Wetsuit Care

By taking just a few minutes to care for your Buckles & Boards wetsuit, you can extend it's lifetime and enjoy many more good days of use. This section summarizes some suggestions for keeping your suit clean and dry, and making it last longer.
 

Rinse with Fresh Water

The most important thing to do for your wetsuit is to rinse it out after everyuse with fresh, cold water. This will help remove salt, bacteria, kelp, oil, or anything else stuck to it. I like to use a plastic tub to stand-in while taking off my suit, reducing the amount of dirt and sand in my suit. Then when I get home, I fill the tub with fresh water, swish it around, and then finish with a final spray down. Obviously, don't pee in your suit. Not only does it stink, but it can also break down the materials used to make the suit.

Hang to Dry

After rinsing your suit, you should hang it up to dry in a place that gets good air circulation and out of direct sunlight. Use a plastic hanger rather than a metal one (plastic won't rust!). It is advised to use a plastic hanger with a wide surface area. See the picture on the right. They sell similar ones at most surf shops which are designed specifically for wetsuits. This helps to retain the shape of the neoprene. The thin hangers seem to stretch the suit out and weaken the shoulder areas, making them more prone to damage. Also, pick a good place to hang the suit. Keep it out of the direct sun. Try to find somewhere that gets good air circulation.

Do Not Machine Dry

Never attempt to put your wetsuit in the dryer (or the washer). This can lead to severe damage. Suiting up for a second session can be wet, cold, and uncomfortable, but the last thing you want to do is put your suit in the dryer. If you are cold, my advice is to fill a gallon jug with hot water and pour it over yourself while suiting up.
 

Clean and Condition

To keep your suit smelling fresh and retain its flexibility over time, try using O'Neill wetsuit cleaner (#0144). It is designed to be used about every 30 surf sessions or so. Handwash your suit with a diluted solution of the wetsuit cleaner, and then rinse thoroughly. Not only does it make your suit smell fresh and clean, it helps reduce the chance of splitting and cracking of the neoprene.

How a Wetsuit Works

A wetsuit creates a barrier against the elements for the user utilizing the insulating properties of closed cell neoprene. Neoprene is a closed foam made up of thousands of tiny air bubbles known as cells. The cells create an insulating barrier which slows down the conduction of heat and cold and allows body heat to be retained.

Fit and Stretch

Wetsuits are made to fit snugly but they will stretch a bit (about 5%). Wetsuits are similar to a new pair of shoes: after wearing them a few times they stretch in all the right places and fit perfectly.

Kids and Fit

This has always been a problem because mom wants a suit that is going to last three seasons but "Little Johnny" is growing like a weed. The best solution we have found is a quick explanation of how a wetsuit works and then let mom or dad make the decision.

Neoprene

It is manufactured to have the right combination of warmth, strength, flexibility and durability.

The Thickness of Neoprene

The thickness of the neoprene utilized in a wetsuit will determine it's warmth and flexibility. A thick wetsuit provides a lot of insulation but can inhibit flexibility. A thin wetsuit will be very flexible but can inhibit insulation . The trick is to get the right combination of warmth and flexibility so the wetsuit will not only keep you warm, but provide flexibility as well.

Strategic use of Neoprene

In addition to our standard neoprene, O¹Neill incorporates uniquely formulated neoprene to meet specific product needs. For example, Ultraflex neoprene is used in shoulders and sidepanels to increase flexibility and comfort while Thermo¹Layer II neoprene is used in the torso area to increase warmth and reduce wind-chill. Some wetsuits may utilize five or more types of neoprene in order to meet specific design needs.
 

Two Basic Types of Neoprene

There are two basic types of neoprene material used in O'Neill wetsuits: Single Lined neoprene (SL) and Double Lined neoprene (DL). Single Lined and Double Lined neoprene serve different purposes in the function of a wetsuit.

Single Lined Neoprene (SL)
 

Single Lined neoprene has a jersey material (usually nylon or polyester) laminated on one side and a textured, non-porous neoprene skin on the other. The skin allows maximum water run off and thus reduces wind chill. Single Lined neoprene is commonly used in the torso of wetsuits for protection in cold or windy conditions.

Double Lined Neoprene (DL)

Double Lined neoprene has a jersey material laminated to both sides of the neoprene creating a very durable, all around material. Standard Double Lined neoprene is strategically placed in areas of high stress where durability is demanded. Superstretch Double Lined neoprene is placed in areas where flexibility is demanded.

Flatloc Stitch

The most popular method of sewn construction. The stitch uses 4 needles and 6 threads, and works by overlapping the neoprene panels and sewing them together. It is a strong stitch, leaks slightly less than an overlock stitch and is more comfortable because it is flat.

Flat seam on inside of wetsuit for comfort
Very strong
Very flexible
Overlapping neoprene lets in less water
Looks good in contrast stitch
Suitable for moderate to cool water conditions

Blind Stitch (and Glued)

The blind stitch seam is aptly named because the stitching only goes part way through the neoprene. If a suit is blind stitched, it is also glued so there is no leakage through the seams. Glued and blind stitched construction provides a waterproof seam but is very labor intensive to construct so the suits are more expensive. A blind stitched suit is also taped in the areas of excessive stress like the crotch and armpits or can be fully taped for extreme conditions.

A waterproof seam
Flat, "butted" seam and limited thread eliminates rashing
Extremely strong
Extremely flexible
Suitable for cool to frigid conditions
Flexloc doesn¹t unravel

Last, if you are planning on storing your suit for a length of time, it advised to keep it in a dry, cool place out of the sunlight. Lay it flat (not on a hanger), preferably without any folds. Don't store anything on top of it.

Overall, you can extend the lifespan of your wetsuit by taking just a few steps to care for it. Remember to rinse after every use with fresh water, hang it to dry out of direct sun, and never put it in the dryer.