With the end of tri season coming I am getting ready to hang the wetsuit up for the winter and sticking to the nice, heated pool, (its getting chilly here in “Up Maine!”) Is there anything I need/should do to it before the dormant winter months to make it last longer?
Completely dry it, and then fold it over itself and store in a cool, dry place for the winter. DON’T hang it on a hanger.
Why not? The wetsuits hang at the store week after week until someone buys them, how does that hurt?
Okay, well, let me clarify. Don’t hang the suit by the shoulders. The weight of the suit will pull down on the shoulders and the hanger will sort of wear out the shoulders. It’s better to double the suit over the bar across the bottom of the hanger.
I’ll make sure to unhang my suit tonight when I get home!
so i used my wetsuit for the first time this weekend… 800m salt water swim, in and out in 13 min, whatever.
Its got some permanant marker in the calf area from my number rubbing off- i dont really care about that, its not goin anywhere- but the bodyglide thats near the ankles where I put it on…
I dont have wetsuit shampoo yet- i Just rinsed it for like 10 min inside and out with the hose… Do i really need the shampoo? or is it cool to just rinse it
Honestly, a freshwater rinse is fine.
woohoo!
Check the suit thoroughly over for any nicks or cuts to the smooth-skin surface and all the seams on the inside for any problems. Get these dealt with NOW and not in a panic like everyone else two days before your first race or open water swim next spring!
Give the suit a good fresh water rinse and make sure that it drys out. I find it is OK to hang up the suits, but you need to use a good hanger - the kind that men’s suit jackets are hung up with. That will offer much better support. Another good storage option is laying flat on the floor or carpet under a bed.
Hey Fleck,
Not trying to highjack - but do you know a good wetsuit repair place in the GTA? I am located in Oshawa, ON.
Thanks.
Another good storage option is laying flat on the floor or carpet under a bed.
Wow…I’ve been doing it right all these years?!
We use someone for all of our repair and warranty work who is at the 404 and Hwy 7. PM or email me and I can pass along his info. He’s very good.