How to Care for a Drysuit or Dry Top

[@TheDaReel]

Good info and right on time Ken. I’ll get my dry suit in a few weeks so I’ll keep the neck gasket tips in mind. Thanks & cheers !

[@PaddleTV]

Enjoy the new dry suit!!

[@bootwheelwingandkeel5506]

How very timely. My first dry suit just arrived in the mail 2 days ago. Thanks!

[@PaddleTV]

Happy days! Enjoy paddling in warmth!

[@midwayalpacas]

Great presentation

[@shillinhite3911]

I just got my first semi dry top! Excited to be able to paddle safely in the colder weather. I'll admit I was already going out in very cold water the past couple of springs in lakes and channels I knew well. I think I will have to try that neck stretching technique and get some of that 303. Thanks for the informative video!

[@6yjjk]

Great tips, and bonus squirrels!

[@timwonser7246]

Very timely&informative.I have used 303 for years with great results.I have a Delta 16 with a gloss gel coat and the 303 gives the entire boat a great shine and protection without unnecessary abrasives that I don't need.Have also used it on some of my paddling gear and it is the best of what is available.Keep up the in depth and thorough reviews;definetaley adds trust and credibility to your reviews.I do look forward to them.Thanks! p.s.just recommended paddle t.v. to someone for foldable boats.

[@PaddleTV]

Thanks Tim! I appreciate it.

[@richardwill935]

Really helpful video! I recently found out the hard way, about the cost of not maintaining gaskets adequately (or at all in my case). Now I have some 303.

[@FalconSails]

As always PaddleTV made a great video. I wish my 15 year old heavily used gore tex dry suit could still be good. I guess mine effectively has the equivalent of over 20 years of normal use. It is still usable but it is showing serious signs of age. If you take care of your dry suit like the video suggests, you will get many years of hard use like I did.

[@PaddleTV]

15 years is pretty great for any piece of gear! I still have my Kokatat drysuit from 15 years ago as well, and it works great!

[@prayfornathannatureshow]

Awesome video yet again. I recently bought a dry suit, made sure to use your videos to inform me or what to look for and all before I bought. However, I didn't know anything about caring for the dry suit. So this was incredibly helpful. Thanks!

[@gmontlake]

The best way to trim gaskets to avoid nicks is to pre-stretch the gasket over a round object (exactly like the coffee can Ken shows for stretching). Then, use an exacto knife to cut the gasket with the round item as a base underneath. No nicks. I have a big neck and have trimmed three gaskets this way with no fear of damage.

[@GoodLifeMedicine]

How big is your neck? Mine is 17" and the new latex gasket is so tight I can't stand it even for a few seconds. I have a new Kokotat Meridian XL. Thanks for the trimming advice.

[@hntrains2]

Good tips and pieces of advice! 6:44: What, if you kept it too long and it stretched too much?

[@PaddleTV]

Not really an issue... just like a pair of pants that's supposed to shrink after you wash them - they'll only shrink so much no matter how many times you wash them.

[@hntrains2]

@@PaddleTV, did not know that; thank you!

[@RFStarkJapan]

Trimming tip if you also happen to be a scuba diver. Stretch it over a scuba cylinder and use a fabric roller cutter.

[@PaddleTV]

Ohhhhhh. That's a good one!

[@Maritime007]

Your local scuba diving shop likely has the ability to replace drysuit neck or wrist seals. That could be an option rather than sending your suit away. Many scuba drysuits these days come with replaceable drysuit seals that can be replaced on the spot without glue...assuming you have a spare seal on hand. It would be handy if paddling drysuits offered the same option.

[@PaddleTV]

Good point!

[@celestialfarm9115]

There are tutorials on how to replace the gasket using Aquaseal to glue it. It looks tedious, but not particularly difficult.

[@charleschristensen663]

Any tips for taking off dry gear? I find it sometimes harder if I’m a bit sweaty. Thanks for all your tips, I enjoy seeing them.

[@donkeyavenger]

Thanks for the tips, I just got my first dry suit. I didn't have any luck stretching my kokatat neck gasket though and trying to convince myself to cut it still

[@PaddleDogC5]

Cut it it's easy. Stretch on pot for a day.

[@PaddleDogC5]

Gaskets are made for the smallest paddler so most need to be cut. Stupid to paddle around choking.

[@PaddleDogC5]

Dumb put the gasket over a pot nice and even. Follow the lines around slowly with a single edge razor blade. Cut no more than two lines at a time. Wear it for 20 minutes and see how it feels even sitting in a chair watching TV. Forget about sizzors.

[@gmontlake]

See my note here on cutting. No fear…

[@kevinbryski]

Thanks for this. Is there anything that you could suggest to minimize wear of the areas that i have constant contact, such as inside the side of knees, forearms? I am wondering if i could glue a layer on the outside that would wear first to save the waterproof integrity of the suit.

[@PaddleTV]

I don't know if gluing a layer would be a good solution, although some drysuits definitely have reinforced high wear areas. Depends on the material you have to use as a patch. If the material is actually wearing out, that might be the best solution. If the material is just losing its waterproof integrity, then you might just need to use a waterproofing solution more regularly, like Nixwax TX Direct or Tech Wash.

[@kevinbryski]

@@PaddleTV thank you Ken. Very helpful. My situation is that the suit is not worn nor losing its waterproof integrity. I am looking for a solution to prevent wear in the areas that get the most contact. The suit already has reinforced knees for example, but, I would like to further reinforce them. My first thought thinking of gluing some type of material over the suit, but, have heard that its very hard to find a glue that would bond/adhere to the suit. And, your advice is most welcome regarding whether it would even work. If you think or hear of other solutions, I would welcome them. Many thanks again, I truly appreciate you sharing your deep knowledge and vast experience.

[@snorttroll4379]

please upvote this or comment if you want suits with adjustable gaskets (and possibly the rest of the suit too) and downvote if this is not interesting. please comment why.

[@GoodLifeMedicine]

My Kokotat Meridian XL Drysuit arrived this morning! Everything is great except the latex neck gasket is so tight as to make my face turn red and scare my wife. I have a 17" neck and the XL comes with the large neck size gasket. I will use the coffee can technique and maybe do some trimming. Is it possible my neck is too big?

[@pdfahie]

I think if I was going to trim the gasket, I would pull it over a larger pvc pipe so I could razor blade it and it would be easier to monitor my cutting.

[@snorttroll4379]

any adjustable gaskets out there?

[@malcolmnicholls2893]

I'm not sure 303 is skin safe. I bought some rubber protectant from a divers outlet.

[@jacobcastle2741]

Have you done / can you do a video for people just getting into whitewater? I recently just got into whitewater kayaking and didn't realize how new everything would be gear wise. Especially looking for some good whitewater paddles.

[@PaddleTV]

Will do! I plan on doing a little more whitewater content next year to mix things up... and to give myself an excuse to go surfing. :)

[@WillN2Go1]

I wouldn't use scissors on a latex gasket. (If you have and it's worked, please correct me). The best gasket trim advice I've seen is to get an orange traffic cone and pull your latex over it and stretch it a little. Then use a new sharp razor blade or utility knife blade. (With scissors I think you can leave a 'jag' that can start a tear. I used scissors on one, it soon ripped.) Also the tip about sun is good. (I bought a new paddle float. Six months left in the sun it looks like my 15 year old one.) I have a swim suit that I'd once forgotten in my car for several days. It reeked. I tried washing it, even with a little bleach, tried two kinds of wet suit wash/deodorizer. Nothing worked. I finally left it hanging in direct sunlight, four days changing it every day so all sides got sun. Completely sanitized it. The sun is powerful, use it only as needed. I just bought a Mustang drysuit, I'm impressed by how much better and more comfortable it is than the gear I used 16 years ago.

[@pogoworley4903]

Latex is my last choice for neck seal, much prefer neoprene or silicone.

[@aljohnson1212]

Also be aware of finger nails, they can cut the gasket.

[@alanmclenon9703]

...and toe nails especially if you have booties.

[@GeorgeCooper_LoneWolf]

Hi Ken, would you please let me know what type of 303 do you use / recommend. Thanks

[@TheTJGavin]

Thanks for this, know your stuff! I've not used 303 protectant before, would you only use it on neoprene gasket? or whole drysuit? Thank you

[@PaddleTV]

Just on the gaskets. The drysuit fabric will use a different protectant. Nikwax has a product for Gore-Tex that preserve a drysuits waterproofness and breathability.

[@canoesino9290]

Bought a dry suit many years ago and hated it. Cant remember how many times I replaced the gaskets. Getting old so I just dont paddle white water below 50

[@jwiereng]

what is the use of neoprene gasket that does not seal out the water? Semi-Dry does not sound dry - semi dry is partially wet.

[@jwiereng]

or does it just leak slowly, so that if you have to swim against your will, you won't get soaking wet and cold right away - buys you time to get out, or get rescued?

[@SeattleDinghyer]

And it doesn't feel like you're being garroted all the time...

[@88kayak]

Off topic: do you have advice for paddling first aid? Dealing with drowning, unconsciousness, injury, etc.?

[@PaddleTV]

That's a big topic! Great idea for a future video. Thanks!

[@88kayak]

@@PaddleTV looking forward to them.

[@perezfranco]

Is it the 303 Aerospace or the Marine?

[@PaddleTV]

Both will do the trick. I use the Aerospace.

[@OkinawaWild]

Tried trimming a neck gasket once. Went to test fit it...pop. LOL

[@PaddleTV]

That's the worst feeling in the world... and then every time you put on a dry top for the next year, you think the gasket is going to break every time... :). Fortunately, they're remarkably tough in most cases.

[@joethi4981]

So you never need to wash your dry suit at all?

[@PaddleTV]

Depends on how you treat it! :). You should rinse it and clean any dirt off them. Also, any dry gear does need to be treated every year or two in order to stay optimally waterproof. Here's a great article with more details: www.nrs.com/learn/dry-wear-care

[@PaddleDogC5]

Kokatat says 303 once a month or gaskets can get SOFT.

[@JBerns]

On their drysuit care video, Kokatat says 303 "not more than once a month" or it can degrade the gasket.

[@macfawlty]

Nothing about zipper care?

[@SeattleDinghyer]

Cleaning with fresh water and run beeswax has always worked for me