Once you fall for a water sport, it's hard to stick to warm, sunny days, and your wetsuit soon becomes your most loyal companion.
A good wetsuit is worth its weight in gold, and you don't buy a new one every season. That's why it pays to know how to look after it and what can damage it. Know what destroys neoprene, and you can use your wetsuit smarter and make it last longer.
Although neoprene is a durable material, some everyday factors slowly wear it down.
In short: sun and heat, the wrong wash and storage, salt and chlorine, jewellery and Velcro, and rough handling when you put it on do the most damage to a wetsuit. You can prevent most of it by rinsing after every session, drying in the shade and storing it on a wide hanger.
What Damages a Wetsuit the Most?
1. Sunlight
The last thing you want to do is hang your wetsuit in direct sun. UV rays damage the surface of the neoprene, so it loses its stretch faster and starts to crack, and the colours fade. Always dry your wetsuit in the shade.
2. Heat
Heat is a big no for neoprene. Don't wash your wetsuit in hot water, as it slowly takes away its stretch. And never put it in a tumble dryer. The same goes for radiators, heaters and hair dryers. The best way to dry a wetsuit is to hang it somewhere airy in the shade and turn it a few times.
3. A Hot Car
Neoprene also breaks down if you leave it in a hot car for too long. A wet wetsuit in a closed bag in a hot car is also the fastest route to a bad smell.
4. Poor Storage
Like heat, poor storage damages the structure of neoprene. Never stuff it into a bag or box, and don't leave it in the boot of your car. Store it lying flat or on a wide hanger, as a narrow hanger leaves permanent creases. Fold the suit over the hanger at the waist so the shoulders don't stretch.
5. The Wrong Cleaning
If you rinse your wetsuit in fresh water after every session, it will stay clean for a long time. Still, wash it every so often with a wetsuit shampoo that removes salt, sweat and odour. The cleaner matters: regular soap, detergent and bleach damage neoprene. For a step-by-step guide, read our article on wetsuit care.
6. Jewellery, Fingernails and Velcro
Forget to take off a ring or a bracelet, and it can catch and tear your wetsuit. A watch, long fingernails and open Velcro on a leash, straps or boots do the same. Close all Velcro before washing and storing so it doesn't snag the neoprene.
7. Putting It On the Wrong Way
Watch where you stand when you put on your wetsuit. Avoid rough ground and rocks, and if you have no choice, stand on a towel or a changing mat so the neoprene is less likely to tear. Pull the wetsuit up gradually with your fingertips, not by the cuffs or the zip. If it's hard to get on, slip a thin plastic bag over your foot so it slides through the leg more easily.
8. Salt Water and Chlorine
After a session in the sea, always rinse your wetsuit. Ideally, stand under the beach shower still wearing it, then rinse it again at home. This removes salt, minerals and bacteria. If you don't do this regularly, your wetsuit will start to smell badly. When you wear it several days in a row, we recommend washing it with wetsuit shampoo. Chlorine is even harder on neoprene than salt, so rinse your wetsuit straight after the pool.
9. Lending Your Wetsuit
Wetsuits aren't usually something you lend. Lending it for a day or two to someone of a similar build is fine. The problem starts when someone bigger borrows it for longer: the extra load strains the seams and the zip, and then there's hygiene.
How Do You Know Your Wetsuit Is Worn Out?
A wetsuit is worn out when you get cold despite the right thickness, because water seeps through the seams and the neoprene no longer seals. Signs it's time for a new one:
- Stiff, cracked neoprene: the material has lost its stretch and the surface is cracking.
- It no longer keeps you warm: you get cold sooner at the same water temperature.
- Water flushes through the seams: glued and stitched seams are failing along their length.
- The zip sticks or no longer seals.
- It feels tighter than it used to: neoprene loses air from its cells with age and shrinks slightly.
You can still repair small holes and nicks, but when these signs add up, it's time for a new wetsuit.
Do Wetsuits Stretch or Shrink?
A quality wetsuit hardly stretches with use, so it should fit snugly from the start. With age, though, it loses its stretch and shrinks slightly as the air in the neoprene cells slowly escapes. Washing in cold water doesn't speed this up, but hot water and sun do.
Torn Your Wetsuit? Don't Throw It Away!
Rocks, piers and other sharp objects can tear a wetsuit. A small tear doesn't mean you have to throw it away or that water will pour in. If the tear is small, you can repair it yourself before it grows, with neoprene glue.
Learned the Hard Way?
Good care is the key to a wetsuit that serves you well for years. Got a useful tip? Share it with us in the comments! 😊
Read next: How to Care for Your Wetsuit So It Lasts for Years
