A Wetsuit Tip from Emilio De Soto - Triathlon Week

Emilio · 03-22-2007, 03:46 PM

It is the start of the season. Just before your first race you pull out your wetsuit. You have not worn it in months. You put it on and it just plain feels tighter than you remember it feeling.

Did it shrink?
Is the rubber less flexible?
Do you need a new wetsuit?

NO, NO, and NO

…well, more like

sort of, sort of, and yes unless you already own a T1 (just kidding).

The Tip: Soak your wetsuit a few days before the race. Soak it in a tub with 3 inches of water for about 5 minutes a few days before your race.

The Reason: Wetsuits are kind of like sponges. When they are moist they are supple and flexible. Believe it or not, your wetsuits stay moist for days, even weeks between uses, though appear dry… just like a sponge. Over time, as it gets really dry, it gets stiff and not-so-supple, thus feeling like it shrunk…like the way a sponge shrinks up. More wetsuits rip at the start of the season, than any other time of the year. Good if you are me, bad if you are you. But your wetsuit will last longer if you wet it before you wear it!