I have purchased brand new packs (Kondos) and tents (Alps). Before I go out this year, do I need to waterproof them or seal the seams with some sort of solution? What product(s) do you recommend?

Don't bother.

The time proven technique is to place a pack liner in the pack and put your gear inside that, which is tied shut with a Bungee Dealy Bob. (Kondos sells the liners, but I simply use a Contractors Debris bag from H*** Depot. Lighter duty trash bags WILL NOT WORK)

Packs will get and stay wet, waterproofing is not very useful. The tent is a different matter, brand new it should be fine and waterproof out of the box.

Beemer's right. Line the pack and don't worry about sealing seams.

As far as the tent, I agree with Beemer. As far as future maintenance, the tent's factory sealer is a eurethene base, I believe, and McNett makes a variety of good sealers for nearly any application. All I know.

Ditto on the trash bag liner for the pack. Your Alps tent shouldn't need any additional sealing. If you're car camping, then you might throw a tube of seam sealer into a repair kit. Other than that, you should be just fine.

Not all tent seams are sealed at the factory. However if this is the case the manufacturer should not only tell you this but also include seam sealer with the tent.

The tent is PROBABLY water proof....not the type of thing I like to chance. I always test my tents or rewaterproof them before heading into the BWCA. I also like to spray a little on my packs in the hope they wont soak up as much water, and so be lighter on the portage trail, but maybe thats just me dreaming...

I would use a pack liner (heavy plastic bag or contractor bags)in the pack and I would seal the tent with the correct seam sealer if the seams are not taped. If seams taped, no need. I have never used Alps tents so I do not know if they are taped at the factory or need seam sealed?

My tent has factory sealed seams. But, it also had a dozen spots where they sewed in guylines and other tabs. Those spots required additional sealing, though they did include a tube with the tent.

Don't bother the pack, but even if the tent is new, take the time and effort to seal the seams imo.

I have a one year old Cirius 3 that is well built and has been in the rain with good results, but I am not taking chances with my comfort.

Major brands recommend Seam Grip by McNett. It comes with an applicator brush and does a 2-man tent.

Be careful in selecting seam sealer. Different fabrics require different seam sealers or at a minimum some work better on certain fabrics than others. I would also hesitate to seal over factory sealed seams. It might mess up already sealed seams. When sealing your seams, place masking tape to each side of the seam you are sealing so your seam sealing job will be straight and neat.

Copied the following from Sierra Designs' website

8. What are some general guidelines for seam sealing my tent?

The rainfly and center floor seam (if applicable) of your tent have been taped at the factory. While seam tape significantly increases the weatherproofness of your tent, additional seam sealing will improve the performance of your tent in rainy conditions. For additional weatherproofness, seal all places where attachments are sewn to the fly, including webbing, Velcro, snaps, guy-outs, and zipper tracks. The best way to seal your tent is to use a urethane-based seam sealer (We recommend Seam Grip by McNett. For more information visit www.mcnett.com) and run a thin bead around the base of the attachment, where it is sewn to the fly. Do this to attachments both on the inside and outside of the fly. Additionally, the perimeter seam of your tent floor cannot be mechanically (factory) sealed. To complete the barrier against water seepage through the floor of your tent, seal this seam by running a bead of seam-sealer around the inside perimeter of your tent floor. Make sure the seam-sealer is completely dry before re-packing your tent.

Anyone know anything different from other manufacturers?

i currently have two REI tents. all pertinent seams are factory taped. no sealing needed.

Does Sil-nyl require different stuff?

you knew the answer already!

I have seam sealed all of my tents and have never gotten wet no matter how hard the wind blew and the rain fell,as far as packs go I use a dry bag for clothes and sleeping bags and anything else that I don't want to get wet and an enternal frame pack for rest of camp gear that really doesn't matter if it does gets wet.