Water proof paper

[coachgrinnan]

I was at Staples the other day and was some waterproof paper advertised. It was $1.50 a sheet. Has anybody used this? I was thinking it might be like rite in the rain paper, which I have never used.

[+G & C]

I have used Rite in the Rain a lot in the last few years, including in geocaching log books. It IS expensive, but if you have a container that you're not entirely sure is waterproof and you don't want a ruined log, it might be a good investment.

[+Walts Hunting]

Rite in the Rain has been around for decades and is a great product.

[+the4dirtydogs]

I haven't used the paper from Staples but the Rite in Rain paper is great stuff. A little hard to write on sometimes but holds up great in the elements. Try the Staples stuff and let us know.

[+StarBrand]

Much better to watherproof the container. No paper out there holds up real well to constant water. Never count on the paper itself.

 

Having said that, I like the rite-in-the-rain logbooks as they just hold up very well over time in my nice sealed containers. Sometimes it is raining, snowing, foggy or whatever when a cacher logs thier find and the added protection is nice.

[+Chrysalides]

Rite-In-The-Rain is water resistant, not waterproof. They have two variants - the cheaper laser printable, and a more expensive ink jet printable. Cost : about 10c per sheet in bulk.

 

Rite-In-The-Rain has another different line, DuraRite (available for both ink jet and laser). This one is actually waterproof. About $1 per sheet.

 

National Geographic Adventure Paper (was available in REI, might still be) is waterproof. Ink jet printable, not laser printable. Thicker than RITR, waterproof and tear resistant (according to product page). About $1 per sheet.

 

Some waterproof paper don't work well with pencil. It also takes a little longer for ink to dry if you don't want it to smudge.

[+Harry Dolphin]

I've found a number of caches where the log is cut from a FedEx envelope. Seems to work as well as Rite in the Rain. Definitely waterproof, and I've had no problems writing my log with pen.

[+Chrysalides]

I've found a number of caches where the log is cut from a FedEx envelope. Seems to work as well as Rite in the Rain. Definitely waterproof, and I've had no problems writing my log with pen.

If you're referring to the Tyvek envelopes, they're a lot smoother than any of those paper. It doesn't take ink as readily as any of the other choices, though I could write on them with ball point pens. It has the advantage of being free - and the CO is recycling used envelopes, not raiding fresh FedEx supplies, of course

[+dfx]

Now what would I use to place a scuba cache...?

[+the4dirtydogs]

Now what would I use to place a scuba cache...?

Hopefully scuba gear.

[+fizzymagic]

I was at Staples the other day and was some waterproof paper advertised. It was $1.50 a sheet.

 

If it's $1.50 a sheet, then it is likely waterproof inkjet paper, like the National Geographic paper.

 

Rite in the Rain paper does not hold up well to long-term submersion. I have been quite disappointed by the versions I have encountered in caches that tend to be wet.

 

National Geographic paper holds up very well to submersion, because it is not paper, but a special plastic. Inkjet printing on it will not smudge or blur. It is, however, very difficult to write on with a pencil.

 

Tyvek is also able to do long-term submersion but is impossible to write on with many implements. It cannot be printed upon with an inkjet. Sharpies work best for it.

 

I make all my logsheets from the National Geographic paper and mention that a pen is needed. It costs about $20 for 50 sheets, or 40 cents a sheet, and I get 6 logs per sheet, for a cost of less than 10 cents a log. Does not seem excessively expensive to me.

[+G & C]

I was at Staples the other day and was some waterproof paper advertised. It was $1.50 a sheet.

 

If it's $1.50 a sheet, then it is likely waterproof inkjet paper, like the National Geographic paper.

 

Rite in the Rain paper does not hold up well to long-term submersion. I have been quite disappointed by the versions I have encountered in caches that tend to be wet.

 

National Geographic paper holds up very well to submersion, because it is not paper, but a special plastic. Inkjet printing on it will not smudge or blur. It is, however, very difficult to write on with a pencil.

 

Tyvek is also able to do long-term submersion but is impossible to write on with many implements. It cannot be printed upon with an inkjet. Sharpies work best for it.

 

I make all my logsheets from the National Geographic paper and mention that a pen is needed. It costs about $20 for 50 sheets, or 40 cents a sheet, and I get 6 logs per sheet, for a cost of less than 10 cents a log. Does not seem excessively expensive to me.

 

Thanks for explaining that FM. I think I'll look into this for some of my hides in the desert, where the summers are blazing hot and the winters are freezing cold. Caches just don't seem to stay water proof for very long out there. This will be useful.

[+fizzymagic]

Thanks for explaining that FM. I think I'll look into this for some of my hides in the desert, where the summers are blazing hot and the winters are freezing cold. Caches just don't seem to stay water proof for very long out there. This will be useful.

 

That brings up something I forgot to mention: UV exposure. I've seen several caches in the desert made form plastic containers that have just disintegrated. I haven't tried it, but I suspect that the National Geographic paper would degrade with direct exposure to sunlight, so for the desert I would probably try to make my caches such that direct sunlight is not on the material. But that is only a guess... I would expect Rite in the Rain to last longer under those conditions!

[+briansnat]

Thanks for explaining that FM. I think I'll look into this for some of my hides in the desert, where the summers are blazing hot and the winters are freezing cold. Caches just don't seem to stay water proof for very long out there. This will be useful.

 

That brings up something I forgot to mention: UV exposure. I've seen several caches in the desert made form plastic containers that have just disintegrated. I haven't tried it, but I suspect that the National Geographic paper would degrade with direct exposure to sunlight, so for the desert I would probably try to make my caches such that direct sunlight is not on the material. But that is only a guess... I would expect Rite in the Rain to last longer under those conditions!

 

It does degrade. Doesn't even need direct exposure. I hunted one cache with a clue on NGAP used as a tag in a tree and it was falling apart.

 

I've also used NGAP as temporary informational trail signs when relocating hiking trails. They get very brittle after a few months.

 

For logs though, NGAP is great. I've used it in areas where extended exposure to moisture was an issue and the logs lasted. Though I must have had half a dozen "needs maintenances" due to "wet logs". All they had to do was wipe the log dry with a tissue or cloth. Write in the Rain doesn't respond as well to extended exposure to moisture.

[+kunarion]

I make all my logsheets from the National Geographic paper and mention that a pen is needed. It costs about $20 for 50 sheets, or 40 cents a sheet, and I get 6 logs per sheet, for a cost of less than 10 cents a log. Does not seem excessively expensive to me.

I've upgraded my micros with NG paper. Made a some "emergency logs", too, to place in containers that have soaking wet logs (or just placed as Swag). And most every time I cut the paper, I get a couple of new Nano logs .

[+hzoi]

I am not a fan of "Rite in the Rain" or other wterproof/water resistant paper. I use a stamp and/or water based ink to log, and invariably I'm left with a barely legible smudge when replacing the log.

 

My $0.02.

[coachgrinnan]

The paper at Staples was a laser paper. They were advertising it fully submerged in a bucket of water.

[coachgrinnan]

Maybe I will place a crappy container with it as the log to "test" the paper, after a few months replace it with a lock and lock or an ammo can.

[knowschad]

The paper at Staples was a laser paper. They were advertising it fully submerged in a bucket of water.

From what I can see, that paper is by Xerox and it is a polyester paper. It would appear that this may be something new, and entirely different from either Rite-in-the-Rain, NG paper, or Tyvek: http://www.polyesterpaper.com/2011/01/polyester-paper-applications-waterproof.html

 

Of course, just because the paper will hold up, it doesn't mean the ink will. Still, I'd love to see some tests run!

[+kunarion]

The paper at Staples was a laser paper. They were advertising it fully submerged in a bucket of water.

You'll need to clean the bucket and the log sheet, and change the water frequently enough to prevent algae. Otherwise, it should be fine.

[coachgrinnan]

Well I bit the bullet and bought several pages I am using for log books and stash notes. I had them printed there. I will let you know how they hold up.

[knowschad]

That polyester paper from Staples? Cool! Please do let us know!

[+firennice]

 

You'll need to clean the bucket and the log sheet, and change the water frequently enough to prevent algae. Otherwise, it should be fine.

 

I use the rite in rain paper.. it is about $40 for 200 sheets. So not pricey per page. but that is a lot of logs, you may wish to share the cost with others.

 

I did have a clear container leak, it was full of water, and green algea. Nasty. your note made me think of that

[knowschad]

You'll need to clean the bucket and the log sheet, and change the water frequently enough to prevent algae. Otherwise, it should be fine.

 

I use the rite in rain paper.. it is about $40 for 200 sheets. So not pricey per page. but that is a lot of logs, you may wish to share the cost with others.

 

I did have a clear container leak, it was full of water, and green algea. Nasty. your note made me think of that

This is apparently quite different paper, though. Polyester paper. I may be mistaken, but from what I've been able to find online, this is the same stuff that Kodak and others have used for their photo print paper for many years now. If that is true, I have seen that stuff sit emerged in water for days and retain 100% integrity. Highly writable, too (although maybe not so much when wet).