Product Highlight – Duke Dry Top

Product Introduction:

The Duke is a 3-season paddling dry top constructed from our lightweight eXhaust 2.5-ply waterproof breathable nylon and features a cut that gives you a completely unrestricted range-of-movement. The neoprene punch through neck offers great comfort for long days on the water. The overlapping double-tunnel and Stealth waist band system work with your skirt tunnel to provide you with a drier seal and better paddling experience. 

Construction & Material Highlight:

The Duke is constructed using our proprietary Exhaust 2.5 fabric for the perfect blend of high performance waterproof/breathable performance without sacrificing the durability you rely on. For more information about our line of exhaust waterproof-breathable fabrics and how they work check out the video below.

Don’t forget to check out the corresponding blog post about our exhaust fabric line up and how to care for it!

Features Highlight

The Duke is designed to be minimalist offering paddlers a complete range of motion and lightweight feel. Let’s take a quick look at the simple features it offers.

• A British Latex neck gasket with neoprene punch through over-cuff.

• British Latex wrist gaskets with an adjustable neoprene over-cuff for a redundant seal that protects against big blasts of water shooting up your sleeve. Level Six exclusively uses British Latex gaskets as they are thicker, more durable, and over an overall longer life expectancy.

 

Gaskets are easily replaced and can be done using our repairs facility or you can follow our how-to video seen below.

You get all your replacement parts and repair materials using by checking out our repair/replacement collection.

• Finally, the duke features a double tunnel with Stealth waistband system to work in conjunction with your spray skirt to create a water tight seal around your cockpit rim when affixed to your kayak.

Fit & Sizing

The best way to find the perfect fit for a dry suit is to go to your local shop and try a few sizes on. Check out our dealer locator to find a Level Six dealer near you! 

If that isn’t a viable option, you can find the right fit by looking below at our size guide and measurement instructions.

 

If you fall in between sizes, we recommend sizing up because you’ll likely need room for insulating layers underneath your dry top. Sizing down may also limit your range of motion which is not ideal. If the fit really isn’t right Level Six offers a 30-day returns & exchanges window, for more details head over to our returns and exchanges page.

Cleaning & Maintenance

Cleaning and maintaining your dry top is recommended, encouraged and imperative to the long-term performance of your garment. Without regular rinsing, cleaning, and maintenance the Teflon Membrane pores can become clogged with silt & minerals. If left unaddressed this can lead the membrane to lose its integrity compromising both waterproof and breathability performance. Below is an outline of basic maintenance steps that can be taken to extend the life of your garment.

1. Rinsing

Rinsing the garment with fresh water is recommended after each use, especially after use in the ocean or freshwater with high silt and mineral content. Without regular rinsing salt molecules will crystallize in the pores of the Teflon Membrane causing micro-abrasions and thus rendering the waterproof integrity of the membrane useless and prone to leaks. The same can be said about silt and minerals. Furthermore, silt and minerals will clog the pores of the Teflon Membrane causing the garment to lose its breathability.

2. Drying

Drying the garment adequately after each use should be an absolute priority and is strongly recommended. Without proper drying, the garment can begin to grow mildew or mould causing the garment to smell bad and ultimately compromising the waterproof-breathable integrity of the piece. Garments should be hung up and given at least 12 hours to dry between uses. Never hang the garment inside out and never leave your garment to dry in direct sunlight. The ideal drying space is indoors in a temperature-controlled environment. If the garment is being dried outdoors it should be hung on a close line in a shaded area. Never place your garment in a machine dryer.

3. Inspections

It is important to regularly inspect the integrity of the garment paying special attention to interior seam tape. With time seam tape can begin to lift and peel causing the seams to leak and the garment to lose waterproof performance. Seam tape lifting is caused by inadequate drying and cleaning practices. While inspecting the garment the user should also be looking for damage such as abrasions, punctures, tears and delamination. If damage is found repairs are recommended right away.

4. Cleaning

Garments should be given a thorough cleaning at least once a year. The garment should be hand washed using a cleaner approved by Level Six (Revivex Wetsuit + Drysuit Shampoo) in freshwater. Cleaning ensures that silt, minerals, mildew, and other grime are removed from the Teflon Membrane and Nylon Face Fabric. After cleaning, the garment should be rinsed with fresh water and left to hang dry for at least 24 hours. Never place your garment in a washing machine.

5. DWR Reproofing

After the garment has been cleaned, rinsed, and adequately dried it is recommended that the garment is reproofed with a DWR finish. Always use a spray-on DWR solvent approved by Level Six (Revivex Durable Water Repellent). After applying the DWR to the garment leave the garment to dry and the DWR to cure for a minimum of 48 hours.

6. Maintenance

Some eXhaust garments feature latex gaskets and/or waterproof zippers. Gaskets should be kept away from heat, acidic compounds (sunscreen, bug spray), and UV exposure. Gaskets should be treated regularly with a UV protectant compound approved by Level Six (Revivex UV Protectant). Waterproof zippers should be kept clean and clear of sand or debris. Waterproof zippers should be cleaned as needed using a Level Six approved cleaner (Revivex Zipper Cleaner + Lubricant).

7. Storage

For long-term storage, garments should be hung in a temperature-controlled environment. If hanging the garment is not an option, the garment should be loosely folded and placed into a dry storage container.

To ensure long-term top-notch performance of your Duke dry top, we recommend doing some basic maintenance of your gear at least once a year. Check out our End of Season Gear Care Guide blog post.

Other Items to Consider:

Take a look below at some of our recommendations for gear to pair with your Duke Dry Top.

Pro Guide 2.0 / Pro Goddess 2.0 – Create the ultimate combo by pairing the Duke with the Pro Guide 2.0/Pro Goddess 2.0 neoprene lined shorts. This combo is the perfect wear for those late spring/ early summer days when you’re still dealing with cold water and cooler temps.

 

River Boots 2.0 – The perfect booties low-profile neoprene booties to keep your feet warm!

Sustainability:

As lovers of the outdoors and a brand that has been built around being on the water, we recognize our role in creating a sustainable future. As industry leaders it is our responsibility to make changes in our manufacturing process that focus on sustainability and reducing our impact on the environment. Beginning in 2018 Level Six has taken steps to eliminate all single use plastic polybags from our operations. Last year alone we managed to cut 20,000 single use plastic bags from circulation by rolling and tying our products using fabric trimmings left over from productions. In 2022 we will cut an additional 80,000 from our production cycle.

To further our sustainability practice, we continue our 1% for Watersheds Program in which we take 1% of our direct sales and donate to watershed conservation in Canada.

For more information on our sustainability practices and our future commitments to creating a greener future check out our Going Green Blog Post and the Paddling Life Interview with our Head Designer; Addison Dark.

Reviews and Further Information:

Don’t take our word for it check out the reviews on the Duke below and see what other people are saying.

We hope you enjoyed this deep dive on the Duke dry top, if you have any questions after reading this please don’t hesitate to contact us. We can be reached via email (info@levelsix.com), Chat, or by phone (1-877-253-8356). You can also find us on social media through Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter.

See you on the water!