They work on any synthetic textile, including polyester and nylon, which are the two fabrics that most modern outdoor gear is made from. So, fine to use them on most tents, rucksacks, bikepacking bags and panniers, and all sorts of other kit (even around the home and garden). For example, we’ve found they also do a great job on things like BBQ and fire pit covers, as well as outdoor seat cushions, stopping them from a) leaking or getting soaked in the rain and b) disintegrating after a summer in the sun.

Features

The Solar Wash is the stuff that, as you might’ve guessed, will clean up your gear, ridding it of any bits of mud, dust and dirt and without removing any of the pre-existing durable water repellent treatment.

As the name suggests, Solar Proof is primarily designed to protect against the sun’s rays by increasing fabric strength and blocking harmful UV radiation. But like most Nikwax products, it’s also a specialist waterproofer, so it’ll both enhance the performance of your tent, rucksack and other outdoor gear, while also extending their useful life.

That’s a great thing in terms of sustainability through longevity, since in the long run it means needing to buy less outdoor gear. Which is also easier on your bank balance. Double win.

Conclusion

According to the brand, this stuff has been shown to effectively double the lifespan of synthetic textiles. Which means your tent or rucksack ought to last twice as long, and that can only be a good thing.

Effective, inexpensive and easy to apply, while also being eco-friendly too, there’s really nothing not to like. There’s also no reason not to add the Camping Care Kit to your collection of cleaners and re-proofers that you should use to give your outdoor kit a bit of regular and much-needed TLC (what do you mean you just shove it all in a cupboard and forget about it it?!)…

Tester’s Verdict

Will Renwick, editor of Outdoors Magic

“These two sprays really are excellent. I used both of them on my old Vango Apex 200 which I took with me on my 1000-mile walk around Wales seven years ago. In all those years I hadn’t washed it or done anything to look after it, and it had been looking very sorry for itself.

“I had never really understood why some people enjoy washing their cars, but I kind of get it now.”

“Before applying both solutions it would wet out straight away with zero beading. Now, after half an hour applying them both, it looks genuinely completely rejuvenated and repels water like new.”

“The process was much simpler than I thought it would be. First, I sprayed the Solar Wash onto the the tent when it was dry (it doesn’t matter if it’s wet), applying it evenly right across the fabric. Then I wiped it all in with a damp cloth, left it for a bit to sink in and then wiped off the solution at the end. At this point it was already looking much, much better.

“After that, I sprayed on the Nikwax Solar Proof while the fabric was still wet from the last coating and the process was then exactly the same.

“The overall result, as I alluded to earlier, was impressive. I’m going to make sure I do it to my other tents now as well. I had never really understood why some people enjoy washing their cars, but I kind of get it now.