Softening oversuit

Keris82

Keris82

Member
So I have just purchased a new warmbac oversuit. It was delivered today and i tried it on quickly and found it feels like I'm wearing stiff plastic. I think once i start caving in it it might rip the back of my knees and elbows to shreds!  :doubt: Has anyone got any advice on how to make it softer?
 
badger

badger

Active member
as everyone says if its cordura it will become more supply when damp/wet. I also wash mine with Comfort/lenor other brands are available, it also helps, but the nature of cordura means it will always be stiffen as it gets older
 
cavemanmike

cavemanmike

Well-known member
As badger said it will go through a few transitions from stiff when new to supple offer use to stiff as a board when old . Mine can stand up on it's own ::)
 
The Old Ruminator

The Old Ruminator

Well-known member
Dont pressure wash it and dry it in the sun this time of year. As stated they are always more comfortable when damp. It is possible that some shrinkage occurs also so I always buy a large + which is one size too big.

Currently with our dig so dry in the upper parts I am back to a standard fabric boiler suit as we have half a mile to walk to the cave.
 
alastairgott

alastairgott

Well-known member
A new member of the club was asking a well known caving gear purveyor at the weekend about drying an oversuit. They asked whether they could spin dry the oversuit, to which the reply came NO.

But the purveyor did say you could possibly tumble dry it on a slow tumble.

If the ground is damp, I prefer to stand on the oversuit to change, it serves multipurposes.
 
Pete K

Pete K

Well-known member
Hmm, I am at odds with some here then. I own nearly 40 Warmbac suits for work. They get pressure washed after each and every trip and are no stiffer than when they were new. I get some new ones arriving this week so will have to check. The death of most fabric caving suits is, I am sure, down to tearing open at the seams because of inflexibility in the fabric and weakened stitching due to the abrasion of sharp particles. All down to not cleaning properly. Pressure wash every trip, occasional wash with fabric softener and I'm sure some of my suits are almost inseparable visually from new. I agree about the not hanging in direct sun all the time though.
 
cavemanmike

cavemanmike

Well-known member
I was lucky enough to buy(cheap) a large capacity washing machine from a local chemical company and washy warmbac on a cold wash with very small amount of washing powder , comes up as good as new ;). Snug
 
F

Fulk

Well-known member
alastairgott:
A new member of the club was asking a well known caving gear purveyor at the weekend about drying an oversuit. They asked whether they could spin dry the oversuit, to which the reply came NO.
Click to expand...

That strikes me as odd; why shouldn't one spin an oversuit? I've spun mine (an AV suit) (very occasionally, admitttedly) with no obvious signs of harm.
 
alastairgott

alastairgott

Well-known member
I think it's less the harm to the oversuit and more the harm to the spinner (/washer). That's why a gentle tumble dry is apparently ok (allegedly).

Maybe as the oversuit is likely to bunch up in one position and cause the motor extra hassle. Probably ok for a washing machine full of water, or with other items in it?
I'm no expert on this drying lark, I sometimes find in winter that it's not dried from week to week. and most weeks of the year is mostly damp on Sundays.
 
Tseralo

Tseralo

Active member
mattajperry said:
Just dont get them warm when drying, they can shrink.  How do folk keep their cordura suits ''waterproof ''?
Click to expand...

I fail to see the point of a waterproof suit when club members take you down places like giants.
 
alastairgott

alastairgott

Well-known member
(fair warning) We'll have to take you to Yorkshire, then you can do Link to Mistral...

A random report I found online.
http://www.thursday-night-club.co.uk/2009/03/5th-march-mistral-hole-to-link-pot.html

Look up the muddy wallows.
 
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