As we head into autumn, it's time to get your summer wetsuit ready for six months in storage. Knowing how to store a wetsuit over winter is the difference between your suit feeling soft, supple and ready for action - compared to one that comes out of storage feeling stiff and smelly. Most tired wetsuits that we see in the shop haven't been worn out, they've been put away poorly.
Here's exactly how we store our own wetsuits at The Watersports Centre.
How to store a wetsuit over winter: the quick answer
- Soak and rinse it in cool fresh water, inside and out.
- Wash it with a wetsuit cleaner, we have found that the Mystic Wetsuit Cleaner is a good option.
- Dry it completely, inside out first, out of direct sunlight.
- Clean and wax the zip, you don't want salt sitting in the zip for months.
- Repair any small nicks or holes, we would recommend Neoprene Queen neoprene glue (we've used this product for years and it hasn't let us down yet!)
- Hang it folded over a wide wetsuit hanger at the waist, or lay it flat. Never hang your wetsuit up from the shoulders, it will pull the seams at the shoulders and your wetsuit will become misshapen.
- Store it somewhere cool, dry, dark and well ventilated.
1. Rinse your wetsuit properly in fresh water
A quick hose down in the garden after your last session won't cut it before long term storage. Salt and sand hide in the seams, the zip and thicker sections of the suit like knee pads. Over the winter salt crystals dry out the neoprene, which can cause the stiff inflexible feeling in neoprene we're all trying to avoid!
Fill a bucket in the garden or the bath with cool water and let the suit soak for 15 to 20 minutes. Rinse it inside out, then pull it back to the usual way (lining on the inside). Never use hot water, as it breaks down the neoprene and the glue in the seams over time.
2. How to clean a wetsuit before storing it
Once a season and always before storage, give your wetsuit a proper wash with a wetsuit cleaner. It kills the bacteria that can build up in suits that can cause neoprene to smell bad over time and also keeps the neoprene supple and flexible. The Mystic Wetsuit Cleaner is £15 which we think is worth the money if it means you're taking proper care of your £300+ wetsuit correctly. A big tip is to avoid washing up liquid or washing detergents as these are really bad for neoprene longevity as the chemicals within these products will break the neoprene down over time.
Best for: We use the Mystic Wetsuit Cleaner for our wetsuits and neoprene accessories, like boots, before they go into storage for a long period of time.
3. How to dry a wetsuit without damaging it
This is the step people rush and it's the one that matters the most. A suit that goes into the cupboard even slightly damp will come out with mildew.
Dry it inside out first so that the lining is fully dry, then turn it the right way round and dry the outside. Hang it somewhere shaded and airy, like a clothes line (out of direct sunlight always), a shed or an indoor rail. Keep it out of direct sunlight, because UV hardens and fades neoprene faster than anything else. Keep it off radiators and out of the tumble dryer too.
4. Look after the zip
Zips are usually one of the first things to fail on a stored wetsuit. Salt left in the teeth dries hard and by spring the zip can stick or splits. After rinsing, run the zip up and down a few times under running water. Once it's dry, rub a little zip wax along the teeth. Fasten the Velcro on the neck closure so it can't snag the neoprene while it hangs - as it is always annoying when velcro pulls at neoprene!
Our Thoughts: We have found the cheapest and easiest way to wax your zip is with a non scented tea light candle. Super simple and does the job well!
5. Fix small damage now, not next spring
While the suit is clean and dry, turn it inside out and give it a proper once over. Look at the knees, the seams under the arms and around the neck. A small nick or hole in the seam is a five minute job with neoprene glue today. But if you notice something larger, there are some great wetsuit repairers around!
Our Thoughts: after running a kite school for 12 years, we have repaired plenty of wetsuits and we would highly recommend the Stormsure Neoprene Queen Neoprene Repair Glue.
6. Should you hang or fold a wetsuit for storage?
This is where most suits get ruined. A hanger through the shoulders stretches the neoprene really quickly. Folding it tightly into a box leaves creases that can become permanent.
The two best ways to store a wetsuit are:
- Hanging on a wide wetsuit hanger, folded over the bar at the waist rather than hung from the shoulders.
- Laid flat or loosely rolled in a cupboard or under the bed.
Best for: for anyone with a suit worth looking after we would recommend checking out some wetsuit hangers like the Mystic Wetsuit Hanger
7. Where to store your wetsuit over winter?
You want somewhere cool, dry, dark and well ventilated. Wherever works best for you is fine, as long as it ticks those boxes. Just avoid anywhere damp and anywhere cramped where the suit will get crushed or folded up tight leaving creases. We have sturdy boxes in a dedicated section of our garage, it's a bit over-do, but we know that the wetsuits get stored in the best way possible for us!
Store it or replace it?
Be honest with yourself while it's on the hanger. If the seams are sound, the zip works and it isn't flushing, a well looked after summer suit will give you several more summers. If it leaks at every seam and the knees are full of holes, winter is actually a smart time to replace it, before next season's range lands and the popular sizes sell out.
Wetsuit storage FAQs
How should I store my wetsuit over winter?
Rinse and wash it, dry it completely out of the sun, then hang it folded over a wide hanger at the waist or lay it flat somewhere cool, dry and dark.
Can I hang my wetsuit on a normal coat hanger?
We would not recommend it. Hangers stretch the shoulders over time. Use a wide trouser hanger and fold the suit over the bar at the waist.
Can I put my wetsuit in the washing machine?
Manufacturers don't recommend it and it will void your warranty. The safe option is to always hand rinse in cool water, adding a wetsuit cleaner into the mix every so often.
That said, we'll be totally honest with you. We ran a kitesurfing school for 12 years, and we put our wetsuits through a quick 10 minute rinse and spin every single evening after a long day on the water - no heat, no detergent, and they held up extremely well. We just can't recommend it, since a washing machine is harder on seams and stitching than a hand rinse and if anything ever went wrong, it wouldn't be covered.
Why does my wetsuit smell after storage?
It was put away damp or unwashed. This gives bacteria and mildew a perfect breading ground! Wash it with a wetsuit cleaner and dry it fully (inside and out) before storing it again.
How long does a summer wetsuit last?
With good care, a quality 3/2 wetsuit usually lasts several seasons. Poor rinsing, sun exposure and bad storage are what shortens its lifespan.
Should I store my wetsuit inside out?
Dry it inside out first, but store it the right way round once it's fully dry. That protects the lining which is the most important part of a wetsuit.
