Standup Zone Forum
Stand Up Paddle => Gear Talk => Topic started by: TallDude on December 05, 2019, 10:01:23 AM
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I have a number of wetsuits that go unused for a good percentage of a year. In the past if needed a wetsuit two days in a row, I would just use a different wetsuit if one was still wet from surfing the day before. I recently bought a new wetsuit that fits me better than my other/older ones. Now that winter has hit SoCAL and the water and air has dipped into the lower 60's ;D I've been wearing and favoring my new RipCurl 3/2 full-suit. We haven't had as much sun lately, so I've been hanging it in my shop to dry. The next day it's still wet inside. I'm not going to drive around with it hanging on my car mirror either. I'm looking at buying one of these. Anyone have their own tricks for drying their suits?
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ive had that very device for years, TD, and have found it excellent--suit dries in 3 hrs--no heat, just room temp air blowing thru inside of suit--always travel with it---hate a wet cold suit---and suits tear easily when trying to don when wet---i swear by mine--giving a friend one for xmas
i dry boots gloves on an old ski boot drier--much less important than a dry suit, but dry boots and gloves feel good when donning in a 30 degree parking lot (like last weekend!)
and i find that, with each swell around here, one needs to get on it pm first day, then am next to get more than one sesh--gotta dry the suit between
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You guys are scaring me, though I will admit that putting on a wet, cold 3/4 suit in the Gorge led me to conclude we should NOT sell our house in Maui. I need to change my tagline. We took it off the market.
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Looks like a beautiful house. To what do you attribute it not selling?
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Looks like a beautiful house. To what do you attribute it not selling?
There's only one determinant to something selling or not in any market (stock, real estate, car, widgets, whatever)....the price that the buyer and the seller both agree is fair.
As fair as wetsuits go...don't like 'em, so drying them out is never a problem. Have two sets of sleeves when it gets "cold" in SoCal to alternate in, and call it good. :)
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I dry my wetsuit (on a hanger) and gloves (with clothespins hanging opening towards the fan) in my shower with a Lasko x-blower (like $67) It dries in a few hours. My booties I use a work boot boot warmer, which works pretty well, but it takes a bit longer.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07WNYB65S/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1
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Looks like a beautiful house. To what do you attribute it not selling?
Funny thing is as I watched the video of the Ponohouse, I kept thinking where did Bill put all his shit? Not a single wire laying around anywhere!
That must have been painful....... ::)
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ummmmm, I use this device, that I found in my home
It works well. Dry every time :)
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Ah.... The single life. That's a no go with my better half. Sand in the dryer is a capitol offense. Sand stays outside. I have a fully adjustable carpet drying fan. I'll rig up something with that.
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Good question. I have used a dryguy ski boot drier for years. I hang the suit on a hanger the ankles go over two prongs and my boots over two. The unit has a timer that goes for about three hours and there is a low heat setting with the drier.
Bob
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I think one key step is to rinse the suit really well to get the salt off before drying. A salty wetsuit takes forever to dry.
I wear my suit home and take it off in the shower. If you can't do that, rinse it off any way you can, inside and out. You could stomp on it with your feet in the bath tub or shower, or use the washing machine on rinse cycle.
After rinsing, hang it up in the shower, cellar or outside until it stops dripping which takes about an hour, then hang it someplace to finish drying. In the summer I hang it on a tree branch in the shade. (Never in the sun. UV will shorten its life.) In the colder months I hang it up indoors. Use the driest spot you can find. I hang mine in the stairway where the heat flows from downstairs to upstairs. A doorway also works. Put a towel under it if it's still dripping.
After a few hours or as soon as the suit feels dry to the touch on the outside, turn the suit inside out. You may have to do this a few times. The outside dries fastest so you want the wettest side out. Once the suit is mostly dry inside and out, leave the suit inside out until completely dry. The entire drying process usually takes about 8 hours for my 5/4 and/or 6/5. A 3/2 dries in about 6 hours.
The key is rinsing off the salt and turning the suit inside out a few times during the drying process.
Boots and gloves also need to be rinsed well. I have a milk crate with four vertical pvc pipes for drip drying. Once they stop dripping, I lay them down flat in front of a fan. They also take about 8 hours to dry completely.
I believe rinsing off your gear, drying it properly and keeping it out of the sun as much as possible makes it last longer. My Quicksilver 3/2 is seven years old and is still good as new.
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I had two of those hanger blowers, great with a back zip suit and not so great with thick step in suit. Also looks like an upgraded design I remember mine have pointy sharpish corners.
In winter wind is my friend for drying suits, wait until it's not raining then hang from the waist where they get some breeze.
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+1 to CREEK He told me this years ago works perfect
Shop vac sand out but a good rinse in freshwater (SHOWER) keeps sand at bay
JimK
Extreme Windsurfing
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ummmmm, I use this device, that I found in my home
It works well. Dry every time :)
I was scared to try the clothes dryer. Any settings?
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Here is my simple DIY wetsuit dryer. Tiny 50 CFM bath fan. Boots and gloves pivot up to drain.
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that's the boot drier i use, frp--but for gloves/boots (and ski gear also) -- "hanger-blower" is much faster for the suit
and clay, all my suits are chest-zip -- no problem getting on/off the hanger -- and you put the suit on the device plug it in and it's dry in 2 or 3 hours -- no flipping inside out over and over etc
and i rinse nothing in my quiver -- except my rubber -- rinse it all thoroughly and dry after ea use
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ummmmm, I use this device, that I found in my home
It works well. Dry every time :)
I was scared to try the clothes dryer. Any settings?
I use a low heat setting.... they dry very quickly.
Sand is not an issue, I walk straight from the water to my van..... and brush the sand off my booties before I take my suit off.
Folks always say using a dryer ruins wetsuits, but I have a VERY different view on that.
Rubber seems to get geometrically better every year - super stretchy, gas filled, Fire Fleece lined....
New suits are far better than a suit made 3 years ago....
so why would I want a suit to last forever???
I paid $149 for my 5mm full suit, fully Fire Fleece lined, super stretchy.... (Henderson TherMaxx dive suit)
On my 3rd season... still feels/looks new
BUT.... next year, I'll spring for a new one.
Even I can handle $50 a year for maximum comfort.
Every couple of sessions, I throw everything in the washer.
Boots, gloves, suit, rashguard..... full wash on large load, with detergent, in warm water.
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ummmmm, I use this device, that I found in my home
It works well. Dry every time :)
I was scared to try the clothes dryer. Any settings?
I use a low heat setting.... they dry very quickly.
Sand is not an issue, I walk straight from the water to my van..... and brush the sand off my booties before I take my suit off.
Folks always say using a dryer ruins wetsuits, but I have a VERY different view on that.
Rubber seems to get geometrically better every year - super stretchy, gas filled, Fire Fleece lined....
New suits are far better than a suit made 3 years ago....
so why would I want a suit to last forever???
I paid $149 for my 5mm full suit, fully Fire Fleece lined, super stretchy.... (Henderson TherMaxx dive suit)
On my 3rd season... still feels/looks new
BUT.... next year, I'll spring for a new one.
Even I can handle $50 a year for maximum comfort.
Every couple of sessions, I throw everything in the washer.
Boots, gloves, suit, rashguard..... full wash on large load, with detergent, in warm water.
Agree with Creek. if, Like us in the northeast, you spend Nov-April in Boots, gloves and a 5/4 or even more- Its worth a few extra bucks to be ready to surf when the waves are good.
the new fleece lined suits dry so fast its scary. the real issue is the boots and gloves. I have tried both the boot dryer 9with heat) fan etc etc.
The best by far is putting the boots and gloves on my heating duct pipe. not too much heat, just enough and way better than forced air. Not to mention- my basement dehumidifier is in that room.
I also subscribe to the ' a winter wetsuit is always worth saving' mentality. Because gloves rip, zippers break etc. Save everything and bring 2x to the break. Ive had mismatched gloves bots and taken off suits after zippers broke or toes punctured etc more times than i car to swear about (And I did at the time)
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I used to only wear a wetsuit went it really got cold here in the winter. Water low 60's. Once it dipped into the 50's (which is rare), I'd give a a few weeks and we'd be back into the 60's. Those South swells usually bring warmer water. Even then, spring suit or vest only. Lately (in my later 50's) I've found my extremities getting a bit colder. The 3/2 full-suit is hot but generally more comfortable as long as I float a little. Now I find myself using this full-suit just about every time I surf. Might try hosing my suit down and sticking it in the dryer?
I have a 4/3 that I've worn once. I lasted about 20 minutes in it, then changed into my 3/2 spring suit. Mo betta.
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ummmmm, I use this device, that I found in my home
It works well. Dry every time :)
I was scared to try the clothes dryer. Any settings?
I use a low heat setting.... they dry very quickly.
Sand is not an issue, I walk straight from the water to my van..... and brush the sand off my booties before I take my suit off.
Folks always say using a dryer ruins wetsuits, but I have a VERY different view on that.
Rubber seems to get geometrically better every year - super stretchy, gas filled, Fire Fleece lined....
New suits are far better than a suit made 3 years ago....
so why would I want a suit to last forever???
I paid $149 for my 5mm full suit, fully Fire Fleece lined, super stretchy.... (Henderson TherMaxx dive suit)
On my 3rd season... still feels/looks new
BUT.... next year, I'll spring for a new one.
Even I can handle $50 a year for maximum comfort.
Every couple of sessions, I throw everything in the washer.
Boots, gloves, suit, rashguard..... full wash on large load, with detergent, in warm water.
New suits are indeed a lot better . Went out yesterday in 5 degrees Celcius and 20knt wind. Windchill facor minus 6. I was toasty warm in my new Ion suit. Bought for 149 €. For that money I can buy a new one every few years.
BTW I put my suits in the washer too.
Regards, Maarten