Applying Waterproofing to Drysuit

[fleckbass]

Has Anyone applied Nikwax TX Direct spray-on to a Kokatat Gortex Drysuit? Kokatat recommends this after "wetting out" starts to occur. I'm leary about the "ironing-in" process.

[coloradopaddler]

the only time i re waterproofed my kokotat gore tex dry suit i used a wash in nikwax product. i've seen that direct spray on and i don't want to use it either. if i were you i'd look for the wash in type, it lasted a long time!

[fleckbass]

I do have the wash in type. So, you just put it in while washing and it does the job? Breathability is maintained?

[busterblue]

Hi. I'm a long-time lurker. This is my first post.

By chance, I recently attended a drysuit care and repair clinic hosted by our local paddle shop. The Kokatet rep urged us NOT to use wash-in durable water repellent treatments. He said it would impair breathability: DWR should only be applied to the outside layer.

Also, he was skeptical of DWR products on a drysuit in general, because they tend to wear off fast. The suit is still waterproof, even if the outside layer is wetting out. The only problem with wetting out is that you may feel colder due to the evaporation.

That said, I haven't used DWR on my drysuit yet. What do other folks think?

[fleckbass]

Thanks for the info. It seems much nicer when water is beading off the suit and the suit is virtually dry. Don't like the recommended process of reapplying.

[coloradopaddler]

i just passed along what i had done, take it how you will. the nikwax waterproofing wash in formula that i used is made for gore tex materials. it has worked great on my dry suit and when the time comes that is what i'll use again. i don't want an iron anywhere near my dry suit, it's my thirteen year old baby and it's still going strong!

[fleckbass]

I hear that Colorado. That's probably what I'll do. Just hate to effect the performance of Gortex. It sounds like that isn't a problem for you. Good to hear peoples thoughts.

[Lappie]

FWIW, just use the spray on and don't use the iron, just put it in the dryer at warm or use a hair dryer to "cook" the DWR on it!!

[dafriend]

I'm with Lappie. Heat sets the DWR so a dryer or hair dryer will do the trick. Used spray-on and then hair dryer on a splash jacket to good effect.

Just washing and drying the drysuit (in commercial washer/dryer) did a lot to reduce wetting out - no modern chemistry required.

[Jim P]

but keep it away from the gaskets! Often you can wash the garment in nikwax techwash then hang to dry and then use a low iron to revive the DWR without using the DWR revival stuff at all, just getting the dirt off and a little heat can bring it back to life again.

That said I've used the wash in product many times and ironed many times on LOW with no ill effects.

But be aware, once it goes the first time, it never beads water for as long as when new.

One trick for the wash in is run the wash cycle and open the lid before it goes to rinse. Let it soak 30 minutes then finish the cycle. Seems to last a bit longer this way.

[Larry Horne]

I'm with kokatat! They probably know goretex better than we do.
I wouldn't want to jeopardize the best warranty in the buisiness.

[clarion]

This might be easy for me to say since mine still beads, but isn't it easier to dress for the water temperature without overheating if the suit looses some heat to evaporation?

[fleckbass]

Hey, Jim P! Are you apllying the iron directly to the suit? I thought about putting a towel between the two. The suit is really getting wet. It was beading when I first got it but seemed to wet out after 5-10 uses? Never washed it yet. It is in it's second season. Looks like Kokatat recommends a front loader. Are you using a top loader? Gentle Cycle? I'm just afraid to do anything to this expensive piece.

[Lappie]

fleck, if you don't have a front loader, wash it by hand. It is a good idea to wash your garment, it keep them breathing better. as for the iron, I would just use a warm tumble dry to reset the dwr.