Do's and Don'ts of Wetsuit Care

Triathlon can be expensive, with wetsuits being one of the most expensive items, other than the bike. So, it's imperative that you take care of your neoprene so it lasts a long time.

When someone buys a HUUB wetsuit from us, we send them an email highlighting how to put the wetsuit on, what to do before storing the suit, how to store it, and more. 

Here are our pro tips:  

Putting on your wetsuit.....

Use gloves to put the suit on so you do not nic it with your nails.

Pull it up from the inside of the suit as much as possible.

Putting a wetsuit on for the first time can be a chore, so we have a video from Head Coach Julia Aimers on your Youtube channel showing how to put the wetsuit on

Before storing the suit...

Ensure the suit is rinsed thoroughly inside and out. Clean water should be enough; no cleaning agents should be needed.

Make sure the wetsuit is left to dry completely before storing. It's usually best to dry it inside out first, then reverse it. Hanging it in a shower is a good place so it can drip dry.

If drying outside avoid direct sunlight and dry it inside out.

To store the suit...

You can loosely fold it and put it in the supplied mesh bag on a shelf out of harm's way but don't stack anything on top of it.

You can also hang the wetsuit in a wardrobe using a wide-shouldered, rounded hanger. Not the thin plastic or wire type.

If you have the space to lay it flat under a bed or sofa then that is also an option. We would recommend covering it with a sheet or something to protect it from dust.

Pool swimming?

Chlorine is not a very friendly chemical to any material or even ourselves! We highly recommend removing the wetsuit right after a pool swim and ensuring it is rinsed thoroughly inside & out with warm water and then left to dry naturally.

Chaffing?

Petroleum-based products (vaseline/baby oil) do degrade or eat away the neoprene, however only if left soaked or covered for a long period of time. If you feel you need to use such products to prevent chaffing or aid quick removal, please make sure you use as little as possible and clean/rinse off as quickly as possible.

We recommend HUUB LUUB or Bodyglide instead. It will protect the skin from friction and moisture, allows a wetsuit or tri suit to slide on and off a lot more easily, and can aid a faster transition - all without damaging the suit. 

We hope these tips help you keep your wetsuit in top shape and part of your triathlon kit for many years.

Julia Aimers
CSEP Clinical Exercise Physiologist
CSEP High-Performance Specialist

Certified Triathlon, Cycling, Yoga and Swimming Coach
USA Cycling Level 2 Coach
Training Peaks Accredited Coach