How to -Dry Suit Reproofing

Give your suit a new lease of life...

Here is my quick step by step guide to reproofing Goretex Dry suits or Cags. When you get a new Dry suit or any outer shell garment for that matter, it will have a DWR coating on the fabric. This coating helps to repel water by beading it on the surface. With use over time this coating will wear off and the fabric will start to "wet out". It will still be waterproof but its performance and breath-ability will be greatly reduced. So it is necessary to give you kit some maintenance now and again, to keep it at its best.
I like to wash and reproof my dry suit about once every season depending on how much use it is getting. Below are the steps I take to get it back to life. 

*Note: This is the method I use and find effective. But please check with manufactures guidelines and instructions before treating your expensive garment!

You will need:
*Cleaning Product i.e. Tech Wash
*Reproofing product i.e. TX Direct, Revivex 
Warm water 
Bath tube or big container 

Step 1 :Wash it
Before reproofing your garment it is very important to give it a good wash. I use Nikwax Tech Wash mixed with warm water in the bath. Removing the dirt, grime and body oils will greatly improve the waterproofing and breath-ability of your garment. You maybe surprised how much dirt comes off of it. 
Wash it inside and out. Then rinse a couple of times. 

Step 2: Drip Dry
Once you have washed and rinsed the suit in a suitable product hang it up inside out. Allow it to drip dry. Once the inside is dry turn it the right way round.
Just washing your suit might be enough to restore the DWR but for best results continue with the next step.

Step 3: Reproof it
Now you have the suit the right way round you need to hang it up or lay it out on a table so you can get to every part of it. 
It is not necessary to dry the garment before applying the reproofing. 
For reproofing I used Nikwax TX Direct spray on. 
Work your way around the suit spraying all parts. Make sure you get under over lapping material like at the waist tunnel and around the lower leg. Wipe of any excess spray and leave the suit to air dry. 

And that's it! The next time you go paddling the water will be beading off your precious Dry suit like the day you bought it.
Happy paddling :)

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Like new. The DWR coating doing its job.

*There are a number of other brands that make products for washing and reproofing garments. McNetts and Grangers are two other popular brands available online or in your local outdoor shop.