide delivery with tracking
- 15-day hassle-free returns

## Key Features

- • **Eco-Conscious & Safe:** PFAS-free, water-based, non-flammable, and aerosol-free for responsible outdoor enthusiasts.
- • **Seamless Strengthening:** Boosts fabric durability while protecting vulnerable seams from wear and tear.
- • **Sun-Safe Gear Protection:** Unique UV-blocking technology prevents fabric degradation from harsh sunlight exposure.
- • **Effortless Renewal Ritual:** Easy spray application revives years-old gear, extending your tent’s life and performance.
- • **Ultimate Weatherproof Shield:** Spray-on formula restores and enhances water repellency for all synthetic tents and gear.

## Overview

Nikwax Tent & Gear Care is a 500ml spray-on waterproofing and UV protection solution designed specifically for synthetic outdoor textiles. It restores durable water repellency (DWR), strengthens fabric, and shields against UV damage, making it ideal for tents, backpacks, and covers. Eco-friendly and easy to apply, it’s the essential maintenance step to extend the life and performance of your outdoor gear, especially for mid-range tents showing signs of wear.

## Description

desertcart.com : Nikwax Tent & Gear, Tent & Gear Solarproof, 500ml, Spray Waterproofing and UV Protector, Rain Protector, Restores DWR Water Repellency on Outdoor Fabric, Rain Fly, Canvas, Backpacks : Camping Personal Care : Sports & Outdoors

Review: Helped to restore a 7-year old REI half Dome 2+ tent - If you have an older "mid-priced" tent (like an REI half dome) - something that cost you between $150 and $300 and its over 5 years old, chances are that the three waterproofing elements it uses are compromised. This product is ONE of the things you need to bring back that waterproofness. And it works very well if you follow the complete process. As you can see in my video, I simulated a very strong rain storm for about 45 minutes with heavy rain and occasional sideways gusts (as usually happens in a big storm). After spraying the tent HARD for 45 minutes, I climbed inside and inspected the interior. I did not find a single drop anywhere inside the tent, and running my hands along the inside surface of the rain fly I could not detect any seepage, including along seams. There did seem to be some darkening of the rain fly fabric (as you can see in the photos) which indicates saturation of the nylon fabric, but the PU coating on the inside of the fly did its job and kept the interior dry. With a Saturday of effort, I totally restored my tent. Background: Mid-grade tents are mostly made of nylon fabric with three waterproofing steps - on the inside of the fabric there is a sprayed-on polyurethane ("PU") layer and on the outside there is a "DWR" coating (Durable Water Repellent). Think of DWR as like a "ScotchGuard" water repellent that is the first defense against water, and then the PU layer is the "block" against actual intrusion of water. The two act together to give a tent its ability to withstand rain without you getting wet inside. Where layers of fabric are sewn together, there is usually a third element - a PU "seam tape" that is laid on after the sewing process. (THIS IS WHERE MOST TENTS LEAK AFTER A FEW YEARS OF USE!) If you have an old tent and recently discovered that it is no longer waterproof, you have to address all of three of these issues - the failed seam tape, the PU coating on the inside and the DWR coating on the outside. But be careful - not ALL parts of a tent are coated with water repellents. In particular a double-walled tent like the REI Half Dome, only the absolute bottom few inches of the inner tent are coated. The rest is a lightweight breathable fabric that is essential to prevent condensation inside the tent. On the outside is a "rain fly" and it needs to be COMPLETELY waterproof. To waterproof the tent, follow these three steps. Make sure you WASH your tent (inside and out) with mild soap and water and let it dry before you start. Also, it is very helpful to pitch the inner tent and work on that first, THEN pitch the fly INSIDE OUT over the inner tent so that you can then work on that.. Plan on spending the better part of a weekend on this project in fair weather. Also, I HIGHLY recommend that you wear long sleeved shirt and pants, a cap, eye protection, and a respirator. This stuff is sticky and you do NOT want it in your lungs and on your skin! Don't do it near cars and don't do it on a windy day. Step 1. Inspect all seams on the rain fly and check to see if they are peeling or degraded. If they are, you will need to remove the peeling/degraded material with isopropyl alcohol, a fingernail, and some cloth towels. Often there will be interior parts that are glued on with this PU tape and they will come loose - clean them and mark their locations. Once everything is cleaned up, you need to use something like SeamGrip https://smile.desertcart.com/Gear-Repair-Adhesive-Sealant-Ounce/dp/B01HEFRN44 to treat all the seams and also to re-glue the interior attachments that came off. Let dry for about 4 hours Step 2. Re-apply PU coating to worn areas. Wearing a respirator, climb into the tent and apply a spray on PU coating (ON THE INSIDE) to only the surfaces that are exposed when the rain fly is on. Usually this is referred to as the "bathtub" and you can see this as the dark gray area on my photos. (Heres the spray I use: https://smile.desertcart.com/gp/product/B000M7RRU2). Note: if the entire interior surface is crumbly and peeling away, you may want to just buy a new tent or fly, since removing ALL the old PU coating and reapplying a new coating is going to take so much time and effort it might not be worth it). Apply a little extra around corners and seams (being careful not to spray it on the zippers!). Once the interior tent has dried, pitch the rain fly (inside out) over the tent and follow the same process to spray the interior with the PU spray, and again paying special attention to seams and corners (you'll be spraying over the seam tape you already applied in step 1, but thats OK). Step 3. Apply Nikwax DWR. Once the PU coating has dried completely (including a second coat if you've chosen to do that) you're ready for this product. Pull the rain fly off the tent and from the outside, spray the Nikwax DWR onto the "bathtub" portion of the tent's exterior. (the dark gray in my videos). Use a sponge to smooth and distribute the coating, allowing it to soak into the nylon and create and even coating. While that dries, pitch the rain fly the normal way (make sure the seam grip and PU spray are completely dry and cured!) and follow the same process with the rain fly. Make sure to use a soft sponge and spread the coating everywhere. Once it is dry, you can add a second coat if desired. The results in my video are after a single coat of Nikwax. Note that this entire process WILL add weight to your tent depending on how much material you apply. I have not weighed mine, but for a 2+ tent I'd guess I probably added 6 to 8 oz of weight, which is not insignificant for a 5 lb tent.
Review: Effective - Easy to apply and it works, but it's not a waterproofer, only a water repellant, so unless whatever you're spraying it on is already waterproofed it's only going to work for a short time before it becomes overwhelmed. It's best use is as a first line of defense for waterproof outdoor gear like tents and backpacks, but it does also work as a repellant for jackets, etc. It is not permanent and will need to be reapplied to gear at least yearly, depending on how much you use it. If your tent is old and the waterproofing is shot (it's sticky and/or flaky and it smells like antiseptic), this will NOT fix it, not even for one trip. On clothes you're going to have to reapply it every time you wash whatever it's on and you'd be better off buying the wash in stuff from the same brand. For nylon gear, this is all but essential because sunshine basically eats nylon and the UV blocker in it prevents most of that. How much can you get out of a bottle? For me, it's enough to thoroughly treat both a 13' long 2 person tunnel tent (Naturehike Opalus 2) and another fairly large 1 person bivy tent (Sierra Designs High Side 1) with enough left over for a pair of boots. That's pretty good. Also, on desertcart this stuff can shoot as high as $30 or fall as low as $15. If you see it for $20 or less, buy it! If you see it for $15 or less, buy two! Also also, trapped vapors, whether it's water or chemical vapors from the material and waterproofing, is what causes waterproofing to fail and seam tape to peel. To prevent it, never store your tent in it's carry sack, especially if it's nylon, and never ever put it away wet. Always store it loosely piled in a mesh laundry bag and make sure it's 100% dry when you do. Nylon in particular absorbs water and the molecules can stay trapped in the fabric for hours even after it feels dry. If it got rained on, leave it out somewhere (away from sunlight) to be extra sure and then store it loosely. This goes for all your waterproofed gear. Tents, tarps, sleeping bags.... Don't store them rolled up and stuffed in a bag, preventing any vapors from escaping.

## Features

- The only waterproofer designed to protect against UV damage and enhance water repellency of all weatherproof textiles.
- Easy to use spray-on waterproofing for all synthetic tents, packs, and outdoor covers
- Adds water repellency, increases fabric strength, and protects against UV rays
- Enhances the performance of your tent and gear
- Recommended for all synthetic tents and gear
- Nikwax products are PFAS-free, water based, non-persistent, and contain no optical brighteners or added scent. Aerosol-free spray and non-flammable

## Technical Specifications

| Specification | Value |
|---------------|-------|
| ASIN | B002XZTNFS |
| Best Sellers Rank | #18,206 in Sports & Outdoors ( See Top 100 in Sports & Outdoors ) #26 in Camping Tents |
| Brand | Nikwax |
| Brand Name | Nikwax |
| Color | One Color |
| Customer Reviews | 4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars (2,758) |
| Date First Available | October 1, 2001 |
| Global Trade Identification Number | 00703861002816, 00703861002878 |
| Item Dimensions LxWxH | 2.6 x 2.7 x 9.4 inches |
| Item Package Dimensions L x W x H | 9.37 x 2.72 x 2.64 inches |
| Item Weight | 1.2 Pounds |
| Manufacturer | Nikwax |
| Material | Plastic |
| Model Name | Tent & Gear Solarproof |
| Number of Items | 1 |
| Package Weight | 0.59 Kilograms |
| Part Number | 3A2 |
| Recommended Uses For Product | Backpacking, Camping |
| Size | 16.9 Fl Oz (Pack of 1) |
| Sport Type | Camping & Hiking |
| Style | Tent & Gear Solarproof |
| Suggested Users | unisex-adult |
| UPC | 703861002878 703861002816 |
| Warranty Description | Limited warranty. |
| Water Resistance Level | Water Repellent |

## Product Details

- **Brand:** Nikwax
- **Color:** One Color
- **Global Trade Identification Number:** 00703861002816, 00703861002878
- **Item Weight:** 1.2 Pounds
- **Material:** Plastic
- **Number of Items:** 1
- **Recommended Uses For Product:** Backpacking, Camping
- **Size:** 16.9 Fl Oz (Pack of 1)
- **UPC:** 703861002878 703861002816
- **Water Resistance Level:** Water Repellent

## Images

![Tent & Gear Care - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61UBMGdDyrL.jpg)

## Available Options

This product comes in different **Style** options.

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Helped to restore a 7-year old REI half Dome 2+ tent
*by B***B on December 8, 2018*

If you have an older "mid-priced" tent (like an REI half dome) - something that cost you between $150 and $300 and its over 5 years old, chances are that the three waterproofing elements it uses are compromised. This product is ONE of the things you need to bring back that waterproofness. And it works very well if you follow the complete process. As you can see in my video, I simulated a very strong rain storm for about 45 minutes with heavy rain and occasional sideways gusts (as usually happens in a big storm). After spraying the tent HARD for 45 minutes, I climbed inside and inspected the interior. I did not find a single drop anywhere inside the tent, and running my hands along the inside surface of the rain fly I could not detect any seepage, including along seams. There did seem to be some darkening of the rain fly fabric (as you can see in the photos) which indicates saturation of the nylon fabric, but the PU coating on the inside of the fly did its job and kept the interior dry. With a Saturday of effort, I totally restored my tent. Background: Mid-grade tents are mostly made of nylon fabric with three waterproofing steps - on the inside of the fabric there is a sprayed-on polyurethane ("PU") layer and on the outside there is a "DWR" coating (Durable Water Repellent). Think of DWR as like a "ScotchGuard" water repellent that is the first defense against water, and then the PU layer is the "block" against actual intrusion of water. The two act together to give a tent its ability to withstand rain without you getting wet inside. Where layers of fabric are sewn together, there is usually a third element - a PU "seam tape" that is laid on after the sewing process. (THIS IS WHERE MOST TENTS LEAK AFTER A FEW YEARS OF USE!) If you have an old tent and recently discovered that it is no longer waterproof, you have to address all of three of these issues - the failed seam tape, the PU coating on the inside and the DWR coating on the outside. But be careful - not ALL parts of a tent are coated with water repellents. In particular a double-walled tent like the REI Half Dome, only the absolute bottom few inches of the inner tent are coated. The rest is a lightweight breathable fabric that is essential to prevent condensation inside the tent. On the outside is a "rain fly" and it needs to be COMPLETELY waterproof. To waterproof the tent, follow these three steps. Make sure you WASH your tent (inside and out) with mild soap and water and let it dry before you start. Also, it is very helpful to pitch the inner tent and work on that first, THEN pitch the fly INSIDE OUT over the inner tent so that you can then work on that.. Plan on spending the better part of a weekend on this project in fair weather. Also, I HIGHLY recommend that you wear long sleeved shirt and pants, a cap, eye protection, and a respirator. This stuff is sticky and you do NOT want it in your lungs and on your skin! Don't do it near cars and don't do it on a windy day. Step 1. Inspect all seams on the rain fly and check to see if they are peeling or degraded. If they are, you will need to remove the peeling/degraded material with isopropyl alcohol, a fingernail, and some cloth towels. Often there will be interior parts that are glued on with this PU tape and they will come loose - clean them and mark their locations. Once everything is cleaned up, you need to use something like SeamGrip https://smile.amazon.com/Gear-Repair-Adhesive-Sealant-Ounce/dp/B01HEFRN44 to treat all the seams and also to re-glue the interior attachments that came off. Let dry for about 4 hours Step 2. Re-apply PU coating to worn areas. Wearing a respirator, climb into the tent and apply a spray on PU coating (ON THE INSIDE) to only the surfaces that are exposed when the rain fly is on. Usually this is referred to as the "bathtub" and you can see this as the dark gray area on my photos. (Heres the spray I use: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B000M7RRU2). Note: if the entire interior surface is crumbly and peeling away, you may want to just buy a new tent or fly, since removing ALL the old PU coating and reapplying a new coating is going to take so much time and effort it might not be worth it). Apply a little extra around corners and seams (being careful not to spray it on the zippers!). Once the interior tent has dried, pitch the rain fly (inside out) over the tent and follow the same process to spray the interior with the PU spray, and again paying special attention to seams and corners (you'll be spraying over the seam tape you already applied in step 1, but thats OK). Step 3. Apply Nikwax DWR. Once the PU coating has dried completely (including a second coat if you've chosen to do that) you're ready for this product. Pull the rain fly off the tent and from the outside, spray the Nikwax DWR onto the "bathtub" portion of the tent's exterior. (the dark gray in my videos). Use a sponge to smooth and distribute the coating, allowing it to soak into the nylon and create and even coating. While that dries, pitch the rain fly the normal way (make sure the seam grip and PU spray are completely dry and cured!) and follow the same process with the rain fly. Make sure to use a soft sponge and spread the coating everywhere. Once it is dry, you can add a second coat if desired. The results in my video are after a single coat of Nikwax. Note that this entire process WILL add weight to your tent depending on how much material you apply. I have not weighed mine, but for a 2+ tent I'd guess I probably added 6 to 8 oz of weight, which is not insignificant for a 5 lb tent.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Effective
*by S***E on May 7, 2024*

Easy to apply and it works, but it's not a waterproofer, only a water repellant, so unless whatever you're spraying it on is already waterproofed it's only going to work for a short time before it becomes overwhelmed. It's best use is as a first line of defense for waterproof outdoor gear like tents and backpacks, but it does also work as a repellant for jackets, etc. It is not permanent and will need to be reapplied to gear at least yearly, depending on how much you use it. If your tent is old and the waterproofing is shot (it's sticky and/or flaky and it smells like antiseptic), this will NOT fix it, not even for one trip. On clothes you're going to have to reapply it every time you wash whatever it's on and you'd be better off buying the wash in stuff from the same brand. For nylon gear, this is all but essential because sunshine basically eats nylon and the UV blocker in it prevents most of that. How much can you get out of a bottle? For me, it's enough to thoroughly treat both a 13' long 2 person tunnel tent (Naturehike Opalus 2) and another fairly large 1 person bivy tent (Sierra Designs High Side 1) with enough left over for a pair of boots. That's pretty good. Also, on Amazon this stuff can shoot as high as $30 or fall as low as $15. If you see it for $20 or less, buy it! If you see it for $15 or less, buy two! Also also, trapped vapors, whether it's water or chemical vapors from the material and waterproofing, is what causes waterproofing to fail and seam tape to peel. To prevent it, never store your tent in it's carry sack, especially if it's nylon, and never ever put it away wet. Always store it loosely piled in a mesh laundry bag and make sure it's 100% dry when you do. Nylon in particular absorbs water and the molecules can stay trapped in the fabric for hours even after it feels dry. If it got rained on, leave it out somewhere (away from sunlight) to be extra sure and then store it loosely. This goes for all your waterproofed gear. Tents, tarps, sleeping bags.... Don't store them rolled up and stuffed in a bag, preventing any vapors from escaping.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ top tier tent waterproofing
*by N***K on November 21, 2025*

not much to say, product works great. breathed new life into my 10 year old tent. 100% worth the money if you want to care for your camping gear. i will say it sprays poorly, but its not gonna matter cause you have to use a rag to spread it across the gear surface any way

## Frequently Bought Together

- Nikwax Tent & Gear Care
- GEAR AID Seam Grip WP Waterproof Sealant and Adhesive for Jackets, Tents, Sleeping Pads and Outdoor Fabric | Repairs Rips, Seals Seams on Nylon, Canvas and Vinyl
- GEAR AID Seam Grip FC Fast Cure Sealant for Nylon and Polyester Tents, Tarps, Awnings, Clear, 2 oz

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*Product available on Desertcart United States of America*
*Store origin: US*
*Last updated: 2026-03-18*