Nikwax Sweatproofing Solutions | Review - Outdoors Magic

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Nikwax Sweatproofing Solutions | Review

An eco-friendly way to make your baselayers feel better, perform better and smell better. What’s not to like?

Why We Chose It: Eco-friendly, easy to use, effective

During outdoor activity, whether that’s in the heat of summer or the cold of winter, having a decent baselayer that’ll keep your temperature regulated is absolutely crucial, particularly when it comes to the higher temp stuff like trail running and climbing.

OM editor, Will Renwick using a Paramo baselayer that’s been washed with Nikwax’s Sweatproofing solutions. Photo: Chris Johnson

Synthetic baselayers tend to be a good choice right the year round as they’re robust, bring good wicking qualities and will provide warmth even when wet. Their downside, however, is that they can tend to get smelly and sticky quite quickly. 

There’s a solution to that problem that we here at Outdoors Magic have found. And it lies in the Sweatproofing solutions offered by Nikwax.

You see, the mistake people usually make that causes their baselayers to smell is washing them incorrectly in the first place. Normal washing detergents just don’t cut it if you want proper performance from your garments. In fact they can be pretty bad for them as they can install hydrophobic properties into the fibres, therefore hindering their ability to lift moisture off your skin. The other big problem is that they can often just mask bad smells instead of removing the bacteria that causes odour build up.

That’s where Nikwax BaseWash comes in. You can use this with your normal laundry load – just chuck your baselayers in as well. What it’ll do is gently lift out dirt and body oils to freshen up the fabrics, making them feel soft and comfortable, instead of damp and sticky. 

Photo: Chris Johnson
Photo: Chris Johnson

To get the fabric wicking properly, it’s also worth pouring in some Nikwax BaseFresh in at the same time – and again, this can be used with your normal laundry load. This’ll ensure that when you come round to wearing the garment, the fabric’s fibres will be able to lift sweat off your body, spreading the moisture out into a thin layer so that it’s able to evaporate faster. The result is ultimately a fabric that feels fresh and comfortable and that smells good as well. 

“The solutions are non-hazardous and eco-friendly too.”

These two solutions in Nikwax’s Sweatproofing range aren’t limited to baselayer t-shirts by the way. They’ll help your socks and any other synthetic sports or travel clothing as well. 

Eco-Friendly

There’s lots to like from an environmental perspective here. First of all, if you use these solutions correctly you shouldn’t have to wash your kit quite as regularly. There’s also the fact that they’re non eco-hazardous, being water-based and free from any harmful chemicals such as PFCs. On top of all that the bottles are made from recycled materials and are recyclable.

Tester’s Verdict

Will Renwick, editor of Outdoors Magic

“I’m a bit of a dirtbag when it comes to multi-day outdoor activities, because I’ll often wear the same baselayer t-shirt both day and night in order to keep my pack weight down. There’ve been times in the past where I’ve really regretted this; nights spent shivering from residual cold sweat against my skin, or simply feeling all clammy and sticky.”

Photo: Chris Johnson

“Over the past year I’ve been using these Sweatproofing solutions from Nikwax and I’ve been really impressed. They’re both easy to use in conjunction with each other and seem to really do the job. I’ve got a Helly Hansen Lifa baselayer that I genuinely think has been brought back to life from the brink of death.

“In all honesty, I’m yet to spend a night wearing the same Nikwax washed baselayer that I’ve been running or hiking all day in, but I do suspect that when I do get round to it, it’ll be more comfortable than it would’ve been without any sweatproofing, especially if the fabric gets a chance to dry out before I climb in my sleeping bag. Hopefully I’ll get a chance to give this a try soon. I’ll keep you posted!”

Nikwax Sweatproofing

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