I have a 10yr old wetsuit that hasn’t been used since 2009. Think it’s still good or crapp?
Tfun~
I have a 10yr old wetsuit that hasn’t been used since 2009. Think it’s still good or crapp?
Tfun~
I suspect the neoprene will have dried out and will crack when stretched. But no harm in trying it! And to be clear, “dried out” means degraded, it doesn’t have anything to do with water, so I’d be skeptical of anyone who tells you it would help to wet it before you put it on.
I had a 20yo QR that I still used occasionally for practice swims.
Contrary to the above advice, do wet it first (per Emilo’s recommendation), do a test swim in the pool (rinse it after). Whadaya got to lose? My $$$$$ is on “it’s fine” (assuming it’s been stored indoors).
I’ve got an 8-year old Zoot wetsuit that is still going strong. It all depends on how it was stored. In the attic–probably no good. Properly rolled in a climate controlled space–could be fine. That of course is assuming that you are still the same size you were ten years ago. 
As previous poster said, soak it in a bathtub of water to “rehydrate” it before trying it on. Definitely do a test swim first.
If you want to see old wetsuits, go to the Ches Bay swim. It’s parade of old rubber and duct tape. The race fee is worth the bus ride over listening to the every year repeaters tell stories about the glory days.
I just did IMMOO in a 16yr old Ironman Sleeveless wetsuit. I was six minutes slower than 2003 and I believe there is more than the wetsuit to blame for that, although, I would probably shell out a couple of hundred bucks if someone could convince me I could get those minutes back. FYI: I wash it after every use and it hangs in my garage (no climate control).
I just busted my old ironman suit out of a min in the garage after 8 years of no use - no problems.
I used my 10 year old blue seventy helix this year still extensively, although I’ve got the feeling it’s crumblier as when it was still new. I hope it will hold next year, but should put some money aside for a new one.
So I’d just try to use it further as long as it goes. I did once a test with a newer model, but there was no speed difference, so decided to keep the old one until it falls apart.
As I predicted, two posters have already advised that it will help to “rehydrate” the dried out suit before putting it on. Can anyone explain to me how water is supposed to enter waterproof neoprene? If water could somehow enter neoprene, as though it were an open-cell sponge rather than a closed-cell blown rubber, wouldn’t the tiny nitrogen bubbles also leak out? And wouldn’t the suit get bogged down with water as you swam? Or is it the surface coating, or the stretchy inner fabric, that you guys think needs hydrating?
For the handful of races I do each year, I use a T1 wetsuit of 2006 vintage.
Had misplaced the bibs, so was using a borrowed set that are probably 1-2 years older still.
They are fine.
My swimming still sucks, but it is in no way due to the wetsuit. That’s about the only thing keeping it from being much, much worse.
I used my 2005 DeSoto T1 First Wave several times this summer. It was fine.
That of course is assuming that you are still the same size you were ten years ago.
I still occasionally use my old QR from around 1998 (mostly for pool stuff). It’s definitely shrunk though…
That of course is assuming that you are still the same size you were ten years ago.
As previous poster said, soak it in a bathtub of water to “rehydrate” it before trying it on. Definitely do a test swim first.
Thanks…to true, will test for sure when I drop the 25lbs.
Thank you all who responded,
tfun~
Well I do not know exactly, but I can say this, Emillo Desoto, who has been making one of the top suits for over a decade recommends it, and I believe Slowman is in agreement and He invented the tri wetsuit…that is good enough for me.
yeah, my suit seems to “shrink” more every year
.
Well I do not know exactly, but I can say this, Emillo Desoto, who has been making one of the top suits for over a decade recommends it, and I believe Slowman is in agreement and He invented the tri wetsuit…that is good enough for me.
I’ve seen Emilio (who seems like a really good guy) make this argument, I hadn’t seen Slowman make it too. I’m puzzled by it. Maybe one of them can explain how water supposedly seeps into waterproof neoprene, i.e. nitrogen-blown closed-cell rubber, and helps keep it supple, while not causing wetsuits to become waterlogged and not displacing the little nitrogen bubbles trapped inside. Because I find it baffling. When car tires get old and cracked, I wonder if they hose them down, or soak them, to restore them?
That of course is assuming that you are still the same size you were ten years ago.
I still occasionally use my old QR from around 1998 (mostly for pool stuff). It’s definitely shrunk though…
Same here, my QR suit from 2006 is still in good shape, will continue to use it has my training wetsuit.