Wetsuit care and repair

The 7 rules of wetsuit care

1. Put it on slowly. Start with your feet and ankles, then calves, knees, thighs, hips, torso, arms. Taking it off is the same in reverse. Don't stretch all the panels at once. If you struggle getting in, put a plastic bag over your foot and ankle first — you'll slide through much easier.

2. Stand on something soft. Don't kick your suit off on rocks or gravel. A changing mat or old towel works fine.

3. Rinse after every session. Rinse thoroughly with cold fresh water. Let it soak if needed. Use wetsuit shampoo occasionally to get out skin flakes, sweat, hair, and oil. Never leave it crumpled and wet in your car.

4. Hang it by the waist. Hang it inside out over a stick or clothes hanger bar — by the waist, not the shoulders. When the inside is dry, turn it right side out and dry the exterior too.

5. Keep it out of the sun. Don't dry it in direct sunlight. UV degrades neoprene, dries out the rubber, and cracks the glue. This makes your suit less stretchy, worse at insulating, and shortens its life. Dry it in a cool, shaded, ventilated space.

6. Store it flat. When dry and not in use, lay it out full length on the ground. If transporting, roll it up. Don't fold it — that creates permanent creases.

7. Surf in it regularly. Rubber that sits unused for months can dry out. If you have multiple suits, rotate them.

Peeing in your suit

There are two kinds of surfers: surfers who pee in their wetsuit and surfers who lie. It's not bad for your suit. But it's worth knowing the science: the temporary warmth causes your blood vessels to dilate (vasodilation). When the warm water flushes out and cold water replaces it, those open blood vessels lose heat faster than if you hadn't peed at all. So it feels good for a moment, then you cool down faster.

Just rinse your suit properly afterward. And don't leave it in the boot of your car.

When to repair

Fix damage as soon as you spot it — small tears become big tears fast. You can handle most minor repairs yourself with neoprene glue (available at any surf shop for around 10 to 20 euros).

Small tears that don't go all the way through: spread glue on both sides of the tear, wait until it starts to set (5 to 15 minutes depending on the glue), press closed, hold, and leave overnight.

Tears all the way through: same process, but reinforce with a strip of neoprene tape on the inside. Iron-on tape needs baking paper between the iron and the suit.

Larger tears: for tears bigger than a finger joint and away from seams, cut an oval patch from an old suit (same thickness), glue both the patch edges and the hole edges, wait for the glue to start setting, press into place, and tape the inside. It won't be pretty, but it works.

Seam failures and broken zippers: these need professional repair. A blind-stitched seam requires a curved needle machine. Take it to a repair shop or contact the brand — zipper failures in the first year or two are often covered by warranty.

When to retire

Signs your suit is done: seams separating in multiple places, lining delaminating from the rubber, rubber that's lost its stretch and feels stiff, or a suit that takes forever to dry and feels heavy. Most suits show real wear after around 50 sessions, though good care can push that significantly further.

Second-hand and last season's models

A used summer suit can have plenty of life left. Check the seams (inside and outside), look for tears and delamination, test the zipper, and wash it before wearing. For new suits on a budget, last year's models through outlets are often excellent — same quality, older colourway, significantly cheaper.