Staying warm in cold water is a super power many of us take for granted. A few precious millimeters of insulation turn an otherwise hypothermia inducing environment into a watery playground. And yet, we rarely take a moment to appreciate how amazing our wetsuits are, let alone care for them properly.
With this in mind, The Good Brine recently caught up with Miranda Hudson, Wetsuit Repair and PSI Admin for Fletcher Chouinard Designs and Patagonia Surf, to find out what can be done to preserve wetsuits. Her response was insightful, funny, and practical. She offered a nice introduction and seven pro tips on how to extend the lifetime of your suit. Her advice is as follows:
I usually explain to our customers that all wetsuits have a lifetime, regardless of their content, and they will eventually break down and need to be replaced. All panels, seams and linings are subject to wear and tear not only due to use, but also due to material breakdown. After all, rubber (natural or petroleum-based) will compress over time and lose its normal properties (think: tires on a car that just sit in a garage). Of course, there are a few things you can do to prolong the life of your suit. My suggestions are below.
1. Don’t Pee In It
This one’s tough, as every surfer does it- but peeing in your suit really does have an adverse effect on materials. Seams and tape, blind-stitched or glued, will deteriorate over time if constantly exposed to urine. I would imagine that flushing the suit immediately following might help to negate this but I don’t have anything to back up that idea (haha).
2. Give It A Bath
At the very least, try to rinse your suit after every use, within about an hour or two. Again, not always possible, but make your best effort. Once a week, try to soak suits, booties, and gloves in a wetsuit cleaner. We prefer Pau Pilau, which is a safe, non-toxic cleaner that requires just a 10-15 minute soak and no rinsing. Just soak, agitate for a minute or two, let be for the elapsed time, then hang dry. Simple, easy, and eco-friendly. This concentrated formula helps to eliminate odors, and releases salt and other compounds from the suit to soften up materials and restore the suit to its original elasticity.
3. Keep It Shaded
When hanging to dry, be sure to keep it out of direct sunlight and to dry both the inside and outside completely before storing the suit.
4. Use A Mat
When changing, invest in a bin, surf mat, or blanket that will help keep your wetsuit off the ground. The ground can be rough with rocks, gravel, or glass which abrades soft and fragile neoprene and liners, not to mention it just isn’t clean. Would you get naked and roll around all over the parking lot? Didn’t think so. Whatever ends up on the inside of your suit ends up pressed and rubbing against your body during the next session. Have I convinced you yet?
5. Hang It Properly
Keep in mind that traditional hangers will cause the suit to stretch out over time and will wreak havoc on the shoulders, causing them to thin and delaminate over time. We recommend using a wide hanger that folds the suit in half, like the HangPro. This hanger stores suits neatly and avoids damaging creases and stress at the midsection.
6. Store It Well
In regards to storing your suits, the car isn’t the best idea, but we all do it. (I always have at least one fullsuit, a wetsuit top, thin booties, and a hood just in case). Your best bet is to try to keep suits and accessories in a bin in the trunk or under a seat, somewhere where they’ll be less exposed to the sun and heat.
7. Repair It Vigilantly
Lastly, repair is always a great option. Fixing the suit at the very first sign of wear, i.e. blown seam, delamination in the rear, fin cut, etc. will go a long ways to help to prolong the life of your suit. Most brands have a warranty program, but local tailors will sometimes be able to help too. We repair all brands here at Patagonia for a small fee, or at least we try to. We don’t always have the materials or trims to match other brands, but we’re always willing to take a look and make fixes where we can.
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