This one has been rebumped just about every year since 2006. I figured better to start a new thread.
Pro tip! Thanks, I did not know that.
I read about this a few years ago here on this forum and have been doing this every since! About a week before my first race, soak the wetsuit in the tub. I probably don’t need to do it later in the season but I do it anyway before my big race of the year (like IM). A good wetsuit is somewhat expensive so I like to take care of it. (Loving my T1, btw).
I try to soak mine a few times in the late spring. Works like a charm 
I read about this a few years ago here on this forum and have been doing this every since! About a week before my first race, soak the wetsuit in the tub. I probably don’t need to do it later in the season but I do it anyway before my big race of the year (like IM). A good wetsuit is somewhat expensive so I like to take care of it. (Loving my T1, btw).
+1
Thanks. I missed that one last year. My first year of tri, I bought a suit and it didn’t fit the next year despite only about a 5 lb weight change. I might have to soak it and see if I can fit back into it. I have the suit I bought last year soaking for this weekend’s race.
It might be over kill but I put mine in a muck bucket and soak it for at least a half hour then turn it inside out for another half hour.
I’m confused by this–neoprene is a closed-cell foamed rubber that’s completely waterproof, right? So how would moisture penetrate beyond the lining, which obviously has the capacity to soak up some water? And if moisture somehow did penetrate into the neoprene, wouldn’t it remain trapped inside the rubber for a long, long time?
I’m confused by this–neoprene is a closed-cell foamed rubber that’s completely waterproof, right? So how would moisture penetrate beyond the lining, which obviously has the capacity to soak up some water? And if moisture somehow did penetrate into the neoprene, wouldn’t it remain trapped inside the rubber for a long, long time?
I don’t get it either.
I’m confused by this–neoprene is a closed-cell foamed rubber that’s completely waterproof, right? So how would moisture penetrate beyond the lining, which obviously has the capacity to soak up some water? And if moisture somehow did penetrate into the neoprene, wouldn’t it remain trapped inside the rubber for a long, long time?
It’s far from completely waterproof. Neoprene foam is slowly soaking water - and slowly drying.
And if moisture somehow did penetrate into the neoprene, wouldn’t it remain trapped inside the rubber for a long, long time?
This is correct. That’s why we don’t need to soak the wetsuit in water during the season - water remains, but during the winter (several months) it dries out.
I’m confused by this–neoprene is a closed-cell foamed rubber that’s completely waterproof, right? So how would moisture penetrate beyond the lining, which obviously has the capacity to soak up some water? And if moisture somehow did penetrate into the neoprene, wouldn’t it remain trapped inside the rubber for a long, long time?
It’s far from completely waterproof. Neoprene foam is slowly soaking water - and slowly drying.
And if moisture somehow did penetrate into the neoprene, wouldn’t it remain trapped inside the rubber for a long, long time?
This is correct. That’s why we don’t need to soak the wetsuit in water during the season - water remains, but during the winter (several months) it dries out.
Hmm. Neoprene is rubber foamed with nitrogen into a closed cell structure. If water could permeate into those closed cells, the nitrogen would also permeate out. Something doesn’t add up here.
I’m confused by this–neoprene is a closed-cell foamed rubber that’s completely waterproof, right? So how would moisture penetrate beyond the lining, which obviously has the capacity to soak up some water? And if moisture somehow did penetrate into the neoprene, wouldn’t it remain trapped inside the rubber for a long, long time?
It’s far from completely waterproof. Neoprene foam is slowly soaking water - and slowly drying.
And if moisture somehow did penetrate into the neoprene, wouldn’t it remain trapped inside the rubber for a long, long time?
This is correct. That’s why we don’t need to soak the wetsuit in water during the season - water remains, but during the winter (several months) it dries out.
Hmm. Neoprene is rubber foamed with nitrogen into a closed cell structure. If water could permeate into those closed cells, the nitrogen would also permeate out. Something doesn’t add up here.
I don’t know it from the chemical side - just by 18 years experience with tri-suits, “waterproof” neoprene glows for diving and cycling + neoprene cycling overshoes.
I’m confused by this–neoprene is a closed-cell foamed rubber that’s completely waterproof, right? So how would moisture penetrate beyond the lining, which obviously has the capacity to soak up some water? And if moisture somehow did penetrate into the neoprene, wouldn’t it remain trapped inside the rubber for a long, long time?
It’s far from completely waterproof. Neoprene foam is slowly soaking water - and slowly drying.
And if moisture somehow did penetrate into the neoprene, wouldn’t it remain trapped inside the rubber for a long, long time?
This is correct. That’s why we don’t need to soak the wetsuit in water during the season - water remains, but during the winter (several months) it dries out.
Hmm. Neoprene is rubber foamed with nitrogen into a closed cell structure. If water could permeate into those closed cells, the nitrogen would also permeate out. Something doesn’t add up here.
I don’t know it from the chemical side - just by 18 years experience with tri-suits, “waterproof” neoprene glows for diving and cycling + neoprene cycling overshoes.
It glows? What does that mean?
Neoprene rubber is waterproof, right? For example, if used as the neck and wrist gaskets of a scuba drysuit, water doesn’t go through those areas, right?
And if foamed into a closed cell structure, it should stay waterproof by definition. Sponges are open-cell, a totally different structure, and can hold water even if made of a waterproof material.
Weigh it, soak it, dry it (48 in an air con environment ?), weigh it again ?
I am I the group that thinks once it’s external surface and inner lining material is dry, the suit is dry.
WD
Time to re bump this…again!
A TIP FROM EMILIO: WET YOUR WETSUIT
It is the start of the season. Just before your first race you pull out your wetsuit. You have not worn it in months. You put it on and it just plain feels tighter than you remember.
Did it shrink?
Is the rubber less flexible?
Do you need a new wetsuit?
…well, the answer are: sort of, sort of, and yes, unless you already own a T1 (just kidding).
The Tip: Soak your wetsuit a few days before the race. Soak it in a tub with 3 inches of water for about 5 minutes a few days before your race.
The Reason: All Wetsuits are kind of like sponges. When they are moist they are supple and flexible. Believe it or not, your wetsuits stay moist for days, even weeks between uses, though they appear dry… just like a sponge. Over time, as it gets really dry, it gets stiff and not-so-supple, thus feeling like it shrunk…like the way a sponge shrinks up. More wetsuits rip at the start of the season, than any other time of the year. Good if you are me, bad if you are you. Your wetsuit will last longer and be more comfortable if you wet it before you wear it!
Live well,
Emilio De Soto
I don’t know it from the chemical side - just by 18 years experience with tri-suits, “waterproof” neoprene glows for diving and cycling + neoprene cycling overshoes.
It glows? What does that mean?
I’m guessing that was supposed to say “gloves”
I could be wrong
I’m just glad the Emilio suggested soaking your wetsuit in the tub, vs the “other way” of pre-soaking
.
Time to re bump this…again!
A TIP FROM EMILIO: WET YOUR WETSUIT
It is the start of the season. Just before your first race you pull out your wetsuit. You have not worn it in months. You put it on and it just plain feels tighter than you remember.
Did it shrink?
Is the rubber less flexible?
Do you need a new wetsuit?
…well, the answer are: sort of, sort of, and yes, unless you already own a T1 (just kidding).
The Tip: Soak your wetsuit a few days before the race. Soak it in a tub with 3 inches of water for about 5 minutes a few days before your race.
The Reason: All Wetsuits are kind of like sponges. When they are moist they are supple and flexible. Believe it or not, your wetsuits stay moist for days, even weeks between uses, though they appear dry… just like a sponge. Over time, as it gets really dry, it gets stiff and not-so-supple, thus feeling like it shrunk…like the way a sponge shrinks up. More wetsuits rip at the start of the season, than any other time of the year. Good if you are me, bad if you are you. Your wetsuit will last longer and be more comfortable if you wet it before you wear it!
Live well,
Emilio De Soto
This again! Anyone want to take a cut at how closed-cell, nitrogen-blown rubber is somehow supposed to be permeable to water, yet the nitrogen doesn’t leak out? There seems to be a basic confusion between an open cell and a closed-cell sponge here…and can you imagine swimming in a wetsuit made of open-cell sponge that got progressively waterlogged?
Thanks again Emilio. Soaking the wetsuits now for Oceanside on Saturday.
Water can act as a lubricant, so I dunk my wetsuit just before putting it on. I think the water helps the knit lining to move/stretch, and also the suit slide on easier, by acting as a lubricant.
Not sure why nobody else does it, particularly at races that don’t allow an in-water warm-up?