how to make
your drysuit
last longer
If you’ve recently geared up with a new drysuit from industry leaders like NRS or Level Six, you are stepping into the new age of technical outerwear.
Across the paddlesports industry, terms like "PFAS-free" and next-generation "DWR" (Durable Water Repellent) treatments are rapidly becoming the new standard (which is a massive win for both your personal health and the health of our waterways.)
Here is the best part: this eco-friendly evolution doesn't mean sacrificing an ounce of protection. On the water, these modern suits deliver the exact same high-caliber dryness, breathability, and fabric reliability you’ve always depended on.
The only real difference is your cleaning regimen. Because these new eco-friendly treatments interact differently with dirt and oils, keeping them clean is more important than ever.
1. What Actually is PFAS?
The Basics of DWR
DWR stands for Durable Water Repellent. This is a specialized coating applied to the face fabric (the outermost layer) of your drysuit or technical paddling gear. A functioning DWR coating causes water to bead up and roll away from the garment, preventing moisture from soaking into the outer layer of the material.
Understanding Forever Chemicals
Historically, high-performing DWR treatments were manufactured using PFAS (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances). These are synthetic chemicals characterized by highly stable carbon-fluorine bonds. This chemical stability makes them exceptional at repelling water and oil, but it also means they do not break down naturally, accumulating over time in the environment, waterways, and living organisms.
The Problem: Wetting Out
When a DWR coating fails, the suit experiences what is known as "wetting out," meaning the face fabric becomes saturated with water. Wetting out causes two distinct performance issues:
- Loss of Breathability: When the outer fabric is saturated, moisture from inside the suit (sweat) can no longer escape through the waterproof membrane.
- Clamminess: A wetted-out suit instantly feels colder and heavier against your body, creating a damp sensation inside your drysuit even if the internal membrane isn't leaking.
2. Why Industry Leaders are Making the Switch
The paddlesports and broader outdoor industries are actively phasing out forever chemicals, with major manufacturers transitioning to 100% PFAS-free DWR formulations. This transition protects global waterways, oceans, and ecosystems.
In tandem with environmental benefits, legal regulations are taking effect globally to restrict or ban the sale of textiles and apparel containing intentionally added PFAS chemicals.
3. How to Care for Your PFAS-Free Drywear
To prevent your new technical outerwear from wetting out, implement this three-step care routine. Drytops and drysuits require regular cleaning and heat activation to perform correctly.
1. Deep Cleaning
Dirt, body oils, and salt compromise your gear. When these contaminants clog the pores of the fabric membrane, breathability drops and the suit wets out.
Procedure: Inspect the suit and scrub away heavily soiled areas. Machine wash on a normal, cold cycle using a dedicated technical wash like Granger's Wash. Avoid standard household laundry detergents entirely. Ideally, use a front-loader or a machine without a center agitator to prevent structural damage.
Note: After washing, hang the suit upside down to allow water to fully drain out of the socks and lower entry points before drying.
2. Reactivation
Unlike old chemical treatments, PFAS-free DWR coatings rely directly on heat to reset and re-orient their water-repelling fibers.
Procedure: Once the suit has drained completely, place it in a home dryer and run it on a low heat cycle for roughly 10 minutes. This process reactivates the outer fibers, restoring the factory water-beading effect.
Note: Remove the suit immediately after the cycle ends, turn it inside out, and hang it to finish drying. This prevents interior seam tape or adhesives from sticking together or degrading.
3. Reapplication
Over time, the original DWR treatment will wear down past the point where heat reactivation can restore it. Monitor the fabric's performance to know when to reapply the coating.
Procedure: Turn the clean suit right side out and apply an even layer of a direct spray-on re-waterproofing agent, such as Granger's Repel, directly to the exterior fabric. Wash-in formulations are also available, but these must be added during the initial washing cycle rather than after drying.
- Washing machine
- Clothes dryer (with low/delicate heat setting)
- Grangers Wash + Repel / Reproofing products
4. Beyond the Fabric: Crucial Components to Maintain
Fabric care is only part of maintaining dry suit safety. Other technical components require inspection and maintenance throughout the paddling season.
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The Zipper: This is the most expensive component of your dry suit and a primary failure point if neglected.
Maintenance: Regularly apply a dedicated zipper lubricant around the dock and teeth, sliding the mechanism back and forth a few times to work the lubricant deeply into the components. -
The Gaskets: Latex wrist and neck gaskets will dry out, crack, or become sticky over time if exposed to environmental factors.
Maintenance: Periodically condition your gaskets throughout the season using a 303 lubricant spray or specialized silicone grease to keep the rubber supple.
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Dry Suit Socks: Fabric socks keep your feet dry but are highly vulnerable to internal and external abrasion from sand, gravel, and rocks.
Maintenance: Always stand on a protective changing mat when stepping into or out of your suit, and transition into your water shoes or booties immediately to protect the fabric layers from wear.
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