How to store a wetsuit
Wondering how you should store and look after your wetsuit? Here's some advice from our expert swim coaches
Storing your wetsuit the correct way can help it last longer and over time, develop less signs of wear and deterioration. Here’s how you should store your wetsuit.
Wetsuit care begins from the moment you get out of the water – so if you thought we were going to jump straight in and tell you the best place to keep your neoprene, think again.
Once you’ve completed your swim and (carefully, if you can) removed your wetsuit, then think about giving it a bit of TLC once you’ve got yourself warm and dry. Looking after your wetsuit will ensure it lasts as long as possible which with our budgets and the sustainability of the product in mind, can only be a good thing.
First you’ll need to rinse your wetsuit to remove any sand or saltwater, dirt or environmental toxins (yes sewage, we mean you). Every so often – and especially if you tend to pee in your suit – giving it a wash in a specialist wetsuit cleaner will help it keep niff-free for longer, too.
Once clean, then hang your wetsuit inside-out to dry. A proper wetsuit hanger as shown here from C-Monsta is a good idea, as the sturdy design means it can take the weight of your suit and also features a wide, curved bar to hang the suit off while it dries. This one even has handy ‘ears’ for your neoprene gloves and boots, too!
Always dry your wetsuit out of direct sunlight, which could degrade the material.
Storing your wetsuit
If only out of action for a couple of days, then rolling your suit and stashing it safely in a kit bag won’t hurt. For longer periods though, you need to think more carefully.
The best plan of action is to lay the wetsuit out flat. Obviously this takes up a fair amount of space, so hanging it up vertically is the next best option.
Your suit should be stored the right way out and, where possible, try not to leave it tightly folded or creased as that can damage the neoprene, especially when left for long periods of time.
If storing your wetsuit for any period of time, it’s worth giving it an MoT too and repairing any nicks or tears. Either talk to the manufacturer about whether they offer a repairs service, or use a wetsuit glue yourself.
If you are storing your wetsuit correctly yet it is still sustaining damage, then think about whether your wetsuit fits you correctly. A too-small suit will likely sustain wear quicker than the correct size!
Finally, keep your suit somewhere in a cool temperature, not exposed to extremes of heat (eg hung in a sunny room, or in an airing cupboard) and make sure water won’t leak on it. Also, make sure household pets can’t access it – my cat is a bugger for seeking out wetsuits to sleep on and his claws are not the friend of neoprene!
Helen Webster
Editor, 220 Triathlon With contributions from
