My 3-Layer Suit is Becoming 2-Layer :(((((

Hi Guys! Today I decided to wash my drysuit Stohlquist Shift for the first time. The suit by itself only few month old (I bought it in September). So, I did all as recommended like gentle mode and mild detergent. Then I hang on it for drying and discovered that an inner layer is peeling off! I even do not know what to think. Is it some kind of factory defect or is it normal? Any ideas how to fix it? Need any advises/recommendations. Thank you in advance!

not sure, but call stohlquist with any questions.

they're customer service is exceptional, and they're local. the one time i had an issue with a suit (way out of warranty, i should add), they went far above and beyond for me.

not sure, but call stohlquist with any questions.

they're customer service is exceptional, and they're local. the one time i had an issue with a suit (way out of warranty, i should add), they went far above and beyond for me.

DWB - thank you for response! ok, I will try to contact them. I guess it is the only way...

Update. It is kinda weird. Checked at morning and I cannot believe - the suit is dried and it looks like the layer stick back again, except the place where the hole. Some kind of fantastic... 

You don't need to wash your suit that way. Washers no matter how gentle are not good for zippers and seam sealer. A simple rinse will do just fine. Use the appropriate stuff for seals and zipper. The same applies to diving drysuits which are 3 times or more expensive than most of our drysuits. Stohlquist is really good and should take care of you.

yea i just use some dish soap, hot water, and a soft scrub brush and try to wash it after every trip.

yea i just use some dish soap, hot water, and a soft scrub brush and try to wash it after every trip.

Dish soap is a bit to harsh on the DWR.  Nikwax makes a great non detergent tech cleaner for these garments.

There are many breathable waterproof fabrics on the market.  Many of them work quite well.  Goretex is more expensive than most of those fabrics, but an advantage of Goretex is that it's a well-known and reliable product which has been refined and improved over many years.  I've owned a lot of dry suits and dry tops over the years, and the fabric on some of them quickly or eventually delaminated.  I've had way less trouble with Goretex, and am willing to pay a higher price for Goretex garments.

Got an answer from Stohlquist after second inquiry (6 days). First one was ignored at all. They said kinda suit cannot be washed in machine and improper care is void of warranty. Nice... As I know many people wash their suits in gentle more and do not have any issues.

from Stohlquist website:  http://www.stohlquist.com/questions/technical-info.html

WASHING

    Always be sure to wear a liner under drywear and hand wash infrequently. A liner or baselayer will help reduce wear from interior soiling.
    Rinse your garment with fresh water after each use to remove sand and soil; If necessary, hand wash your garment in warm water using mild soap, or a synthetic cleaner such as McNett Synthetic Fabric Cleaner or Nikwak Tech Wash, and rinse well. Be sure to treat latex gaskets after washing.
    Garments may be treated with a DWR refreshment product (e.g. McNett ReviveX®, Nikwax Waterproofing). Note that some DWR products require heat to “activate” or “set” the DWR treatment. Any product that has a neoprene or latex neck should not be subjected to excessive heat (such as an iron or clothes dryer). There are several products on the market that do not require heat to activate the DWR treatment.
    Allow garments to hang dry out of direct sunlight. Do not machine dry.

alpalmer - thank you. I think such important information should be clearly stated and provided with the suit - I have all booklets/etc that came with it. There is absolutely nothing that says "no machine wash" or "hand wash only".

By the way, care instructions from Kokatat https://kokatat.com/support/product-use-care
When washing, always follow sewn-in care instructions. With dry suits and dry tops Kokatat recommends using cold water, delicate cycle, gentle liquid soap, with no bleach or harsh chemicals, and high water volume, in a front loading machine. Rinse well (which may mean running it through a second time, inside out with no soap OR use a cold shower). Line dry.

Pick up a Kokatat Pro-Angler suit and you won't have this issue.

I just sent my 4 y/o angler suit back in to have a cuff replaced and take advantage of the free "check-up" and hole patching.  They hit me back a couple of days later saying that they found some material separation so they'd be replacing the suit at no cost.  Yeah, I'm pro-staff but the service person didn't know that and I've heard this same story from non-sponsored kayak fishermen. 

BTW:  They encourage you to machine wash your suit (with the correct settings)

-Mark-

Spot - thank you! Yes, it is one more confirmation that always stay with the best and trusted brands. I liked this Stohlquist because of design - it allows you to wear only pants or pants and jacket without neck or whole suit. In other words it is some kind of universal suit for any weather. But now I see that Kokatat launched this new fully separated drysuit - it is Radius model. I am probably going to save for it.