Before going into how to fix your wetsuit, we need to establish whether or not it is repairable.

If your wetsuit has become stiff and pale and is starting to crack, I’m afraid it’s bad news, it’s ready for the bin! However, if you have torn your wetsuit or one of the seams has started to split, then here’s what you need to know about wetsuit repair.

Before you start, make sure your wetsuit is clean and clear of salt. Once you have cleaned the wetsuit, rub the area you’re going to fix with alcohol so you don’t have any grease on it. This will help your neoprene cement to stick.

Large tears or splits at the seams
If your wetsuit has a large split or has come apart at a seam, then you’re going to need to sew it before you apply any cement, or it will just come apart again.

A nylon thread is the best choice, though you can use a strong dental floss. You don’t have to use any kind of special stitching, just hold the two edges together and sew it as best you can (try to keep your stitches close together for strength).

Once you have finished sewing, apply your neoprene cement to make it watertight. Apply to one side and let it dry, then apply to the other side and let it dry. Repeat this process for each side.

Small tears or holes
If your wetsuit just has a small tear of a hole, you can simply use neoprene cement to weld it back together, or glue a patch on. Patches can be found in all good wetsuit repair kits.

That’s it! Once you have successfully repaired your wetsuit, pat yourself on the back, sit down and enjoy a nice, cold (or hot if your prefer) beverage. I find that a nice, cold beer does the trick.

If you have any questions about wetsuit repair, please don’t hesitate to get in touch

Water conducts heat from your body 25 times more efficiently than air, so if you’re to spend any length of time in water colder than 32ºc you will require some extra insulation to prevent you becoming uncomfortably cold or suffering from hypothermia . Bring on the wetsuit.

Most wetsuits are made from neoprene or a combination of neoprene and other materials. Wetsuit neoprene contains tiny nitrogen gas bubbles. Nitrogen gas has very low heat conductivity. Your wetsuit works by trapping a small amount of water next to your skin. The nitrogen gas bubbles, in the material, reduce the amount of heat loss from the trapped water, keeping you comfortably warm for longer.

The thicker the neoprene, the warmer the wetsuit will be. However, thicker wetsuits are usually less flexible.

You’ll notice that when you first get into the water in your wetsuit that the water will slowly seep in, and initially it will feel cold. Within a few minutes that water will heat up to match your body temperature, and keep you warm. Some people pee in their wetsuits once they get into cold water to speed up the warming process.