Matt- How to Keep Your Drytop Healthy

          Hey guys, Matt here. Today I'm going to teach you how to replenish the bead on your drytop.
          When you first buy a drytop, the durable water repellent coating, also known as DWR, works great at keeping you dry. All the water beads up on the outside of the drytop,and all the perspiration inside your drytop is wicked away, leaving you entirely dry on the inside. The only issue is that this DWR coating eventually gets worn down and stops working. This happens especially in areas with lots of abrasion. Not to worry! You can easily restore the DWR coating on your drytop. My two methods of replenishing the DWR are heat, and after-market products. Sometimes I use both if my drytop is really soaking up water.

Garb can't get me wet! 

          The first thing I like to do when my drytops stop working is heat them up. Many companies that use Gore-Tex or similar materials recommend putting it in the dryer. I don't like that method because I have found that the gaskets around the neck and wrists don't handle the heat well and will eventually tear. My recommendation is to use an iron with a thin cotton sheet on top of the drytop. Some things to avoid are ironing the gaskets, and using too much heat. I recommend using a lower setting and ironing for longer, rather than super hot for a short amount of time. It's worth it for the control, and you don't risk ruining your drytop.
          If using heat doesn't work, you can always purchase after-market products to replenish the DWR. Companies like Gore, Nikiwax, and McNett all sell products to help your drytops, whether by wash-in or spray-on methods. The spray-on method is more precise but a lot more work to coat the entire drytop.The wash-in method works well because it coats the entire dryop, but it also has its drawbacks because it coats the inside of the drytop, reducing its wicking qualities. Whatever you use, just know that your drytop will never be quite as dry as it was when you bought it.

Best of luck with your drytops and until next time,
Matt