Nikwax Outdoor Innovation Reviews 20

Used nikwax for our gore-tex jackets because ths was the product to use. Whased the several timex with other brands, no problem. But with Nikwax all the seamtape came loose result: jackets ruined. Financial damage €650,-.

Nikwax is forever espousing how good they are. Whilst this my apply to their products. The same can't be said about their Customer Service. In fact, based on my experience, they don't have one.
I simply left a message asking if their Down Proof was suitable for none down items. I also left them my number to call me back. That was three weeks ago!
As a result, I will now think twice before buying any of their products, again.

I bought nikwax cotton proof and it didnt work. I was later told by the company that i needed to wash the garments first in techwash. That meant that to waterproof a cotton coat and a pair of cotton motorcycle trousers was going to cost me over £40. And considering it only waterproofs for 4 washes meant it was cheaper to buy a lightweight pair of pak away trousers and a jacket. What a load of over priced rubbish. Ive litrally thrown £20 down the drain and lord knows what that as done to the wildlife. Save your money.

AVOID NIKWAX TX DIRECT UNLESS Y0O WANT YOUR GARMENTS AND WASHING MACHINE DAMAGED.

My Montane waterproof jacket and Berghaus waterproof trousers were both damaged when I recently used Nikwax TX Direct to try and re-waterproof them.

I used this product in combination with Tech wash on separate wash cycles and followed the instructions on each bottle of product to the letter. The garments were fine by the end of the wash cycle but after the TX Direct they were covered in sticky glue like balls and the washing machine drum and door were completely caked in a plastic glue like substance.

I contacted Nikwax furious and was given instructions on how to clean my washing machine using isopropyl alcohol and vinegar. I followed these instructions and spent over 8 hours trying to remove the residue. However, even though I finally managed to clean the residue from the inside of the drum the outside of the drum, which is impossible to reach, is still coated in the residue and in subsequent washes, residue has been transferred onto other clothing.

I sent my two garments back to Nikwax for cleaning and sent a letter of complaint. However nobody at Nikwax has made any attempt to get in touch or respond to my complaint and I am still awaiting a reply. I have phoned them twice but just getting fobbed off whenever I do, saying they need to speak to someone higher up in management.

They are obviously aware of this issue otherwise they wouldn't have instructions on how to clean your washing machine or a cleaning service for garments damaged by their product. And yet they don't seem interested in listening to complaints after their product has caused so much damage.

I am still awaiting my garments back but have no expectations that they will have been able to repair them. So I will probably have to claim for replacements - meanwhile I have been left without waterproofs for over four weeks.

I will never use Nikwax products again. The customer service is disgraceful and the TX Direct should never go anywhere near your washing machine or garments!

Avoid at all costs!

Used Tech wash and TX Direct spray to proof a Didricksons rain jacket. Followed instructions to the letter including pre rinsing my washing machine. First foray out and there was a vague suggestion of water beading for about a minute. Then the fabric wetted out completely. As far as I am concerned, this stuff doesn't work.

Nowadays I would advise against using any Nikwax products.
40 years ago I used to use tinned Nikwax on my mountaineering boots and other leather items for wet, snowy foul weather, as did many military friends, we absolutely relied on its ability to keep our boots waterproof even many degrees below zero for prolonged periods. In recent times I discovered it no longer existed so I tried their liquid in a plastic container with a fairly useless sponge applicator, which sort of works for short periods on everyday shoes but far less than useful for genuine mountaineering - and their Nikwax TX Direct spray-on waterproofer for clothing is absolutely useless and shouldn't be sold as a waterproofer.
Briefly, Nikwax products can no longer be trusted or relied on.

I echo the review of another listed here. After using NIKWAX products for years without issue. Used this product again (TECH WASH and TX.DIRECT) on my shooting coat and over trousers and all garments have now got numerous gluey sticky balls all over. On top of that my washing machine was filthy inside, covered in the same sticky residue and has now wrecked the laundry load I put in after using NIKWAX even after running a proprietary machine cleaner.
My garments are is never going to be the same after following the instructions to the letter, cleaning the machine before hand etc.
Disgusted by this product and the hopeless 'customer service' from the company. They simply do not want to know and take no responsibility for a seriously unfit product line.
AVOID AT ALL COSTS.

I've used Paramo and Nikwax for a very long time and own several of the jackets/smocks/trousers. Modern Nikwax doesn't work. Old Nikwax proofing was fantastic and worked perfectly. As a company they aren't interested in customer feedback. It's a real pity as the original combination, Nikwax/Paramo was the best I've ever used. I'd say that it's now shower proof at best.

I have used this two products TECH WASH and TX DIRECT as recommended on the label for clean and reproof my Patagonia waterproof jacket, with the correct dose and at the right temperature but this time all went wrong.

I had already washed with the same product and bottle months ago in other jackets and they came out ok.

The expiration date on the TX DIRECT bottle is 08/25 and in the TECH WASH is the same date, so the product has to be ok but when I opened the TX DIRECT I noticed they were like two coats like dry gummy paint on top and liquid on the bottom I shook it and it was ok, but this time the jacket came out covered in sticky granules that don't even get out with soap of my hands, the whole washing machine how it has a sticky layer, and I can't even imagine how the pipes will be, that's crap, and how can it be that a product that is not expired and that I have used 2 other times with good results cleaning before but this time has been a total disaster. I will never use this brand again!!!

Hopeless, hopeless, hopeless. I bought 2.5 litres of Nikwax Solar waterproofing for my tent. Application was a nightmare. The sprayer that came with the pack would not work. It had no syphon suction, whatever setting you attempted to put it on. Just a piece of junk and simply not good enough considering the price paid. The instructions only refer to spraying, not a brush so I found an old spraying bottle and used that. It was a messy job but eventually I managed to get it done with a lot of "wipe off".
I shall come back to this review in a week to report on whether the waterproofing has worked. But next time I shall try an alternative brush on product.

Nikwax Down wash left white residue all over my down jackets. I had to hand scrub what I could off the jackets (which was time consuming!) and wash them again to get most of it off.
I followed all the instructions on the bottle, including putting my fairly new washing machine through a 'clean cycle' at 90 degrees, cleaning the detergent drawer and all rubber sealing within the washing machine before putting my garments in the machine. I then took photos, rang the shop I purchased it from (Macpac) and then emailed them to follow it up. I didn't hear back from them, so I drove back into the shop to ask them face to face what to do, and they told me there was nothing they could do given the bottle was open.
I'm pleased to hear other customers have had the same problem, as I thought it was just me.
Never use this product, buy a different brand.

Followed instructions fully and its left my jackets covered in white dots like really bad dandruff. They are totally unwearable now. Also left scum all over the washing machine. Customer service doesnt really seem interested in the issue at all..

I've never understood why nikwax get the exposure they do, the products just don't work as designed, or if they do, only marginally on initial use. The waterproofing products are "initially" water repellent, but do not last. Great marketing. Poor product.

Great products and great customer service. I've seen bad reviews of Nikwax Tech Wash and TX.Direct but my experience could not be different. I use these all the time on my waterproof jackets and trousers. I've also used Nikwax waterproofing products for my leather boots, which work better than those offered by other companies. Finally their customer service is excellent in a world when many companies don't believe in it!

DO NOT USE. Used this product (tech wash and tx.direct on my Didriksons coat and its now got little sticky balls on it and is less waterproof than before i started. On top of that my washing machine is filthy inside, covered in the same sticky residue and has now wrecked the laundry load I put in after using nikwax (I’d even run a clean machine cycle in between).

I’ve ordered specialist miele product to try to rescue my washing machine but my coat is never going to be the same and I’ve no idea of my laundry load will wash through ok or to just throw it all out.

I followed the instructions to the letter, cleaning the machine before hand etc

Disgusted by this product, it’s one thing not to work but another to wreck a £1600 washing machine and 100s of £ of clothes.

AVOID AT ALL COSTS.

I’ve been using Nikwax for years and have always been quite happy with it.
Opened a new 300ml bottle of TX.Direct Wash-In, the seal was intact, it contained just short of 200ml!
That’s one way to increase your profit margin!

Update: great customer service, got a surprise replacement in the post.

I have persevered with Nikwax products but I have had it today. I have used Tech Wash and TX Direct on a Berghaus waterproof jacket and it has come out with little whitish sticky bobbles all over.

On ukclimbing(dot)com someone described these as sticky snot balls and there are plenty of people posting on the web who have had the same problem.

I took out the detergent drawer to make sure it was clean; I used in-date Nikwax products; I followed the instructions on the bottles and on the garments to the letter.

This has happened before! There has to be a flaw in one of these two products for so many people to have problems.

Well I cannot understand the bad reviews here at all. I've used the products of this company here for years, and hundreds like me on the outdoorsmagic. Com forum testified to its great effectiveness too, on making various types of a variety of products for all outdoors needs, as long as you use the correct Nikwax product for the job you need doing. Yes if your garment is old and well used and has a membrane delamination problem then no products will assist you anyway. Its just you got to life end of your garment. Check the Nikwax website first for all the details of what product to use where and how. I stand by them as being a really good outdoors company making great products to keep outdoors gear in tip top shape. Plus they're environmentally sound products which is important to leave no trace of harmful chemicals too outdoors.

I cannot yet write a review on the two pack Tech wash, but need to know what is meant by a "Cap full"
Is it the small integral cap with the thread, or the whole cap?.

Isn't it funny how you know within seconds of talking to someone they are not going to give you the time of day. I called nick wax today because their product has not only ruined my £200 plus Aigle jacket but it's also did not do anything to waterproof it. Spoke to Nicknwax and the gentlemn informed me it's because the jacket is delamination wow what a word. Anyway he said send it in, I mean what is the point he has already made up his mind. I'll send it Aigle and see if they think the fact this awful product has taken off a rubber Aigle badge and the rubber hood sealers. See if they think all this has happened due to Nick Wax Nick being the appropriate word. Awful product awful back up service Avoid avoid avoid. Unless of course you don't mind risking ruining your expensive jacket
Oh yes also my wife put in her Eastpak Bumbag and that has come out about as waterproof as a shammy leather or siv