Typical waterproof labels will be able to resist the effects of water for several days, weeks or indeed permanently depending on the adhesive used and how well it has been applied.  In fact, most waterproof labels will be able to withstand the impact of water long after the ink has faded on the label so in practice it becomes a moot issue.

If you are looking for waterproof labels to mark the kids sports kit then a standard label is going to be able to do the job, but it is probably better if you use a heat activated iron-on label or even better for extra durability, a sew on label which will be unaffected by water.

The ink used to mark the label will be the next consideration and indeed, it is likely that the water or weather is going to affect the ink on the label far sooner than they will affect the adhesive or fixing material.  Most ink used is water soluble, in fact if you are looking to ensure minimal impact upon the environment, a water soluble ink will be recommended due to the toxicity of traditional durable inks and their manufacturing process.

There are two main methods for water and weatherproofing a label – the use of special microfiber material which traps the water -soluble ink applied and the use of a laminate coating to protect the label image after it has been applied.  Microfiber printing material acts in a similar fashion to your cotton shirt when you spill orange juice on it – the fibers trap the juice and it is difficult to remove without a thorough clean.  The ink is trapped by the microfiber and this retains the image applied despite the presence of water, however over time the image will fade and deteriorate so this method is not recommended for heavy exposure.

Laminating the image after it has been applied provides all round protection both for the ink and the material making up the tag; a coating such as Nalgene will ensure that the label is preserved for as long as is necessary and how heavy the application will determine whether the tag becomes weatherproof as opposed to simply waterproof.

Today, the idea of ordinary men and women running a marathon, followed by a lengthy bike ride and punctuated by a cooling couple of miles swimming is not so far-fetched!  My brother-in-law completed three Iron Man competitions last year and only quit this year because his wife has put her foot down.

The growth in outdoor and extreme sports activities has increased the need for vital personal information to be carried by participants.  Sports requiring high levels of exertion create situations where participants need assistance and sometimes urgent medical intervention as the human body is pushed to extreme limits.  It is not only the high exertion levels which create high risk for those taking part; many long distance or extreme sporting activities take place in areas which are remote or without readily available medical assistance on hand making and the difference in treatment for a heat victim with diabetes and one without can mean the difference between life and death as one simple example.

Many sports ID label kits use some form of wrist band to carry personal identifier and medical information but personally, I cannot stand a wrist band attached when I’m running; it’s just a mental thing with me but fortunately there are alternatives. The shoe pouch for instance, provides a simple and cost effective means of carrying my identity and contact information safely and securely attached to the laces of my running shoes; it doesn’t interfere with my running and I don’t have a wannabe fashion icon strapped to my wrist which makes me feel uncomfortable.

Other variants include ankle straps, id chains and you can easily find sports apparel suppliers with built in pouches and pockets designed specifically for carrying identification and medical information and still provide the functionality and sport utility you need for your sport enjoyment and performance.

Well, I have to admit it has happened to me on more than one occasion. Most of those times, another golfer had turned the lost club in to the club house and I was able to retrieve it with no problems. However, there were a few instances that the missing club simply disappeared. (My guess is that someone found the club, and with no way to determine the owner, simply kept it for themselves.)

After several lost putters, sand wedges, and drivers – I decided it was time to do something about my problem. So, I searched the Internet for golf club identification. And, that’s when I found MaverickLabel.Com’s Golf Club & Sports ID Labels web site. (http://www.mavericklabel.com/golf.html) They have a really simple ordering process which allows you to create your own identification label right there on their site. You simply type-in your name and phone number and you’re literally done in less than two minutes. The labels look fantastic and they don’t stand out like a sore thumb on your golf clubs. And, to top off the deal, MaverickLabel.Com offers free shipping on this product!

I had been thinking of purchasing an expensive set of Ping golf clubs, but was very reluctant due to my carelessness. But, with my new ID labels in hand – I went ahead and bought the new Ping clubs for an upcoming business trip to Florida. I put the great looking labels on each of my clubs with confidence and took them with me to Orlando the next week.

I loved the new clubs and was having a great round of golf with my new business associates. Everything was going great until I got to the 11th hole. I was about 75 yards from the green, in a bit of rough grass. So, I began digging through my bag to find my pitching wedge. And, to no real surprise… It was not in my bag! I couldn’t believe it. I had left the club at another hole – again! I finished the hole with my 9 Iron and we then went back a few holes, asking the golfers behind us if they had seen my club. But, unfortunately for me, none of them had.

To make a long story short, we finished the round without my pitching wedge and waited at the club house for a couple of hours to see if anyone had found the club. Again, however, nothing. It was simply gone. I continued to call the golf course for a few days after my trip, but it was never turned in.

I then got back on the Internet and started searching for anything related to lost golf clubs. And, I found a site that specializes in helping lost golf clubs (http://www.lostgolfclub.com) find their way back to their owners. This site has you enter your specific club’s information – and your personal contact information. Seems like a very good way to help you find your lost clubs, but they did not find my club.

This might be the end of this story, but then, about two weeks later… The course manager called my cell phone to let me know that their grounds keeper had found my club in a tall patch of grass on the 4th hole! He mailed my club back to me and I had it safely back in my bag two days later. And, it was all thanks to the ID label I had put on each of my new clubs. Needless to say, I’m very glad I made that purchase from MaverickLabel.Com.