Your wetsuit should give you several years of good service, even with heavy usage, provided you follow a few basic precautions. Remember, its just a lot of really thin bubbles tied together between a couple of equally thin layers of nylon fabric. Treat it well, and it can last you for years. But if you forget a few key vulnerabilities, it may be headed for the recycling bin years ahead of its time.
Here are ten tips to ensure your wetsuit gives you years of service:
1. Keep it cool
High temperatures will ruin the elasticity and shape of your wetsuit. Keep them cool at all times, and youll find theyll last a lot longer.
2. Keep it in the shade
Ultra-violet rays break down just about anything, but neoprene, more quickly. Dont dry or store your suit where sunlight can reach it, and itll stay much healthier.
3. Keep it clean
Rinse your suit out thoroughly, immediately after each use, and let it air-dry in the shade, inside-out. That way, the outer surface is protected from any stray UV rays and the inside will be dry first, in case you need it again in a hurry.
4. Store it gently
Dont store you suit tightly folded or stuffed into a drawer. If you cant hang it on a broad hanger (most suppliers carry broad hangers made for the purpose), then fold it as loosely and as few times as possible.
5. Live with the wax
Surfers already know that surf wax LOVES to stick to neoprene. You can get some of it off, but itll be back on it by tomorrow. Live with it.
6. Get the sand out
Youll save yourself a very unpleasant experience if you take the time to rinse all the sand out of your wetsuit before it dries. Imagine crawling into an outfit made of steel wool. Nuff said?
7. Dont get lazy
If you think a cold wash cycle in that washing machine is a good idea, think again. Even in cold water with mild detergent, your suit can pick up enough residues to shorten its life.
Need we mention that the drier is an even worse idea?
8. Keep away from chemicals
If you get a stain on your suit, dont get inventive about how to clean it. If a mild dishwashing soap doesnt do the trick, see your supplier for something especially designed for cleaning wetsuits. Dont be your suits worst enemy.
9. Keep it smelling sweet
Body oil, perspiration, skin flakes, urine, mildew, bacteria and dead no-see-ums these all can give your suit a powerful odor. So take your rinsing chore seriously, or even the cat wont want to be in the same room with you.
10. Keep it oil-free
If you want to lubricate your zippers, use beeswax. It wont hurt anything and it wont spread. If you try something like petroleum jelly, your wetsuit cement will never be able to bond where its been.
Conclusion
Ive seen people get 8 or 10 years of heavy use out of their suit, simply by giving it conscientious care. Keep it clean, out of the sun, away from chemicals and away from heat, and you can use yours that long too.
After a great day of heavy surf or a long dive in cold water, everyone wants to relax and warm up. But taking care of your equipment needs to come first, if you dont want to be re-investing in a new wetsuit long before it should be necessary.
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