Has the seam split open next to the thread due to too much pressure on the seam? The resulting seam is flexible and strong. The best wetsuit repair is to prevent it from getting damaged in the first place. Please do not fold your wetsuit or screw it up;if you fold or screw up a wetsuit it will create a crease in the neoprene and unfortunately, if this happens and it arrives back at Boardshop creased, it cannot be accepted by us. Do I need to get hold of some kind of neoprene and patch it as well as sew and stitch it? Go for GBS with taped seams if you want a suit that lasts. I can't find anything like it online, the dimensions don't match. Double blindstitching can be used on thicker wetsuits, where a seam is blindstitched on one side, the again on the reverse side. Ability to post and comment on topics and discussions. This is a problem because now your wetsuit is full of cold water and now that this water is in direct contact with the skin it's going to wick heat away from your body 25x faster than air as a result, youll be shivering, bummed and keen to call quits on the session, which is crazy to me- why wear a wetsuit that isnt going to extend your surf. Is it even a remote possibility that I could alter the suit to lengthen and enlarge the shoulders? We promise your board will arrive safely. if (width >= 1200) { These are all fairly easy repairs that you can perform yourself for under 10 within 30 minutes by using neoprene glue. Surf changing mats are one of the most valuable accessories a surfer can get, and they can increase the lifetime of your wetsuit. Instead, all cleaning should be done in a bathtub or large bucket. var width = window.innerWidth Picture your duck dive, especially the moment that you arch your back to trim towards the surface. The GBS is the most common of the seals and its the suit that your pros will use in contests: this is because theyre the most stretchy but dont have the durability to stand up to daily bashings from top-level surfers. We need a decent ongoing quantity. A wetsuit should fit snugly, without any gaping around the neck, wrists and ankles as this will cause your wetsuit to fill up with water. Fortunately, zips can be replaced by your local wetsuit repair shop. A clean cut or tear caused by a fingernail or a fin hitting the wetsuit is usually easy to fix. Very informative, the pictures make it nice and easy to understand. A wetsuit's function is to keep you warm in the water, and there are a number of different methods used to ensure it's up to the task. Instead, use a formulation designed for wetsuit materials, like SeeBee Zipper Lube ($11.99, seasoft.com). thank you so much for this informative side! I bought Aquaseal + Neo Contact Cement for Neoprene from Deals Only. In a good quality wetsuit, seams are kept away from areas were high flexibility is important. Take a look at our main wetsuit detail page that explains how a wetsuit keeps you warm. We have the best wetsuit from the best surfing brands available. Joining has its benefits and enables you to participate in the discussions. If you find the name of it, please share, wed love to know what it is! To apply, turn your suit inside-out and cut the patch to a size that is slightly larger than the area torn inside the liner. Get a tube of black neoprene wetsuit glue online or at your local surf shop. They are then stitched on the inside, but the stitching does not go all the way through to the outside of the panels. Learn more. A slider that disconnects, as on all SRFACE wetsuits, makes your wetsuit last longer. It is not used on high-end wetsuits, and would only be found on summer wetsuit or cheaper wetsuits. However, if only the zip slider breaks, just the slider can be replaced. Save 5% on everything - join our loyalty scheme, Save 5% on everything - join our loyalty scheme. While we make every effort to ensure that our products use the toughest materials available, you should be aware that as a performance product, wetsuits are not bullet proof and small tears do occasionally occur. Lauren Collison We recommend rinsing it with cool, fresh water after each surf and drying it. Join Outside+ to get Triathlete magazine, access to exclusive content, 1,000s of training plans, and more. We recommend either of these products to repair cracks in the seals: 1) https://www.wetsuitwearhouse.com/PROD/10114.html or 2) https://www.wetsuitwearhouse.com/PROD/1-0146.html. In todays world of surfing wetsuits youll find four seams with vastly different names/trademarks for those four, well more so 3 and an asterisk: Flatlock, Glued and Blind-Stitched [GBS] and Taped seams*. This requires a specialized sewing machine. Overlock This method is the simplest way of stitching, and the least effective at keeping water out. } Chances are, even if your wetsuit isnt covered under warranty you will be able to get your wetsuit professionally repaired for a small fee and enjoy it for many years to come. If you have some experience sewing, this should be possible. It also leaves a bulge on the inside of the wetsuit, which can be uncomfortable and result in chafing - ouch! It's not just a great fit that ensures a wetsuit is nice and warm. This motion creates a big pocket of low pressure in your lumbar [next time youre in a suit arch your back and feel your lumbar] which in turn sucks water through the seams around your lumbar [and the zip, but well cover zips/enclosures later]. document.write("
"); Various brands have different names and slide modifications to the tape seam but typically the tape is applied over a GBS seam but in some top of the line suits, such as the ONeill Fluid Seam which has no stitching at all, resulting in the most stretch and arguably the most durability. Thanks so much. Without diving too deep into thermodynamics, because I can't, a suit is most effective when its completely dry on the inside but this is practically impossible when youre dealing with full submersion and a waves turbulent water but you definitely dont want to surf in a dry-suit.. Alas, our only hope is to minimise this movement of water in and out of the suit, or most ideally, seal in a small volume of water which your body-heat warms, in turn, providing three mediums of insulation: the trapped water, the neoprene itself and fat. Welcome to ScubaBoard, the world's largest scuba diving community. Hi Gus! Triathlon Race Suits - What's The Difference? Buoyancy Control and Breathing Control are conjoined twins that cannot be seperated without both dying---Uncle Pug. HI Lauren, i saw a product in a Surfshop in Aus, to make old wetsuits flexible again, do you know anything like that? Please enter a valid email address. I'm looking for a blind-stitched wetsuit for the temperatures I'll be surfing in. The neoprene itself is definitely the main element to a wetsuit and it's quality is measuredby the level of stretch. You are using an out of date browser. and protect the suit from damage over time from the salt water. Thanks for very infomative article.cheers!!!!! JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. These panels are joined to each other by stitching along seams. Instead of telling you what seam is best, for surfing etc ,because it's not that simple, I'd like to run through the most important aspects of a seam and how each seam performs. As a guide: entry-level wetsuits always use the Flatlock because it's cheap, easy and durable but youll struggle to find it in a suit over $250, on the other hand, you wont find a sealed suit for less than $250 [except for the 2017 Adreno Surf suits]. Continue to hold the cut open while the glue begins to cure. i have a flashbombe with e5 seam tape; there is a lining inside thats like felt material, and my tape has come off around the knee area. They can be ironed on with a normal iron, but always make sure you use wax paper or baking paper in between the iron and the wetsuit. For basic cleaning needs, a mild detergent soap like Jaws Slosh Wetsuit Shampoo ($8.48, jawsproducts.com) should do the trick for removing salt residue and odors. In that case, its best to call in the professionals. I wont mention the brand, but I have a suit that is constructed this way and the seam weld material is cracking all over the suit. When your swim cap rips, you buy a new one. It will also peel away and will leave behind the sticky adhesive that will make putting on your wetsuit that much more difficult.. Any ideas please? In case youre buying a wetsuit, and you are worried about zip strength, buy a wetsuit where the slider disconnects from the teeth when open. That is you don't want to go all the way through the neoprene. Trying on Your Wetsuit for the First Time. How to prevent and remove salt buildup on zippers, What is and how to treat a neoprene wetsuit allergy, Soruz develops oyster powder-based wetsuit, Punta Roca: the crown jewel point break of El Salvador, The best surf changing mats for your wetsuit. TY. Its easy to point to the thickness of the neoprene as the defining factor in terms of warmth but neoprene is simply an insulator, to insulate effectively you need a sealed environment.. if you leave the windows open your heater isnt going to work, it's just going to blow hot air outside This very notion demonstrates the relationship between a wetsuits neoprene with its seam and that you don't necessarily need to go thicker if you're after more warmth. Offset your old stick against a brand new board! Struggling to put on big bottom patches (cut from old wetsuits). This also gives the neoprene a clean, low profile. You can check out our wetsuit accessory category which features highly rated wetsuit repair adhesives. Read on to learn more about how to care for your wetsuit from long-term wetsuit care tips, trying it on and ensuring you get the perfect fit, returning your wetsuit if it doesnt fit and how to deal with warranty issues. Water seepage will reduce the effectiveness of the suit. A well fitting wetsuit is essential for warmth, and the fit is achieved by the use of separate, tailored panels. Being that the tape is generally the least stretch component of the seam it tends to bear the stress and strain of the bodys contortions and as a result, tends to be the widest seam. I have the same question as Joseph, CA: "Do you have leads on products used for fully taped seals or liquid taped seams ?". Best way to rejoin a glued/taped join that has come apart? You'll onlyneed wetsuit cement, glue-on seam tape, floss, and a needle. Do you want to stay up-to-date on our new product releases? Click the logos to view the suits available. What is Flatlock stitch? Apply a thin, even layer of the cement or adhesive to both surfaces. Privacy Policy. Its essentially a rubber cement for wetsuits, says Suddarth, who recommends viewing this YouTube video from TriSports to learn proper application. Outer skin is still holding but tape and but joint has seperated??? This makes it more suited to summer or warmer water surfing. Your friendly Viking/Poseidon Drysuit dealer. You will need some type of wetsuit cement or wetsuit adhesive. Great Blog on wet suit stitching. Create a personalized feed and bookmark your favorites. Apply to the stuck zipper and wiggle the zipper pull back and forth until it is free. It's held for a year in my .5 mm. Its also a good idea to check with your wetsuit manufacturer to see if your suit is under warranty; many will work with loyal customers to repair or replace a damaged wetsuit for a low cost (some even fix suits for free). document.write("
"); Im building my own suit since I cant find one that fits. The seams are less flexible than the sheet neoprene. good morning/afternoon Our definitive wetsuit buyers guide, which gives an overview of all considerations. Nevertheless, with a welded seam effective water sealing is guaranteed. You don't want that. Do you need to repair a wetsuit? Be sure to follow all safety precautions on the repair products packaging and use in a well ventilated area! Did Orca Quietly Make The Safest Wetsuit Ever? Avoid tearing the rubber; Apply one last neoprene cement layer over the sewn area for extra strength. A Free photo gallery to share your dive photos with the world. The two edges of the panels are rolled together and then stitched to hold them together. Please send an email toinfo@boardshop.co.ukwith your order number in the subject line, explaining whatwetsuityou want to return and whether you want a refund or want to exchange this for a different size or different wetsuit. Be careful with your wetsuit to keep it looking as good as new for as long as possible. Would you try a different stitch? What Is Thunderbolt Surfboard Construction? more often than not this results in you buying a wetsuit they wont wear until theyre older.. which is just as wasteful as buying a suit that theyll grow out of. We will then check the suit over once we receive it back and send it onto you so you can enjoy it for many more surf to come! It seems like the original tape is 3/8" wide and a mm thick, it looks like rubber or open cell neoprene and the remains of glue on the worn out parts seems to be neoprene glue. By using this site you agree to the use of cookies for analytics, personalized content and ads. Hi Michael, Using a neoprene glue to re-adhere the tape will work great so long as the glue itself is elastic if the glue cant stretch it will quickly pull the tape off the suit and can sometimes damage the jersey underneath. A patch kit, like Tenacious Tape ($12.50, Gearaid.com) will provide some extra reinforcement to the neoprene, sealing the tear and keeping it from re-opening when stretched and hopefully eliminating the need for further wetsuit repair. If larger, consider using a scrap piece of neoprene as a patch! Hi there, I wouldnt recommend any suit that relies only on a welded seam. If you have any questions regarding wetsuit care or if you want some help and advice choosing your new wetsuit, you can contact us via email atinfo@boardshop.co.ukor via phone on (+44)1243 674250. What mil should my first wetsuit be (midwest US)? document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2022 Wetsuit Wearhouse All Rights Reserved. The beauty of a welded seam is itsability to provide maximum stretch in a non-stitched design. Check out our wetsuit repair products. If you are a cold water surfer, do yourself a favour and pay extra for blindstitching. Fingernails can catch on wetsuits and create tears so please take care when putting your suit on to avoid this. Wetsuit zips experience a lot of abuse in their lives. all comments are subject to moderation (ie. A Flatlock stitch butts the two materials together and puts a mirrored stitch along both sides of the material, locking every loop [very durable, but minimal stretch capacity] This results in cold-water flushing every time you contort your body underwater because the body moves and contorts within the suit, creating low and hi pressure cavities. The suit has only had light use, but will soon be leaking and no doubt falling apart. She learned to surf for the first time ever in Costa Rica but she gravitates more towards SUP. If the damage to the suit goes all the way through to the liner, glue wont be enough to mend the rip. Continue applying the wax regularly before each use, to keep your zipper moving smoothly. Be careful and take your time trying it on. But your wetsuit cost hundreds maybe even thousands of dollars, so a quick replacement isnt always an option. Ask us any question you can think of, seven days a week.
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