Subject: RE: OWS before work - wetsuit care? jkintn - 2013-04-18 4:14 PMI hope to start OWS a couple times a week before work. The lake is on my way to the office and going back home is not an option. I just bought my first wetsuit and want it to last a while. For those of you who swim before work, how do you care for your suit post-swim? The swim will be in a freshwater lake. It's not terribly hot outside but I'm guessing I should not leave it in the car. I will be showering at work after the swim. Should I take it inside and rinse it at work? Hang it to dry in the locker room? Here is my take as a lifetime surfer having bought and cared for dozens of suits and other neoprene boots and gloves. Fresh water lake you don't have to rinse it off. Is it optimal to do so...probably, but in my opinion your washing off a suit with freshwater that was just in freshwater. If the lake is particularly dirty maybe some benefit but debatable. Salt water is a must to rinse. Neoprene is a pretty durable product that can take a beating...other than from fingernails or scissors. Storing it in your car wet for more than a few hours will make the suit and your car smell but I doubt will do any long term damage. I have had plenty of smelly suits that worked fine. I remember one particular winter suit that was accidentally never dried correctly before I put it away for a while. Many months later pulled it out, it smelled terrible and was damp but still worked great. Now you just have to decide if you want to be that guy at work drying off wetsuits in the company locker room. Good luck ! |