So sad. After almost 11 years of a good, healthy life, my wetsuit is about to be declared dead as it has sprouted too many holes (and only in the last few months).
I know that I will never again find one as solidly constructed because manufacturers are getting shoddier by the day.
Does anyone know of a place that accepts dead wetsuits for a second life as………anything else ?
You could make a lot of beer Koozies out of one.
Insulate some pipes in your home?
Make a small soft sided insulated lunch box/bag out of it?
I donated mine (with multiple repairs) to the local tri-club. I thought it might eliminate the “But I don’t have a wetsuit” excuse for someone when we head to the swimmin’ hole.
I’m sorry to hear that your suit is on it’s last legs.
Would you mind sharing what makes you think that “manufacturers are getting shoddier by the day”?
I’m not pleading innocence here on behalf of the wetsuit industry, but I do know that we are certainly striving to bring excellent quality and technically sound wetsuits to the market. I know that most manufacturers are doing the same.
I do understand the materials are softer and thus are susceptible to tears. (That hasn’t really changed though) Outside of that though, I am curious.
Just curious to hear your thoughts here.
jake
Have to agree with Jakers on this.
For one, your suit has been toast for a lot longer than you think. Now the aircells in a neoprene suit used in tris does not nearly suffer the same loss as those used in diving, but the air cells nonetheless will dissipate over time… i.e. a new suit will be more buoyant in its first year than in year 2 etc.
Second, the fit and flexibility in suit technology has greatly improved. While a new suit may have a shorter life because of the more flexible material, it should also have less resistance and less fatigue. This may not always be true. I loved the Quintana Roo Superfull, and I think my first one was 2007 and that suit was way ahead of its time.
If you are worried about longevity, go with a cheaper suit. They use cheaper neoprene which last longer. That sort of sounds counter intuitive, but in many ways, the thinner and more flexible the neoprene, the more expensive it is, so a cheaper neoprene often has less flex, is less prone to nicks and cuts and can last longer. Will be marginally harder to swim in, but there are trade offs. i.e go for a Hurricane Cat 1 and not a Freak of Nature
I know no one else whose wetsuit has lasted almost 11 years and I have not been a saint about taking care of mine.
My comment was, certainly, a subjective opinion based on products , in general, being made more poorly by overseas manufacturers with less and less quality as time goes on. I don’t believe that obsolescence is a goal in wetsuits (unlike so many other products…….). But, I do believe that the bottom line dictates “shortcuts” which make for shorter product lives.
I would be very happy to be proven wrong here.
You could make a lot of beer Koozies out of one.
Insulate some pipes in your home?
Make a small soft sided insulated lunch box/bag out of it?
I’m not sure I like the idea of my lunch touching something that I have peed in so many times. Let alone my beer.
Can I go out on a limb here and guess that your suit is a QR? I could be wrong, but I have seen a handful of these suits come in over the last few years, having lasted 10+ years.
I don’t think that production shortcuts are causing a shorter lifespan, rather higher tech materials, that as Maui stated, provide greater buoyancy and flexibility.
Overall a wetsuit is serves the purpose (in triathlon):
If you look at this list of benefits, some of them are at opposite ends of the spectrum. As we strive to improve on the technology that Dan and several others pioneered, Buoyancy and Flexibility become a big factor. These are two area’s that can be improved within the scope of rubber/ neoprene technology. Ultimately, this comes down to what the major neoprene manufacturers are producing.
We work towards perfecting a balance of buoyant and warm, but not too warm when it’s cold, flexible, but durable, tight fit, but not too tight…
Perfecting this is an interesting balance, but I feel that there are suits out there that offer this. Prices range all over, but there are most certainly suits that will last, will be buoyant, and flexible, and warm, and durable. Will they last 11 years? Probably not. There aren’t many materials that have the elastic resistance to last that long. Eventually any suit (using current technology) will stretch out over a period of time and lose some elasticity.
We take every bit of negative feedback to the drawing table to push the limits and ensure that we are bringing a quality product to market.
All of this said, have you tested any new suits?
jake
Nope. O’Neil.
I’m a slow enough swimmer that loss of buoyancy is pretty much a non-issue. My times don’t seem affected by the age and associated normal deterioration.
I’m test driving an XTerra and a blue seventy.
Because I’m mop, my priority is fit/comfort. I don’t believe, given my solid mop status, that my times will be affected by one brand vs. another.
Thanks for your feedback.
You didn’t say what your your current wetsuit is, but Desoto has an “Eco Trade-in” program:
It says they’ll take back Desoto T1 suits, but perhaps they’ll take another brand as well it doesn’t hurt to email them and ask.
Well that was my second guess…
I do think you may be surprised that a little extra buoyancy and flexibility will go a long way in your times. Perceived effort in a stiffer suit can result in a faster time in a more flexible suit, assuming you are putting out the same effort.
Likewise, I consider drag in the water to be even more substantial than that of the air we all try to hide from on the bike. The more you can sit on top of the water, planed out, not dragging your legs, the faster you will go.
You mention comfort and this is an important part of wetsuit selection. Comfort should be considered when fitting a wetsuit. But ensuring that your suit fits is absolutely the most important part. The right fit can result in faster times as well!
Good luck!
jake