Wetsuits aren’t cheap, so longevity is key. Make that initial spend last for longer and ensure your wetsuit remains in top condition and serves you well. We’ve got the repair side covered in house but we’ve also outlined some key points helping you extend the life of your investment and keep you comfortable in the water.
Wetsuit Care
- Rinse and Dry
After each use, rinse thoroughly with fresh water to remove salt, sand, and other contaminants. Equally if you’re lucky enough to be near an inland wave garden wash out the chlorine! Saltwater and sand can be abrasive and cause damage over time.
After rinsing, hang the wetsuit to dry in the shade. Direct sunlight can cause the neoprene to degrade and lose its flexibility. Ensure it’s hung on a broad, padded hanger to maintain its shape. Avoid hanging it by the shoulders or folding it for extended periods.
Wetsuit specific drying hangers:
Northcore – Simple slide on design which allows you to hang it from the waist and not stretch out the shoulders.
Surflogic – Surflogic has a range of hangers which are built to hang your suit in the best way to prevent damage. They also have a rad dryer built into a hanger allowing you to hang it up and blow hot air through the inside of the wetsuit.
C-monsta – An all in one hanger for your wetsuit, boots and gloves all on the one hanger, with a hollow design allowing for air flow whilst drying.
- Avoid Excessive Stretching
Avoid tugging and stretching the material excessively, as it can weaken the neoprene and stitching. However, sometimes this is avoidable so if it does get too thin and tear let us know we can help repair it.
- Store Properly
When not in use, store your wetsuit flat or hanging on a broad hanger in a cool, dry place. Avoid leaving it crumpled in a bag or trunk, as this can lead to creases and damage over time.
Wetsuit Repairs
- Neoprene Tears and Punctures
If you’ve got a tear in the wetsuit or a puncture, get in contact with us. We can either glue/stitch a small hole or replace the dead material with a new piece of neoprene. Seal it up and it’ll be good to go. - Seam Repairs
If your suit stitching has come out and it’s being held together by the glue, it’s better to get it repaired sooner rather than later. Glued seams and stitching work in partnership so if one goes the other will shortly follow. We can repair all types of seams including: Flatlock, Glued, Blind Stitched [GBS] and Taped/Welded. - Zipper Repairs
We’ve got all types of zippers and sliders so we can repair wetsuits, wetsuit boots, neoprene vests or any kind of zip on a wetsuit that needs a bit of love.
Whether you’re caring for your suit and making it last or sending it in to us for repair it’s all about making that investment last for longer. Chances are you’ve found a suit that fits you like a glove so why try and find a new one when you can keep that one going for a bit longer. If you want to book a wetsuit in for repair drop us a message and we’ll get it booked in. Equally if you’re local to Bude just drop it in and we’ll fix it.
How to book a wetsuit in for repair
- Head over to our repairs section of the website HERE (https://rootedocean.com/repairs/)
- Click on the link that says ‘book a repair’ and complete the information
- We’ll be in contact with a quote and timeline for how long your repair will take.
- Get it sent in to us or drop it off at the workshop if you’re local to Bude, Cornwall.
