Wetsuit care tips are something North Coast Wetsuits publish often. It’s important to look after your wetsuit so necessary petrochemical material stays out of landfill. Wetsuit longevity is also kinder on your wallet. NCW’s Becci serves up some quality tips and advice about looking after your wetsuit properly and not folding and creasing it.

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Quality is the first to good wetsuit care.

A good quality suit can last anywhere from 4 to 10 years and more with proper care. This does depend on how heavily it is used but caring for your wetsuit not only ensures longer life, it keeps up the quality of how comfortable it is. Below is some information on damage and how to care well for your wetsuit.

DELAMINATION

This is when the nylon comes away from the neoprene. Caused by putting stress on the suit like over stretching, repeated use without rinsing and drying correctly, getting caught by another object, faded glue and age. Watch out for the Velcro sections as they can pull the nylon, so make sure after use the Velcro is fastened back up properly. There is no way to fix a delaminated piece of neoprene, it would need to be completely replaced.

CREASES

NEVER FOLD YOUR WETSUIT!

Pressure from folds squeeze out the tiny air bubbles in the neoprene causing compressed areas that look bad and cause cold spots. Bad creases will stay in your suit so once damaged it is irreversible. Lighter creases can sometimes be dropped out with warmth and movement, but it is best to not create a crease in the first place. DO NOT IRON YOUR WETSUIT! This will melt the neoprene.

GENERAL WETSUIT CARE :

RINSE AFTER EVERY USE!

Rinse thoroughly with fresh water and hang to dry as soon as possible, squeezing out the excess water and do not hand in direct sunlight. UV rays lessen the lifespan as they fade the suit, crisp and stretch out the neoprene. Do not tumble dry, the heat can damage the neoprene also. Make sure the zipper is rinsed well too. Sand, salt, seaweed and any other grime from seawater can seize up the zip. Zip lubricant can help to loosen it up again.

STORAGE

The best way to store your wetsuit is to hang on a wide padded hanger preferably indoors and not in direct sunlight. The width of the hanger spreads the weight and makes sure it doesn’t dig in causing internal compression or stretching. If this is not possible, and you can’t lay your wetsuit out properly on a shelf, rolling it is the next best thing. Padding like foam, cardboard tubes, bubble wrap, plastic bags, and newspapers are great tools to pad the suit out when placing the sleeve across the back, before rolling it neck down. Rolling keeps the suit smooth.

Always look after your kit and surf, SUP, swim etc on! For more wetsuit care tips hit up this article here. And if you still have questions please get in touch with us at The Rubber Shack.