Waterproof Race Bibs That Survive Rain, Sweat, and Mud
For race directors, timing companies, and anyone else who has to hand out bibs on a wet morning.
Race day doesn't wait for good weather. Rain moves in, the course turns to mud, and before long a paper bib is soft, torn at the pins, and hard to read at the finish line.
We print race bibs on waterproof synthetic stock. Water doesn't soak in, mud wipes off, and the corners hold up to safety pins. The number your timer needs to read at the finish is still there.
If you're the one handing out the bibs
Somebody has to get the numbers to the start line. Maybe you're the timing company and bibs come with your package. Maybe you're the race director of a 5K, a fun run, or a mud run. Maybe you're the parent who volunteered to run the school fundraiser, or the person at the running club who "handles that stuff."
Whoever you are, you've got enough to worry about on race morning. The bibs shouldn't be on the list.
Why paper bibs fail on race day
Picture a Saturday in October. The forecast said clear. It isn't. Runners are lined up in a light rain, and by the second mile the paper bibs have gone soft. Pins pull through the corners. A few bibs are folded over, a few are gone, and at the finish line a volunteer is squinting at a smeared number trying to call out a time.
That's the whole problem with paper. It's fine right up until the weather isn't.
- Rain and sweat soak through. The bib goes limp, then it starts to tear.
- Safety pins rip the corners. The bib flaps, folds over, or falls off mid-race.
- Mud covers the number. Wiping a paper bib just smears it.
- Finish-line photos and manual timing get harder when numbers are creased or half gone.
What makes our bibs different
Paper bibs are fine until the weather isn't. Ours are printed on waterproof synthetic stock, so the things that ruin a paper bib on race morning don't get very far.
| Rain and sweat Water stays on the surface instead of soaking in. The bib doesn't go soft or limp. |
Mud It wipes right off. Runners come through the finish with a number, not a brown smear. |
| Safety pins The stock tears less easily than paper, so the corners hold and the bib stays put. |
The number It doesn't smear when wet. Your timer and your finish-line photographer can read it. |
| Paper bib | Our bib | |
|---|---|---|
| Rain and sweat | Soaks through and goes soft | Beads up and wipes off |
| Mud | Smears when wiped | Wipes clean |
| Safety pins | Corners tear and flap | Corners hold |
| Number at the finish | Blurred or creased | Readable |
Full color, too, so your race logo and sponsor logos look the way they should. Want the details on the material? Call the shop and we'll walk you through it.
What you can put on a bib
- Your race name and logo, plus sponsor logos
- A different number on every bib, in whatever range you need
- Back-side printing for sponsor messages or emergency contact info, at no extra charge
- Your choice of size. Tell us what works for your race and we'll set it up.
Other race-day items
We print mile markers, course signs, and directional arrows on the same waterproof stock. If it needs to survive a morning in the rain, we can print it.
A note for timing companies
If you supply bibs for several races a season, send us your artwork once. For each new event, give us the race name, date, and number range, and we'll take it from there.
How to order race bibs
Race bibs aren't on our online calculator yet. Email us at info@waterproofmenu.com or call the shop with:
- Race name and date
- Quantity and number range
- Bib size, or ask us to recommend one
- Your artwork
- Back-side printing, if you want it
We'll reply with a quote and a proof before anything prints. Minimum order is 25 bibs. Most orders ship same or next business day. We ship nationwide from North Carolina.
Need bibs for an upcoming race?Send us your race name, date, quantity, and artwork. We'll send a quote and a proof. Or call the shop at (252) 449-4444, ext. 3. |
Before you order: quick answers
Will the numbers smear when they get wet?
No. Water sits on the surface instead of soaking in. Wipe it off and the number is still there.
Can every bib have a different number?
Yes. Give us your number range and every bib gets its own number.
Can you print on the back?
Yes at no extra charge. This is a great place for sponsors to advertise.
What's the minimum order?
25 bibs.
How fast can I get them?
Most orders ship same or next business day. If race day is close, call the shop and we'll tell you where you stand.
Rain or shine, the bib should be the one thing on race morning you don't have to think about. Email info@waterproofmenu.com or call (252) 449-4444, ext. 3, and we'll take it from there.
