How Do I Care for My New Wetsuit?

Once you've purchased your new wetsuit, the following guidelines will help you wear it as much as possible.

Putting on your suit

Be gentle when putting on your wetsuit. Pulling hard on your suit will put too much pressure on the neoprene and may even tear the seams. Starting at the bottom, slowly move upward with your feet to the waist.

To help get your feet through the leg openings, place a plastic bag on each foot and slide them through.

Once the wetsuit reaches the waist, adjust it so that the bottom half fits properly over your legs. Then roll the rest of the suit up onto your body and slip your arms through. This will again prevent you from over-emphasizing the seams.

Make sure the suit fits well before zipping it up. This will reduce the stress on the seams. You should avoid forcing the zipper on your suit, as it can be expensive to repair. Slow and smooth is always the best method.

Removing your suit

As opposed to putting on a wetsuit, take your time. If the suit is stubborn, try not to pull on it too much as this can cause neoprene to tear and seams to burst.

Take your suit off and turn it over, as this will again reduce the stress on the seams and make it easier to dry after use.

Drying wetsuits.

Rinse your wetsuit with cold, clean, fresh water before completely drying it (the sooner after use, the better). This will stop the neoprene from drying out and reducing its elasticity. By rinsing off the salt water, the seams will not corrode, thus extending the life of your wetsuit.

Turn your suit over to air dry, but avoid direct sunlight. Too much direct sunlight will dry out the neoprene and wither the material. Do not hang your wetsuit on the shoulders as this can cause problems with the shoulder seams. Avoid using metal hangers as they can rust and cause staining.

The best way to hang it up to dry is to run it through a large plastic hanger or hang it on a clothesline at the waist. Once dry inside, turn the suit right side out. Do not dry your wetsuit in a tumble dryer. This will kill your wetsuit.

Store your wetsuit in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight. Make sure your suit is completely dry before placing it on a wide, non-metallic hanger to properly support your shoulders. Hanging a suit that is still wet in this manner will cause stretching. Make sure to complete all Velcro fasteners, as this helps avoid wearing out the neoprene.

If you want to know more, please feel free to contact us!