I just bought my first wetsuit and since Lake Superior is completely frozen over I don’t think I will be using it anytime soon…
What’s the best way to store a wetsuit to avoid problems?
Thanks!
I don’t do anything fancy; just turn it inside-out and fold in half on a large plastic hanger in the closet. Been doing this for years and it looks good-as-new. Before hanging I always wash it with a very gentle wetsuit conditioner first though.
Folding and using hangars that aren’t padded could crease the neoprene. Just slide it under the bed until you need it.
I’ve surfed for years and have stored them folded on a shelf when not in use. Always rinse in fresh water if using it in salt water and you can hang on a line in the shade to dry. Normally have it hanging for about 4 months of the year in winter and folded away inside for the rest of the time.
Thanks for the advice! Since its new and won’t hit the water until I can chop a hole in the ice or spring comes…I think I’ll just lay it on a shelf in my basement!
The week before you use it for the first time of the year, let it soak in the tub overnight. Less of a chance of ripping, that way.
Every spring Emilio gives a friendly reminder to do just that as well.
I just store mine on a thick, plastic hanger in a closet, as per blueseventy’s recommendations:
http://www.blueseventy.com/pages/wetsuit-faq
.
Oh, to actually answer the question asked
I just put mine on a wetsuit hangar and hang it on the back of the closet door (closet stays open)
Had the thing four/five years and not had any issue yet.
Mine’s half folded/ half crumpled up and crammed into the bottom of my transition bag.
I recommend the over the hangar like a pair of pants as the best way to dry and store your suit.
After each use, rinse the suit well with fresh water (extra attention to this if you swim in a chlorine pool with the suit), turn the suit inside out, thread the legs through the opening of a thick hangar up to the waist and all the suit to hang.
Do not store it/ dry it in direct sunlight, and try to keep it in a temperature controlled area.
The soaking after prolonged periods is a great idea, as the neoprene can dry a little bit too much and become slightly brittle. Soaking the suit brings a good bit of life back to the suit.
jake
I hang mine on a thick hanger, and I drape some old dish towels over the hanger shoulders to provide a softer, more rounded area on which the suit rests. It approximates a DIY wetsuit hanger.
Why inside out? (ETA: I understand drying inside out, but not storing inside out.)
Drying it inside out allows the suit to dry faster.
Storing it inside out lessens the chance for something to damage the outside of the suit. The liner of a suit is quite resilient and the outside can easily be pierced. This is my preference personally and something I recommend professionally.
Of course this means that you need to also follow the other storage guidelines I mentioned. (ie don’t store in direct sunlight)
jake
Like most of the other people have said make sure to wash it out and let it dry before putting it away. If you want to avoid creases in it what I do is roll it up and put it on the shelf.
Hi all, most wetsuit manufacturers would recommend hanging your wetsuit from the waist for storage.
check out the SlideHanger by HangPro. www.thehangpro.com it’s a really heavy duty hanger made to hang your wetsuit from the waist.
i dig your user name. i wish i could’ve claimed that as my user name. in college. i wish i could say i outgrew that name. alas, i can claim neither.