Anyone apply Scotchgard to their cotton bags?

I've recently purchased a Thinktank Photo Retrospective 20 bag. It's great, fits my gear but noticed after a quick run through the rain my bag was damp. Since I'm used to nylon bags, where you can just wipe off the water, wondered if I could use Scotchgard to help repel some water. Figured it would also keep the cotton clean, especially on the bottom where it's going to collect dirt.

Scotchgard

So wondering if anyone else has done this? If so, when would I need to reapply, seasonal?

I'm one of the weird ones who actually likes my bags to look old, torn and dirty.

That said, at least with the Domke line, the canvas tends to swell when wet and naturally blocks out any real water from getting inside. I've been in some pretty good squalls with it and never had any issues.

Greetings -
Did the exterior of my National Geographic bag and am glad I did. I don't think you want a bag to get moldy or take forever to dry completely.
Cheers,
John

john-in-japan wrote in post #11938423
Greetings -
Did the exterior of my National Geographic bag and am glad I did. I don't think you want a bag to get moldy or take forever to dry completely.
Cheers,
John

Hi John,

Did you use the standard fabric spray? They have a few versions offered.

Thanks!

Like Todd said, Domke's canvas swells up and that helps keep the water from getting to the contents. One time when I was out it was coming down in buckets, and there was about 8" water in the street, but the bag contents stayed drier than I did.

I have sprayed ordinary clothing version Scotchguard on Cordura bags that I had for my Olympus system, 30 years ago. The Cordura was already fundamentally protection against rain, but the Scothguard worked great at keeping moisture from getting into the weave spaces and therefore causing the bag retain some moisture that needed to dry out, since most of the water would simply bead up and run off.

Hell no, waiting for my Nat Geo to start falling apart. I mean stuff is meant to look used, and I can't wait for this greenish tint to fade away.

I'm interested in this too. I impregnated a domke with wax once with great results, but my retro 20 pinestone is too pretty.

Regular Scotchguard - two 'coatings'. The green mold might look cool on the ouside, but when you see it in the viewfinder....bad news. Anyone use the low humidity 'humidor' type cabinets to store gear? They sell them here, but is it overkill? Summer humidity high here, so am thinking of a small one for lenses.
cheers,
John

I lived on the gulf coast for 10 years - super humid all year round. Never had any mold issues. My house was air conditioned and my gear was always stored in the bag, in the house.

If my bag got wet, I just threw it in the dryer. No problem.

People often need to remember that gear is just that, gear. It's a tool and is made to be used as one.

Jon wrote in post #11938488
Like Todd said, Domke's canvas swells up and that helps keep the water from getting to the contents. One time when I was out it was coming down in buckets, and there was about 8" water in the street, but the bag contents stayed drier than I did.

good to know. i'm looking to buy a canvas bag in the future and it rains a lot here.

I got an e-mail reply from Thinktank Photo that says they already apply a spray on the bag from the factory. If so, I think the spray is either extremely light or doesn't hold up to any water, as it was damp from a very light sprinkle.

The bag does come with a rain cover, though I haven't opened it yet.