Whether you're into that super flexy Japanese neoprene or keen to support the revolution in Yulex and limestone rubber, if you're surfing regularly you're putting your wetsuit through some punishment . The sand, salt and all that stretching and surfing, it takes its toll on a suit after a few sessions.
And it's not like wetsuits are cheap. A top of the line, 3mil suit from most respectable surf brands will run between $400-$500. Prices can go up or down from there, depending on construction, materials and thickness. Throw in some booties, gloves and a hood and it's not out of the realm of possibilities that you'll be dropping a grand on your winter surf wardrobe.
All of this points to proper wetsuit care. If you want your suit to last more than a season, you're going to have to take care of it. While they appear durable, and can withstand the ocean's wrath, wetsuits are delicate things with sensitive stitching, materials that are easily damaged, and don't get me started on the zipper dilemma. But with a little TLC you can get more than a season or two out of your suit. Here are a few tips to extending the life of your wetsuit:
Rinse With Freshwater
No shortage of funk collects on the innards of a wetsuit. Skin, sweat, sunscreen, and yes, even urine, are trapped between you and the rubber. With nowhere to go, some of that nastiness eventually seeps into the fabric liner of the suit and hangs out. Plus, there's there whole corrosive effects of salt water, which doesn't help in the slightest. The best thing you can do for your suit is give it a rinse in cool, freshwater after every use. Neoprene’s relatively heat sensitive, so don't blast the hot water, but take some time to thoroughly rinse the suit out and flush out all the sand and salt. There are even soaps and cleaners for your suit that can help get it even cleaner. A clean suit is a happy suit, and a happy suit means happy surfing.
Related: Could Shark-Bite-Resistant Wetsuits Save Surfers' Lives?
Change In A Plastic Bucket
Every surfer worth his salt has a plastic tub in the back of their rig. And if you don't have one, it's time to invest. A plastic bin at Walmart or Target shouldn’t set you back more than $20 and will make a world of different. The tub should be big enough for you to stand in and change in and out of your wetsuit. The idea here is that you're protecting your suit from the oils and asphalt on the ground in parking lots. Stomping around on your suit in the street while you're changing out of it is going to put a lot of undo wear and tear on it. And if you're surfing in more rural locations, standing in your bucket is way better than standing in a mud puddle. Plus, when you're done changing, the tub is ideal for soaking your suit.
Hang Dry Your Wetsuit
This hack is especially important if you want to avoid a stinky, funky smelling wetsuit. Whatever you do, don't leave it balled up in the back of your car for days on end. It'll never be the same. Your best, and usually easiest, bet is to drape the suit in half at the waist. The legs and arms should both be able to hang freely and drain. Ideally avoid a hanger, unless it's a special wetsuit hanger that distributes the stress across the shoulders evenly.
Keep It In The Shade
A cardinal sin of wetsuit care is drying it in the sun. The heat and UV rays will break down the rubber and age your suit faster. Try and find somewhere nice and shady with a good breeze. Wind will dry your suit pretty quickly, so think wind power instead of solar when it comes to drying your wetsuit.
The Dryer Is Off Limits
No wetsuit deserves to be thrown in the dryer. Just like the sun will break down the rubber, so will the heat and jostling of a dryer cycle. It's better to suffer and put on a wet wetsuit than to throw it in the dryer. Just don't do it. You've been warned.
Related: Nikwax Wetsuit Refresher Might Be the Most Sustainable Wetsuit Move You Can Make
Related: How To Recycle Your Wetsuit
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