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NeverWet: The $20 Superhydrophobic Spray-on Waterproofer

By Drew Prindle Dec 23, 2019 2:31 PM

Waterproof clothing is the rare and elusive unicorn of men’s fashion. Here at The Manual, we know from experience that finding stuff that’s both fashionable and rain-ready is damn near impossible, and as such, we spend countless hours seeking out gear and garb that fits into both categories. It’s not easy to track down, but every so often we come across something like Aether, Proof, or Otter Wax, and it helps us sleep at night knowing we’ve helped somebody stay dry.

We’ve discovered a handful of great waterproof (or at least water resistant) brands in all our years in the fashion industry, but never before have we encountered something like NeverWet. This stuff is incredible. It’s a simple two-part spray-on coating that can be used on virtually any surface – be it wood, metal, plastic, or fabric. Once applied to something, water will literally shoot off the treated surface.

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When we first saw what Neverwet can do, we were most excited by the prospect of using it on our wardrobe. Can you imagine how glorious it would feel to recklessly devour a plate of spaghetti while wearing your favorite white pants? Or how free and fearless you could feel as you stroll around under dark grey clouds in nothing but a cotton hoodie? The possibilities are endless, and at just 20 bucks, it’s hard to resist the urge to coat your entire living room with this stuff and invite over all your friends for a food fight

But obviously, it’s got more uses than just waterproofing fabrics. In one demonstration video, NeverWet’s creators fashion a makeshift cooler by spraying down the inside of a cardboard box and filling it with ice. Since the water melting off can’t make it through the superhydrophobic barrier, the cardboard never gets soggy and the cooler stays intact. With so many handy uses, this stuff is bound to be the next duct tape.

We have yet to try it out ourselves, so we’re not sure how it holds up after being through the washing machine (how do you wash something that’s impervious to water?), or how well fabrics breathe with this stuff on them, but we’ll get back to you soon with details.

NeverWet is currently available at HomeDepot stores across the country.

Drew Prindle is an award-winning writer, editor, and storyteller who currently serves as Senior Features Editor for Digital… Read Full Bio

Elevate your elegance: Choosing your first cigar

Face, Head, Person

Earlier this year, I was strolling the streets of New York and ended up sitting in the Carnegie Club with an Old Fashioned in one hand and a cigar in the other while My Way by Frank Sinatra played from a speaker flanking leather-bound books behind the couch I had been using as my perch. It was my first cigar, but it led to a slight obsession that recently found me on the back deck of a lodge in Kenya, staring at Mount Kilimanjaro and smoking a stick while giraffes meandered by. Admittedly, there has been no intention in my budding hobby; I am aimlessly choosing the cigars that look good (the ones that look like those smoked by Arnold or Stallone in the movies, obviously). But I have decided to approach these in a new way, with a little help from my friends over at La Aurora, who graciously decided to navigate my ignorance with some info compiled by Brand Manager John Gaglio, with input from Master Blender Manuel Ynoa, CEO Ed McKenna, and Brand Manager Elvis Batista.

What to look for in your first cigar

FIFA’s Gianni Infantino Is Uglifying the Beautiful Game With $20 Billion Plot — But the Global Soccer Community’s Punching Back

People, Person, Crowd

For the better part of two decades, perhaps even more, corruption has allegedly run rampant within FIFA. Sepp Blatter, in particular, became the face of alleged extortion schemes, and he operated with impunity while at the helm of the organization for 17 years, from 1998 until his forced resignation in 2015 amid an FBI corruption probe. He’s banned for life from all football-related FIFA activities. If you’re new to the organization’s alleged deep connection to corruption, Netflix offers a brilliant 2022 documentary, FIFA Uncovered. In that documentary, Gianni Infantino appears in his previous capacity as Secretary General of UEFA (2009-2016) and later as the newly elected FIFA president, who vowed to root out corruption and hand the beautiful game back to the people where it belongs.

That, as it turns out, was all wishful thinking.

Escobar Cigars, Co-Owned by Nas, Drops Four-Profile Robusto House Blend Collection

Blade, Knife, Weapon

Imagine that, Nas is getting closer to ruling the cigar world. The legendary rapper’s Escobar Cigars, which he co-owns, is making waves with the launch of a new four-profile House Blend collection. The launch is in partnership with Cigar Chief, one of North America’s largest premium cigar retailers.

The Manual has not yet had the chance to do a taste review (a pack is on the way), but Escobar Cigars says the four-profile House Blend collection (Maduro, Premium Blend Connecticut, Habano, and Connecticut Robusto) “has its own distinct wrapper, filler, and strength profile,” and that “all four are rolled in 5 x 52 Robusto format using classic Cubano entubado construction.”