Waterproof paper needed for TOPO! Maps

“...for 25 sheets! Sheesh!

I've been looking at Staples and Office Depot, but their people never heard of it. I ran accross it at REI the other day, it was next to their TOPO! display. It seems like a great idea, but at those prices, you'd better be certain which areas you want to print, and be certain you have everything in and on it that you want. Too expensive to waste.

I wondered if anyone knew of this stuff, used it, and/or knows where I can get it cheaper than $.80 cents a sheet?”

“Try campmor.Or a print shop.”

“I had a map laminated and I have been using it for years. The trick is to cut the map where it folds and then have it laminated that way it still folds up”

“Obi, I was at REI and me and an employee did some "tests" on the h2o proof paper. When submerged then wiped with a bandana (not super hard) it smeared, not bad but enough to blur fine detail.”

“I was looking at this stuff I have called 'Map Life'. Unfortunately, I can't find it on the 'Net, but I think this might be very similar.

The Map Life was pretty effective... just 'paint' one side, let dry for about 10 minutes, then do the other side. After that, the maps were damn near bulletproof, much less waterproof.

The original stuff I had was made by a company called 'Sierra Dawn Products' in Los Angeles, but I can't find anything on them either, *grrrrrrrrrr*

Oh well, the description of the Substance at the other end of that link matches what's on the Map Life bottle almost word for word. May the Force be with you.”

“There's a large line of outdoor writing products called "Rite In The Rain". Check Forestry Supply for it, they've got it all.”

“Does the map sealant (I think by aqua seal or someone like that) not work very well?”

“...Rite in the Rain has their OWN website.”

“I get a photocopy of the area I'm going to hike, then sharpie (Doesn't fade, run, etc.) the heck out of it. I line (marker over) all streams and tributaries in thin blue, all roads in red (in case of emergency so I know where they are), and any highlands (I usually designate a specific elevation and color all above that) in yellow. All my maps are colored like that. I also include a North arrow and write down the mag dec.

This truely enhances the visual topography of an area, rather than just a black and white map with lines all over it.”

“A good place to check for map waterproofing stuff is a canoe or paddlesports dealer that carries tripping supplies. Check websites/catalogs of Rutabaga in Madison, WI, or Cascade Outfitters, or Northwest River Supplies out in the Idaho/Oregon area or Midwest Mountaineering in Minneapolis, or Piragis Outfitters up in Ely, MN.”

“WTF? LOL

Lotsa funky Mil-spec items on that site. Wanna rent a Huey?”

“Why don't cha just get one of those fancy pants ziplock map bags? They work great. Fold the map so the area ya need to see shows and yer set. I think ours cost $3.”

“Or you could always get a janitor friend to laminate them for you at her work. :o)”

“Try a freezer ziplock bag”

“All the *waterproofing* for maps I've seen have warning labels on them not to inhale fumes, not to get the crap on your skin, and not to handle the map for very long, etc.”

“Just go to Kinkos and have them laminate it for a few bucks. I did this with my Custom Correct maps (about 12" x 18") and it worked great. And will last forever.”

“I print mine off on photographic paper (Epson Photo Quality Glossy Paper) and stick it in a clear binder sleeve. I tested the paper one night. I left a map that I printed on that paper out in the rain over night. I red trail mark bleed a little, but otherwise, no smearing. After it dried out, it cracked, though.”

“Other options:

Use photopaper in your printer. Available at Wal-Mart. This dries slower than regular bond paper so set it aside and don't handle for 20 minutes or so after coming out of your printer.

Spray on fixative. Try a drafting/blueprinting shop. Several brands.

More fancy and expensive: Reverse the image and print on clear mylar film. Clear adhesive Rite-in-the-Rain paper to the side with the image. Result -- a permanent map you can write on with a sharpie and then clean with alcohol and reuse.”

“of about 100 miles of the Ocmulgee River on semi-rigid, clear polyethylene. I used county maps for info, and used different colored Sharpies for various details.

The river was represented by a wide blue line that ran straight down the middle of the sheet. bridges, mileages, points of interest, etc, were spaced along proportionately. I used the map scroll style.”

“http://www.rippedsheets.com/inkjet/fxfilm.html

500- 8 1/2" x 11" sheets is the minimum order at .286¢ per sheet so it's pretty spendy, but should work!”

“There is a company that makes waterproof maps, but I'm at work and can't think of it.

I have a map of the Beartooths (can you say Montanapalooza?) and I have two of the Wind Rivers that cover the entire Wind River Range.

So, I am sure that they probably make others. I will look and get a name, if I can remember.”

“"I had a map laminated and I have been using it for years. The trick is to cut the map where it folds and then have it laminated that way it still folds up"

imahikerdotcom
05:07:05 PM
01/16/02

I do the same thing.. he is right on target here.. if you have any friends who are teachers, get them to laminate your maps for ya over at school. Shoot, buy them a brownie pie or something.. :)”

“That's right I'm the man!!!!!
Just kidding”

“:)

and you thought I just LIKED ripping you.. see.. I can give praise also..”

“I print my maps on a laser printer and replace them for each trip. Before I found free online maps I would photocopy my Topos before each trip.”

“I have a few maps that are not laminated. I can remember reading somewhere that you can roll Thompsons water seal on them and they will remain waterproof.

Has anyone done this? Has it worked?”

“I have used the Thompson product and it seems to work. I spilled water on the map after I had let it dry and the map did not soak up any of the water. How long it can be exposed to water I don't know?”

“Try here”

“Rite In The Rain makes all kinds of waterproof notebooks, pens, paper, etc.”

“I generally use "Aquaseal - Map Seal" made for sealing maps from campmor. I've never tried Thompson's for paper but did try it for a canvas tent that I sealed for an early spring canoe trip on long lake in the Adirondacks. The big old tent became VERY stiff in the cold. The postmistress told us that the lake was free of ice. Halfway down we hit ice. We tried to find a channel but ended up lining the canoe from the edge. This was difficult, so we became adept at putting the nose of the canoe up on the ice. I then stepped out after 1 foot pedal pushing & my partner paddling furiously. I walked out 100' & pulled him & the canoe onto the ice with our white water line. He then led the way probing with a paddle & holding onto the 100' line. We did this many times, but my brother-in-law got tired of probing with a paddle. Eventually he got careless & dropped thru the ice. Luckily he had the 100'line secured to the canoe that I was dragging over the ice. To this day, he swears I took pictures first. We burned his shoes & pants in the drying fire. This is when I loaned him a spare old uniform pr of pants that were 50/50 cotton poly. We were both amazed at how fast they dried & comfortable in this wet freezing weather.”

“Thanks for the links.

Catshiker, that story is positive proof that I belong back in Lower Alabama.”

“Us Alabama boys just don't like frozen water much.”

“Except in a drink, of course...”

“Of course.”