Putting on a wetsuit can feel like a wrestling match, but with the right technique, it becomes much easier. The key is patience, proper preparation, and ensuring the suit is pulled up sufficiently before inserting your arms.
Preparing for Your Wetsuit
Before you even touch your wetsuit, a little preparation goes a long way to making the donning process smoother and protecting your suit.
- Shower Off: If possible, take a quick shower to dampen your skin. Wet skin (or even damp skin) reduces friction significantly. Some people prefer to be completely dry, but a little water can help the suit slide on.
- Lubrication (Optional): For competition suits or very tight fits, specialized wetsuit lubricants (like Body Glide or Trislide) can be applied to areas like ankles, wrists, and neck. Avoid petroleum-based lubricants, as they can damage neoprene.
- Protect Your Fingernails: Be mindful of long fingernails or jewelry, as they can easily nick or tear delicate neoprene. Consider wearing thin cotton gloves or plastic bags over your hands and feet.
- Turn it Inside Out (Sometimes): For full suits, it's often easiest to start with the wetsuit turned inside out down to the waist or ankles.
Step-by-Step Guide to Donning Your Wetsuit
Follow these steps carefully to put on your wetsuit efficiently and without damaging it:
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Start with Your Legs:
- Sit down and gently slide one leg into the wetsuit opening. Pull it up slowly, gathering the material towards your ankle.
- Once your foot is through, slide the leg up your calf and thigh. Ensure there's no excess material bunched around your ankle or knee.
- Repeat for the other leg. Some users find it helpful to put a plastic bag over their foot to help it slide through the narrow ankle opening.
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Pull Up to Your Hips:
- Stand up and begin to pull the wetsuit up over your hips and waist.
- Work the material up your body slowly, smoothing out any wrinkles as you go. It's crucial to get the suit as high as possible on your torso at this stage.
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Ensure a Snug Fit Around the Torso (Critical Step):
- As highlighted in the reference: "And now once you got the wetsuit pulled up nice and tight."
- Before attempting to put your arms in, ensure the wetsuit is pulled up nice and tight around your crotch, hips, and lower torso. This means pulling the material up from your legs and backside to eliminate any slack around your core. If there's slack here, you won't have enough material to get your shoulders and arms in comfortably.
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Insert Your Arms, One at a Time:
- As per the reference: "Put one arm. In."
- Once the wetsuit is snug around your torso, gently slide one arm into its sleeve. Again, working the material up your arm, ensuring it's not bunched at the elbow or wrist.
- Repeat for the other arm.
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Shoulder and Neck Adjustment:
- Work your shoulders into the correct position. If your suit has a zipper (most do), you'll typically pull the back panel over your head to meet the neck closure.
- Adjust the neck flap and secure the zipper (usually from bottom to top with a lanyard). Ensure the neck seal is comfortable and not too tight.
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Final Adjustments:
- Stand tall and move around a bit. Make any final adjustments to ensure the suit is fully seated, especially around the shoulders, crotch, and underarms. There should be minimal bagging or excess material anywhere.
Tips for Easier Wetsuit Donning
- Plastic Bags are Your Friend: Place a plastic grocery bag over your hand or foot before sliding them into the sleeves or legs. The plastic reduces friction significantly, allowing them to glide through.
- Inside-Out Method: For full suits, start with the wetsuit entirely inside out, except for the ankles. Pull the legs on, then roll the suit up your body.
- Patience is Key: Never yank or pull aggressively on the neoprene, especially with your fingertips. Use the flats of your hands to work the material up your body.
- Stay Hydrated/Cool: If you're struggling, a little sweat can make it harder. Ensure you're not overheating before you even get in the water.
- Get the Right Size: The most crucial tip is to have a properly fitting wetsuit. A suit that is too small will be incredibly difficult to put on and uncomfortable.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Fingernail Tears: The most common damage to wetsuits comes from nicks and tears caused by fingernails or sharp objects.
- Pulling too Hard: Ripping seams or material by pulling with excessive force.
- Not Pulling it Up Enough: Failing to get the suit high enough on your hips/torso before putting your arms in is the biggest rookie mistake. This leaves no "give" for the shoulders.
- Using the Wrong Lubricants: Petroleum-based products can degrade neoprene over time.
| Do's | Don'ts |
|---|---|
| Be patient and gentle | Use fingernails to pull neoprene |
| Use plastic bags for sliding | Yank or pull forcefully |
| Pull suit up high on torso first | Use petroleum jelly or similar lubricants |
| Ensure a snug fit before arms go in | Try to force it if it's too small |
