What sort of compounds do you guys use for waterproofing fabric/clothes? I've heard of a few, but I have no experience with any of them. What would you suggest?

I've used the silicon based spray for several sets of lightweight anoraks.....It would work well for the average light rain. Didn't stand up well at all for the Florida downpours we get. After a minute it leaked right through.....and before anyone asks....yes they received the proper coating and enough was used. It just didn't hold up.

As for waterproofing boots....I relied on Sno Seal. It takes warming the boots a bit and rubbing the compound into them while warm (I don't remember exactly what it was made of) but I had NEVER had wet feet when my boots had been Sno Sealed.

Hope it helps.

First understand that garments may be waterproof or water resistant. A plastic raincoat or heavily waxed cotton garment such as Barbour or Aussie drover coats are waterproof. But the 'inside' flaw is they trap body perspiration and create your own wet microclimate. A water resistant garment will have a degree of repellancy and venting of body heat and perspiration. This is what GORETEX is claimed to do, and doesn't. It comes down to a tradeoff and what you need and for howlong and how severe. Sometimes that need is a big old tent with hot chocolate brewing on the stove.

This topic has come up a couple times here before. You might want to check out threads like this:

Waterproofing fabric?

In this one I talked specfically about waterproofing leather gloves:

Missing prep item...work gloves

-john