Caring for Dry Wear

At Immersion Research, we construct our dry wear from waterproof/breathable fabric, neoprene, and latex. With proper care, these garments can last numerous seasons. However, these materials are very susceptible to damage under certain circumstances. Here are some tips to help extend the life of your Immersion Research Dry Wear and Paddling Apparel.

• Brush socks and shorts or pants clean of debris before entering a dry suit.
• Always wear shoes over your dry suit socks. Do NOT walk around in dry suit socks without shoes. For extra protection, neoprene socks can be used, however, you may need to opt for larger shoes. 
• Do not expose any part of the dry wear to sunscreen, insect repellent, or oils. This contamination leads to premature fabric and latex failure. Learn more about the specifics of gasket care here. 
• After use in saltwater, rinse dry wear in freshwater.
• After each use, hang dry wear inside out to dry. When the suit is dry, lightly brush inside of the suit to remove sand and other debris. After the inside is dry, turn the garment right side out and let the outside of the suit dry. Lightly brush the outside of the suit to remove sand and dirt.
• After the garment is completely dry, store loosely folded in an airtight bag to reduce exposure to ozone, which is the main contributor to latex gasket failure.
• Drysuit zippers should be closed for storage. They should also be closed when cleaning the suit.
• Store dry wear in a temperature and humidity controlled environment; the back of your closet is perfect.
• Do NOT hang for long term storage. Hangers can damage the neck gasket causing premature gasket failure.
• Do not store dry wear wet or damp.
• Wash your dry wear seasonally (or when soiled) with a cleaning product designed specifically for use with waterproof/breathable fabric such as Gear Aid ReviveX Pro Cleaner.
• Trim latex gaskets to make them larger, but do so carefully. Make your cut as even as possible following the trim lines. Remove one ring at a time. You can always remove more rings if needed, but you can't put them back on. Click here for instructions on how to properly trim your gaskets. 
• Rings can identify trimmable wrist gaskets; you'll see these rings on the inside of the gasket. You can see an example of that here. If your gaskets do not have these rings, DO NOT TRIM your wrist gaskets! 
• All latex gaskets need replacing at some point. Immersion Research can replace gaskets for a reasonable fee. You can see our current rates here. 
• If you have a TiZip Zipper (2017 and older suits) follow these instructions: TIZIP MasterSeal 10 zippers need to be lubricated on the docking end from time to time. Please use the original TIZIP lubricant. Carefully apply over the docking end surfaces on the front, back, and inside, where they connect to the zipper chain. Repeat before long term storage leaving the slider closed and whenever the area is dry during use.
• If you have a YKK Zipper (2018 and newer suits) follow these instructions, YKK Aquaseal Zipper Maintenance.
• Immersion Research Dry Wear can stand up to the rigors of heavy whitewater use; however, impacts with rocks, sharp sticks, thorns, can damage your dry wear.
• Immersion Research has a full-time staff dedicated to repairing garments. If you think your dry wear needs repaired, please visit the Immersion Research Repair Shop.

Still have questions?

Please reach to our customer service team. We're here to help.