For fellow sea lovers, swimmers, surfers, and adventure enthusiasts, wetsuits are essential to our lives. Whether you’re getting in the sea for an after-work surf or training for your next triathlon, neoprene suits are our best friends. But, sometimes, our relationship with our wetsuits can be love-hate.
Wetsuits can be a real pain to get on and off, especially if you’re yet to break your new one in - and even more so for novices just starting out in sea sports, such as surfing, open-water swimming, diving, paddle boarding, or sailing.
Nevertheless, our guide breaks down how to put on a wetsuit easily, whether you’re surfing, swimming, or diving, so you have more time and energy to focus on having fun.
MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE RIGHT SIZE WETSUIT
Size is everything when it comes to wearing a wetsuit. If your wetsuit is too large, it will likely be easier to pull on and off. Sounds tempting, right? Who doesn’t want an easy life? But don’t let this fool you! A wetsuit that is too big for you may be a dream when it comes to getting in and out of it - but it won’t take long for you to realise that it’s not so appealing after all, as you’ll soon be too cold to have any fun, cutting short your time in the water.
On the other hand, a wetsuit that is too small will be extremely tight around the shoulders, neck, and lower half of your body - particularly around the groin! This can ultimately leave you feeling restrained and limit your freedom of movement.
So, the key is to find a suit that fits you perfectly - the sweet spot. Now, if you’re new to the world of wetsuits, it may come as a shock to know you should aim for a wetsuit on the tighter side. Remember, this doesn’t mean your suit should be so tight that you can’t move properly or feel really uncomfortable.
But wetsuits are designed to be skin-tight as if it were your second skin, and after a few sessions in the water, your wetsuit will loosen up a bit and mould to your physique, hence the importance of not choosing a loose wetsuit. If you need some advice on sizing your wetsuit, our previous guide below can help.
HOW TO PUT ON A CHEST ZIP WETSUIT
Let’s start with the classic chest zip suit - also known as a front zip wetsuit. The flexible neoprene featured on most modern wetsuits makes these wetsuits reasonably easy to put on and take off.
1. Make sure the chest zip is undone. Reach inside the wetsuit with both arms, grab around the hips, and roll the upper half of the wetsuit over the hips. Now it should look like you’re about to put on a pair of trousers.
2. Ensure the knee pads are facing forward and slide one leg in.
3. Pull the wetsuit leg over your foot and gently the knee up your leg, as well as any excess neoprene. Placing a plastic bag over your foot can help.
4. Do the same with the other leg.
5. Pull the wetsuit up your hips.
6. Now that you have the bottom half on slide your left arm in and pull the neoprene up over your wrist.
7. Pull any excess neoprene to the top, then slide your right arm in.
8. Pull the chest flap over your head.
9. Close the chest zip - you’re good to go!
HOW TO TAKE OFF A CHEST ZIP WETSUIT
1. Unzip the chest zip and pull the chest flap back over your head (this is the most challenging part).
2. Gently peel the neoprene from each shoulder and work down to the elbow.
3. Pull one arm out first, freeing it completely.
4. Do the same with the other arm.
5. Roll the wetsuit down your torso and lower body.
6. Gently peel the neoprene over each leg and free one foot, then the other.
7. Don’t forget to rinse it with cold water when you get home!
HOW TO PUT ON A BACK ZIP WETSUIT
Back zip wetsuits are by far the easiest to put on and take off, making them perfect for those only looking to spend a small amount of time in the water. But they generally aren’t as insulated as our chest zip wetsuits.
1. Follow the above steps for putting on a chest zip wetsuit (steps 1 - 7).
2. Once you have both legs and arms in, simply grab onto the material attached to the back zip and zip it up.
3. Once it’s done up, tuck the zip into the wetsuit and close the velcro at the top of the suit.
HOW TO TAKE OFF A BACK ZIP WETSUIT
1. Undo the velcro on the back of the wetsuit, and gently unzip the back zip.
2. Follow the same steps as taking off a chest zip wetsuit above (steps 2 - 7).
HOW TO PUT ON A ZIPLESS WETSUIT
Zipless wetsuits are the latest and most innovative type of wetsuit. With neoprene advancing every year, it’s safe to say that zipless wetsuits are the most flexible wetsuits on the market today. This is because they are entirely free of zips, and zips don’t stretch!
1. You’ll want to follow the first steps (above) when putting on any other wetsuit. Slide both your legs in and pull any excess neoprene up.
2. Slide both arms in, and make sure you don’t slide them into the chest entry compartment!
3. Pull the collar/chest entry system over your head. Don’t worry about damaging the suit when doing this, as it’s built to be super flexible.
4. Make sure any trapped folds are flattened out.
5. Go and have some fun!
HOW TO TAKE OFF A ZIPLESS WETSUIT
1. Loosen the toggle on the chest entry and pull it up and over your head.
2. Slide your left arm out first, slide the neoprene over your elbow, grab the sleeve and pull your arm out.
3. Do the same with your right arm.
4. Once your right arm is free, gently pull the wetsuit down over your torso and free one leg at a time.
GENERAL GUIDELINES WHEN PUTTING ON AND TAKING OFF A WETSUIT
Many types of wetsuits are available at Wetsuit Centre, and no matter the wetsuit style, you mustn’t dig your fingernails into the neoprene when pulling it on. If you do, you may end up cutting a hole in your suit - which no one wants!
Once your suit is off, it’s essential to take the relevant aftercare steps to keep it in good condition; rinse with cold water and hang it to dry. Do not place your wetsuit on a radiator, wash it with hot water, or use any sort of shampoo or washing powder, as this can damage your wetsuit.
If you’d like to learn more about how to care for your wetsuit, our previous blogs can provide some more guidance:
- How to Wash Your Wetsuit
- How to Properly Store Your Wetsuit
We hope this step-by-step guide will help you put on your wetsuit as well as take it off. If you have any questions, then feel free to contact us today. We’d be more than happy to help.
In the meantime, check out our guide on what to wear under a wetsuit.
