Take care of your wetsuit like a pro

Riding in the waves on a surfboard, wakeboard or paddleboard is a luxury. But the weather is not always inclined to a swimsuit. Exactly these are the times when the wetsuit stands its ground. But do you know how to take care of it to keep it as good as new for a long time?

Wetsuit is made of thin chloroprene rubber, the so-called neoprene with thermo-insulating properties. If you need some advice on how to choose the perfect neoprene wetsuit for yourself, but don't know how to proceed, we're here to help you with the article How to choose a wetsuit?. However, even though it is a very durable material, it needs to be cared for and maintained. And we're about to tell you how to keep it fresh and beautiful for years to come, just like when you brought it home from the store.

Putting On

Apparently, such a simple thing like putting it on can affect your wetsuit's condition. Of course, it is best to put it on when your skin is completely dry. As soon as you get wet or sweaty, it's a little harder. However, do not pull the neoprene on yourself with force, believing it will be over sooner so you can run into the water. Putting the wetsuit on has its own procedure, which you should follow at all times: firstly, put your knees and crotch in the right place. As soon as you are dressed from your waist down, you can start with the upper body - elbows and then the neck. Three, two, one ... and that's it!

You won't spoil anything when you put boardshorts on as the upper layer on the wetsuit. Firstly, they look great and, secondly, you may fall on something sharp and get scratched. In this case, it is better to sacrifice the shorts than the whole wetsuit.

After the surfing/wakeboarding/paddleboarding/kiteboarding

When the sun is setting, it's time to slowly return to the shore. Putting the wetsuit off works pretty much like putting it on - with patience and no unnecessary stretching. Definitely avoid the common mistake of getting one leg out of the wetsuit and trying to pull the other leg free. In addition, it is the most suitable (and the most comfortable) to undress the wetsuit so it ends up inside-out - this way it will be easier to wash and dry.

Washing

After each ride, do not forget about the basic care of the wetsuit, namely the rinse in the fresh water. Sea water gives the material a hard time and the salt, in addition to that, can even cause the corrosion of the zippers. With this simple trick you will really relieve your wetsuit. And what if you just ride in the Czechoslovak fresh waters? Definitely stick to the advice and rinse the wetsuit even now - you surely sweat while riding and under the suit there are many bacteria that you definitely want to get rid of.

Drying

Washed? Now is the time to dry it. Be very careful not to forget the wetsuit in the direct sunlight. The neoprene material does not like sharp sunrays at all and has a tendency to crack when exposed to them for a long time. So hide it in the shadow instead. It is never easy with the wetsuit, the right hanging is quite an alchemy, too. Definitely don't try to hang it on the clothes-line by the shoulders. It will stretch out and will never sit on your body as it used to before. A safer method is to bend it in the waist so that the trousers and the sleeves are the same length. Dry it first on the inner part and as soon as it is dry, turn it over and let it dry from the outside.

Maintenance

In addition to regular washing of the wetsuit, it is good to clean it once in a while with the help of a suitable washing agent. So you not only get rid of the dirt and bacteria, but also from possible odor and thus prolong the life of the wetsuit. For example O'Neill Wetsuit Cleaner/Conditioner will do a great job. But keep in mind that your beloved lying in a bath filled with hot water is a literal hell for the neoprene, because this is how it tends to lose its flexibility. Lukewarm water is good enough for it.

Tears in the wetsuit

When you are vividly riding in the waves, it's pretty common to scratch yourself and thus make a small tear in your wetsuit. Do not underestimate it and as soon as you're on the shore, remember to fix it as soon as possible. Proper glue might help with that. And if you are not so sure about your abilities, put your wetsuit in the hands of experts.

Store It for the Winter

In the autumn, when the temperatures get too low for you to hit the waters, an important task awaits you. Storing the wetsuit for the winter needs to be done with care, too. Definitely do not put it in a tiny box in which it will be squeezed. Ideally, you should lay it all the way in a dry and dark place. Few, however, have such a space. Therefore, it is sufficient to place it in the cabinet either bend in the waist in half, or underlay the bended place, so that the wetsuit does not deform until the spring is back. You can bend it over a coat hanger in the same way and hang it.

Summary

• Always put the wetsuit on and off step by step and never pull it.
• After each ride, rinse the wetsuit with fresh water.
• Do not leave it in the direct sunlight.
• Never, never, never put the wetsuit in the washing machine, do not dry it in the dryer and do not iron it!
• Hang the wetsuit bend in the waist on a coat hanger, the classical hanging leads to the deformation of the neoprene.
• Always check the material for damage and repair it as soon as possible.
• Mainly, do not forget to enjoy each and every ride!