DRYSUITS

  • Designed to prevent water entering.
  • Provide passive thermal protection.
  • Keep you dry under the water and on the surface.
  • Keep you warmer and more comfortable.
  • Two main style: membrane and neoprene.

   Drysuits

LATEX SEAL 

If you want to keep the water on the outside, look after your neck, wrist and ankle seals. Latex seals are not 100% watertight. Movement will always cause a minor amount of seepage, but this is usually insignificant and should not affect your comfort.

Every time you use your jacket, pants or drysuit:

  • Remove all watches, rings and jewellery, gently place your hand and wrist inside the seal. With your other hand, ease each seal on one at a time.
  • Use both hands for the neck seal, gently stretch the aperture to allow the seal to pass over your head.
  • Remove any excess air from the paddle top by venting the neck with two fingers.
  • If there are neck or cuff protectors on your jacket, check that the velcro is not firmly closed when you try to put it on.
  • Once the latex seals fit snugly in place, ensure that the velcro tabs are properly adjusted and secured.
  • Take just as much care when removing your paddle jacket, follow the reverse steps when undressing.
  • For pants with latex ankle seals, it’s best to wear a sock, easing the seal on and then removing the sock.
  • We recommend using a silicone protectant, e.g. McNett Seal Saver to extend the life of your seals.
  • Natural latex seals are very sensitive to sunlight and also vulnerable to damage from – oil-based products, including sunscreen and insect repellent.
  • The size of the latex seals are related to the size of the garment, should a seal feel excessively tight it is possible to achieve a custom fit by carefully trimming the seal with sharp scissors – neck seals have concentric rings as a guide, take extreme caution, ideally, you should wear the garment outdoors in cold weather to assess the size required before deciding whether to trim your seals.
  • Remove all jewellery before putting on apparel.
  • Use other hand to ease seal over hand.
  • Use both hands to open neck seal.
  • Wear a pair of socks while putting on ankle seals.
  • Neck seals can be trimmed to size with a pair of scissors.

Due to their vulnerability, no guarantee can be given on latex seals once the garment has been worn.

DRYSUIT WATERPROOF ZIPPER 

  • Zippers enable you get inside the suit.
  • Zipper can be in the front across the chest or on the back from shoulder to shoulder.
  • Keep all zippers completely open. 
  • Check the zipper for sand or dirt before every use.

Drysuits Care

Take care of your drysuit. Proper cleaning, storage and transport techniques help protect and prolong the lives of the gaskets and zippers.

CLEANING

  • IMPORTANT: Wash the drysuit with fresh water after using it in salt water.
  • Wash your drysuit after every use to remove skin oils and chemicals (like sunblock and insect repellent) from the gaskets.
  • Drysuits should be washed only by hand in warm water at a maximum temperature of 30 ˚C.
  • The inside and outside of a drysuit must be washed in separate steps.
    (Wash the outside first, then turn it inside-out and do the inside)
  • Open all zippers and use a soft brush to remove any grit from the teeth.
  • Lubricate your zipper periodically with beeswax or a silicone lubricant.
  • If the zipper jams, try to release it by thoroughly washing in fresh water and applying lubricant. After releasing the zip, gently run the slider back and forth to spread the lubricant along the length of the zipper and protect it from future jams.

DRYSUIT STORAGE

  • Leave it on its drying hanger in a cool, dry, dust-free area.
  • Completely dry inside and out lay it on the floor with the zipper facing downward.
  • Turn the boots inward and loosely rollup the legs and torso to the base of the neck seal.
  • Bring the arms together over the top of the rolled suit so that the open zipper forms an arch as it does while you are wearing the suit.
  • Slide the suit into its carrying bag and store it.
    (Avoid compressing your gear)

Neoprene will crease and not recover

  • DO NOT store your drysuit on a wire hanger. 
  • DO NOT leave your drysuit in direct sunlight.
  • DO NOT fold your drysuit for storage.
  • DO NOT wash your drysuit in the washing machine.
  • DO NOT dry it in the dryer.
  • DO NOT use bleach, clothes washing detergent, stain remover, fabric softener, olive oil, jet fuel etc.
  • DO NOT iron your drysuit.