Repair of holes in neoprene wetsuits (surfing, diving, triathlon, etc)
A hole in the neoprene, a rather fragile material that does not withstand isolated stresses on its surface, can happen quickly.
Causes of holes in neoprene
Neoprene is an ideal material to stay warm in the water, it allows you to remain agile in more or less extreme sports like surfing or triathlon. The downside is that it is quite fragile and wears out quickly.
The holes created when putting on the suit
You won’t be surprised if we tell you that more holes are made when putting on the wetsuit, rather than when falling into the water. Indeed, it often happens that a toe gets stuck and puts a lot of pressure on the neoprene, or that you force a part of it to speed up the putting on.
Holes in the shoulders because of the hangers
A wetsuit is quite heavy, even more so when it is wet after a wash or session. Unfortunately for many of us, the hanger is the only alternative for drying. This is actually a very bad idea, as the weight of the wetsuit and the water will press on the shoulders, making them very fragile. We advise you to use an alternative solution, or a specialised hanger. Moreover, this is a product that we are going to develop in Made In France and in recycled material by the end of 2022.
Holes due to falls
Less common, but still inevitable in an extreme water sport career. Fall tears can happen at any time, but particularly on reaf spots, or when falling in triathlon. Note that with the democratization of surfing, a fin, be it your own or someone else’s, can quickly land on your body, tearing the neoprene in the process. Better that than the skin though…
Wetsuit hole
Divers, often curious by nature, often get close to marine elements capable of piercing wetsuits, such as coral.
The different types of holes
There are several sizes of holes, each requiring a different repair.
- The mini hole: from 1 to 3 centimetres
- The classic 4 to 7cm hole
- The big one over 7cm
For a mini hole, it is possible to glue the hole without replacing the neoprene.
For a larger hole, you need to make a patch, i.e. replace the part of neoprene concerned, glue it, then sew it, then seal it with tape.
