Surfing Waves

What is the best way to store a wetsuit?
I won't be needing my full suit for a while, so I want to store it so it won't get damaged, also need to store my shortie when using my full suit.

closet, or anywhere away from the sun

wardrobe, cupboard, in a drawer....

and Taj Burrow says cover it in talcum powder and it will keep its flexibility

On a plastic 'thick' coat hangar.

Thin ones mark the suit.
Metal ones go rusty.
Wooden ones go mouldy.

I was told before you put it away for the summer/winter fill the bath with cold water apply a liberal amount of fabric softner then rinse,dry and lay it out flat like somewhere under your bed +talc it up!

WishKid Wales wrote: lay it out flat like somewhere under your bed

Hmmmm.... then where would I put all the cr@p that lives under my bed?

2 options IMO...

Hang it on a thick plastic hanger.
Lay it flat.

Keep it out of the sun light, and avoid folding the suit. The crease that develops at the fold will weaken the neoprene.

I know some people are saying to put in on a hanger, but if it stays on the hanger for an extended period, the weight of the suit begins to stretch it a bit, and the seams begin to part. I usually lay mine in a heap on the floor, which isn't good either. I think if you have the space, laying it flat is probably the best

Hmmmm.... then where would I put all the cr@p that lives under my bed?

Stick your bed on breezeblocks to raise it up a couple of foot -now you have loads-a-room.

I hang mine over the banister so that it drips on the people's clothes below!

Another kind of related question... when I sling my suit in the car it always gets a crease in it which doesn't come out. How do you avoid this? Do you always have to keep your wetsuit straight? Is there any way of getting rid of the creases?

It's should really develope a crease in a short period of time. I generally roll mine up and throw it in a bucket to head to the beach.

I don't know how you'd get rid of one; I'd just try to avoid folding it in the same area (if that's possible).

Haven't you got an iron???

I stick mine on a hanger in the shed. Just make sure it is a thick hanger so you don't get the pressure dents that you can with the wire hangers.

I rinse mine in fresh water, and just hang in on the plastic hanger that came with it. I leave it hanging in my garage all the time winter, and summer. My shortie I think is in the back of my truck somewhere.

When heading to the beach and back I have my wetsuit, towels and rash vest slung into a box, dont worry bout creases - they usually seem to come out when ive got the suit on or its drying after the wash.

I think mines still in a boardbag somewhere from the last time I surfed months ago......or under the seats in the camper

Nothing that a good session in the jetwash wont fix

Before you pack it up for storage give it a propper wash out in the bath then leave it to soak in fresh water for 24hours. Dry thoughly then roll loosly and put it somewhere dry and dark in a loose bag.


Soaking your suit atleast once a month allows the micro pours to fill and keep the neoprean moist and supple.