I hear that greasing up with PAM makes the wetsuit come off easier.
What is the best way to do that (for males)?
Seems that the ankels and feet are the sticky spots. Do you spray on ankles and feet before you put it on, or do you spray it on afterwards? How far up the legs and how much?
i just bought my first wetsuit and was asking the same question and I was told that body glide is the only thing that should be used under a wetsuit as PAM will break down the glues in the suit and make it fall apart faster- it seems to me that the better idea after spending that much on a suit is to spend the extra 5 on the stuff made for it. I’ve also heard that it washes off while swimming anyhow and it is more for chafing…
I’d stick with bodyglide personally. It’s smooth and slick, plus it prevents chafing.
You didn’t ask but…
Being clean shaven is the number one way to help remove a wetsuit.
when i swam i used to put the suit on the roll up the ankles about 3 in. spray and pull down. then sprayed about 6 in up the suit legs from the bottom.
Use Bodyglide. Works better.
I use spray on canola oil with my wetsuit, but I mainly do it for the high unsaturated fat content.
No really I have only used PAM with my wetsuit and don’t have any complaints but then again I have never used body glide.
I have only heard that petroleum jelly will degrade the neoprene, not canola oil.
In my experience with wetsuits it’s important to lube your neck and arm pit areas for chafing. I have not noticed that the lube on the ankles really helps that much, but you may have a different experience.
Some people with “fat ankles” will cut a couple inches off the bottom of their suit for easy removal.
body glide works great, it also lasts pretty long. I bought a large stick last year and I still have plenty left. better than carrying one more thing in the bag, I don’t have to worry about a pressurized can exploding in the car (summer heat), it appears to be water proof, washes off easily, unscented. A new one - last week, a guy told me to put it around the shoe collars, bike and running, as well as on my feet. just a little bit slicker in transition
always works great to cut down the shine on Tibbs’ head
I was talking to a guy at a race last weekend who keeps two cans of PAM with him a regular one and a roast garlic for anyone wants to barrow it he said the smell is very much like a burned pizza after the run. A little evil and off topic but I thought it was funny.
I have used both Body Glide and Pam and for me the Pam was far superior. I spray it on before putting on my wetsuit all the way up to my knees. I have large, muscular calves and I always had trouble before using Pam. I also have large forearms and use it on my arms up to my elbows. I was told to not use any petroleum based lube because it would break down the wetsuit, but Pam would be OK. I have not had any wetsuit problems since I’ve been using Pam. Prior to using Pam, while using Body Glide, I had a race where it took me almost 5 minutes to get my wetsuit off and it cost me a top 3 in AG placing.
Don
I use bodyglide…but there is a very specific reason for this…
If you plan on having any skin exposed on the bike or the run - Well, now let’s think about this…if you hose your body with an entire can of PAM and then spend, oh 25 minutes in the water…then spend a good hour in the sun while on the bike and then, say, another 40 minutes out on the run -
Question for everybody - what is Pam used for?? Cooking raw meat!! (and the occasional vegetable)
I have seen a person absolutely scarred from sun burn because they decided to use a cooking spray as a slick removal system.
Just my $0.02
i tried bodyglide once and it sucked. next race i used a spray on olive oil (it’s what i had laying around my house). far superior. last week my race had a late start, i was finishing the run at noon in 90 degrees in the desert at moderate elevation. i did not cook. i did not get burned. i’m not sure exactly where it happens, but i know that by time i’ve finished a race, there are no artifacts/indications/traces of any spray on cooking oil residing anywhere on my body. maybe i sweat it all off?
I’ve never had any problem with sunburn from using Pam. In an Oly I’m on the bike and run a little longer than you mention too.
You ask what Pam is used for. It’s used to keep things from sticking to pots and pans while cooking. Not just for raw meat either. Pam doesn’t help cook the meat anyway. It just keeps it from sticking. Same as it does on my arms and legs in a wetsuit.
Is it possible the person you saw scarred from sunburn was fair skinned and that using Pam had nothing to do with getting sunburned? I’ve seen a number of triathletes with nasty sunburns who don’t use Pam.
Don
I have a very tight Orca, and the next is murder. I use Pam® liberally on my legs, from the knees down and petroleum jelly on the collar. After six years, the damned wetsuit WILL NOT disintegrate as folks promised (from the PJ) so I don’t get to buy a new one yet.
I really wanted a PFlex…
I’m thinking that if I clean the suit with nail polish remover, that might do it!
LOL- you just gave me a great idea! Coincidentally, I’ve also got an Orca Predator that’s really tight and chafes my neck no matter how much Bodyglide I use. Plus, I’ve been eyeing a new DeSoto T1. I’ll start using turpentine as a lubricant- maybe I can hasten the Orca’s demise 
I go to 5w30 if it’s cold, or10w40 in the summer.
How does Pam feel about all this???
An alternative solution to this problem, which I used: take the wetsuit to a good dive shop, and have them put in 10" zippers from the heel up the calf. When removing the wetsuit, pull down the top as far as it’ll go. You’re now bent over: up with the zippers. Pull down once more, stand on each leg with the other foot, and you’re out.
Not sure if this helps but I use cheap hair conditioner to get the wetsuit on. There’s no residue and it makes the suit really easy to clean.
I use Pam too and read it doesn’t hurt the suit.
I put it on the outside of the suit though - so at wrists and ankles on ouside rather than in. When you’re taking off the suit, it’s folding over on itself and the extra oil makes it slide off itself more easily. Does anybody else do that?
I’ve got a long john, so it doesn’t bind under my arms, but if I don’t use petroleum jelly, I’ll be bleeding by the far buoy!
Check out the new T-1 with the zipper, I’ve heard they’re not as hard to doff, but you still have to pull it over your head while running to transition, and if you’re in my AG, that might be my opportunity to trip you…
¦:o)/