I’m Looking for Waterproof and Tear Resistant Plastic (Paper) to Print Maps On

First, you might want to establish the printer that you will use, and then select the paper. Some papers work best for black laser. Some work best for color inkjet.

In the past, I have used HP LaserJet Tough Paper and HP Color LaserJet Soft Gloss. These are each pretty tough. I've used many types of color inkjet paper, but if they are ordinary matte papers, they are not plastic, and if they are plastic, they are either heavy or expensive.

–B.G.–

tyvek ?

http://www.riteintherain.com/category.asp?Id={96FCA12F-1B87-44CE-B177-3B98AB1428E2}

http://www.amazon.com/National-Geographic-Adventure-Paper/dp/B00005OMZ9

http://www.waterproofpaper.com/selecting-waterproof-paper.shtml

I've use the Rite in the Rain Duracopy paper to print the halfmile PCT maps with a colour laser printer.

http://www.riteintherain.com/inventoryD.asp?item_no=6512&CatId={29657998-A116-404D-9FC9-2646DF026778}

It works really well. I haven't used the maps (That comes this summer) but I have tested the printed maps by putting them in the sink and trying to rub off the print. The maps don't smudge at all! I am completely confident that the maps will survive everything I might throw at them. :)

You can also try GBC 1.5 mil laminating pouches:
http://spr.7cart.com/search.aspx?keyword=GBC+1.5+mil

They are cheaper than WP paper, and work, with a carrier that is included, on cheap Walmart hot laminators that you can use for other projects.

They make it possible to make several copies on inexpensive print paper until it is just the way you want it, than laminate your finished product. It is also easy to make 2-sided maps this way. I did have one failure after many hours of rain; but it was because I did a sloppy job, and did not allow a wide enough pouch margin around the paper.

Yes "Xerox" or laminate the maps you print out. This way you can even use them as a food cutting surface or plate. I've done this in the past. Works fantastic. Most office supply stores can do this for you.

This way would also keep your maps in tact so you can file them neatly.

Maybe I should have mentioned that the 1.5 mil laminating pouches are very thin, and the result of the lamination is nothing like what we see on licenses, menus and the like. The result, while not as pliable as a Trails Illustrated map, is readily folable into thirds, as you would a letter, and so ends up about the size of a folded TI map.

Vellum. Its been around for hundreds of years. Its waterproof. Ink sits on top so you must you a waterproof ink. Of course you had to do so already. Works with both laser jet and inkjet printers along with your typical commercial pressure printers.

Before the advent of computers and printers attached to said computers, drafters/artists the world over used VELLUM paper to draw all of their drawings on. One can still find it in university book stores or art stores/departments.

It is thin and lightweight. It is also opaque so one can "see through" it. This can be a bad or good thing depending on what you really want.

Any paper store like paperzone or paper source or online etc will have it. It is readily available and cheap.

In doing some research, I came across this and tried Vellum. I bought a pack of 50 sheets at OfficeMax for $7, and ran one under water, which it quickly absorbed and tore. Did I get the wrong kind? It said "25% rag" on it – don't know what that means. Any ideas?

tyvek is pretty hard to beat

http://www.allweatherblueprints.com/tyvek-sheets-printing-1481150.html

Tyvek is indeed the best. I have a set of White Mountains (NH) maps in tyvek and the absolute best quality waterproof paper maps I've ever had. I emailed Tom Harrison about tyvek a while back and he didn't seem interested.

I've been disappointed in Tom Harrison maps because while waterproof, they rub off very quickly and easily. The tyvek is bombproof. Why Tom doesn't something that is so far superior to his current material is a mystery to me.

I've used Rite in the Rain waterproof paper for years for work (data sheets in marine environs) and play (maps for sea kayaking and hiking) and the stuff is awesome in laser and inkjet printers as well as photocopiers. Highly recommended. They don't get soft, run, or tear, and the printing is still legible at the folded area for a while.

Don't laminate. The maps are hard to fold, pucker after folding, and are a stiff mess.

No experience with it, but REI sells the national geographic waterproof map paper in 8.5 x 11 sheets.

Me, I copy maps onto regular paper and keep in ziplock bag. Position the map so you can see what you need too, and just dont open the ziplock in the rain. Throw away as you go. Works well for established trails that you dont need to constantly refer to map for.

Thanks for the links on Tyvek paper, gonna check that out. I sent an email to them asking about getting a sample sheet to test before buying a whole pack.

I've tried the Nat Geo 'Adventure Paper' (which I suspect is repackaged Rite-in-theRain) and while it is indeed much more rugged than plain paper, I found that HP inkjet ink would smear a bit (enough to affect legibility) if it got damp. It is also very thick.

In the time since I've used either a ZipLok bag or the Seal Line HP rolltop map case. These work well but the problem comes when you're doing nontrivial navigation and not just following a clear trail. A case makes it very inconvenient to mark the map as you are working in the field from point to point.

I'm going to try the Tyvek paper and see how it does when marked with a micro Sharpie.

I suspect the Tyvek paper will be much thinner and more manageable than the Rite-in-the-Rain/Nat Geo paper. At the link http://www.allweatherblueprints.com/tyvek-sheets-printing.html it lists the Tyvek papers as being the equivalent of 14# and 18# paper, which is even lighter than standard 20# bond paper. It's not the actual mass in grams, it's the flexibility for folding & rolling that matters.

The thing I like best about the White Mountain Tyvek maps is that they are light and foldable. I can fold one up small enough to slide into a shirt pocket or a zipper thigh pocket on hiking pants. I find the National Geographic waterproof maps to be too thick and bulky for that. They would pretty much have to go in the backpack, which kind of defeats the purpose of having ready access to a map!

I don't know if you could tear a tyvek map, even if you tried.